Hired as assistant marshal in 1882 and later promoted to
marshal, Henry Brown had failed to tell the city council
about his interesting past which included cattle rustling,
riding with Billy the Kid, and a trivial murder charge
during the Lincoln County Wars. But his law enforcement
abilities were legendary, including beating "rowdys" to
the draw on two occasions on Caldwell's Main Street, and
killing both: Spotted Horse in May 1883 near this marker
and Newt Boyce in December 1883 down the street. So
taken was Caldwell that the citizens gave him a new,
engraved Winchester rifle. On May 1, 1884, while on
vacation from his Caldwell marshal duties, Brown and a
few friends used the new rifle to rob the Medicine Lodge,
Kansas bank and shoot two bank employees. Brown was
killed by a mob while attempting to escape and his rifle
is now on display in the Kansas Historical Museum, Topeka.
Erected 1993 by Donations from Dr. Jim and Cynthia Blunk and the
Caldwell Cherokee Strip Centennial Committee
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