The mystery of Mr. Brown

The Poplar Bluff Museum tells many unknown tales of our community. I want to tell you some of those hidden tales found within the museum walls.

One evening in May of 1872 a stranger got off the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway in Poplar Bluff. He was neatly attired and appeared to be a man of ability. He registered in the Grand Central Hotel as Mr. Brown of St. Louis. He seemed to have no business in town and just walked to the post office every morning smoking his cigar.

Poplar Bluff was still a small town with nosey neighbors. Everyone was curious who the stranger was. Several men would join him at dinner and attempt to make small talk. Mr. Brown would expertly and politely avoid the conversation. Finally, a committee of citizens approached John Snoddy, a member of the Board of Trustees, to approach the stranger. Snoddy was also a man of great ability. He was an expert speaker, writer and lawyer. Snoddy agreed.

Snoddy soon introduced himself to Mr. Brown. With a crowd around him, Snoddy asked him directly what his business was. Mr. Brown replied, “Since you’re a town trustee then I don’t mind telling you; In fact, I suppose you ought to know. Well, I stole a saw mill and got away with it all right, but like a fool I went back for the dam, and they caught me. I was tried, found guilty, and the judge gave me a choice: six months in jail or three weeks in Poplar Bluff. And like a damn fool I took Poplar Bluff.”

The crowd fell into hushed silence and the stranger lighted his cigar and strolled away. There’s one born every minute.

Richard Metcalfe compiled this story in his 1884 book “A View of a Growing Town or Poplar Bluff as it Was, as it Is, and as it Will Be.” The book is on file in the Poplar Bluff Museum reference library. The Museum is handicap accessible and open free of charge Sunday 1-4 p.m. at 1010 Main St. Tell them Mike sent you.

Mike Shane is a veteran, Poplar Bluff resident and board member for the Poplar Bluff Museum.