The Daily Dispatch

A Chesterfield-County Criminal Dies in Missouri.
[From the St. Louis Times, March 6th.]
CURIOUS AARON BROWN-THE STORY OF HIS NUMEROUS WIVES AND PALTRY ESTATE.

For some years past an eccentric individual known as Aaron Brown has kept a small jewelry-shop at No. 723 Chouteau avenue. On the 13th of February last, while in a pawnbroker's shop for the purpose of transacting some business, he suddenly fell dead. No will was found among the effects of the deceased, and his estate was placed in the hands of M. D. Lewis, public administrator, who made an inventory of the property, and filed the same in the Probate Court.

Mr. Brown was about sixty-five years old, and at the time of his death was living with a girl not more than fifteen years of age, whom he married in Belleville, Ill., some time in the year 1872. Shortly after Mr. Lewis had completed the inventory mentioned above he was visited by a woman who gave the name of Mrs. Catherine Brown, and who claimed to be the widow of the deceased Aaron. She resides at the corner of Seventh and Market streets. She stated to the administrator that she had formerly lived with Mr. Brown in Phelps county, in this State, where they had some family trouble which caused her to apply for a divorce, but that no decree was ever granted in the case. She further stated that Mr. Brown had been a bad man; that he now had several wives living. One, she stated, by the name of Jennie Mitchell, now lived in the city at the corner of Third and Cedar streets; one at Peoria, Ill., by whom he had had one child.

She also stated that Brown came West about twenty years ago from Chesterfield county, Va., where his first wife had died. She said Brown had committed some crime in Virginia, which caused him to leave the country; that his real name was not Brown, but James W. Gilmore.

Another claimant for the property of the deceased has appeared in the person of a man who gives the name of William Brown. He claims to be a son of Aaron Brown by his first wife. Thus far he has not established his identity, and it is reported that he has served a term in the State penitentiary. When asked if that was true in the Probate Court this morning he refused to say whether it was or not.

The girl with whom Brown was living claims that she is justly entitled to the estate. Jennie Mitchell has not, as yet, made any claim. However, the wrangling of the claimants is all over a small prize, or the property is appraised at $412, and it will require all of it to pay the debts, funeral, and other expenses.

Among the effects of the deceased was a curious silver medal having engraved on it the owner's name, some Latin inscriptions, and mythological and other designs. Brown always wore the medal on his person, and seemed to think it possessed great virtue of some kind. He frequently told his friends that he wanted it left on his body when he was buried, but it was inadvertently left off at the time the body was prepared for burial.