Judge Who Closed Deadwood's Brothels Dies At 94

A South Dakota state judge who shut down Deadwood's last brothels in 1980 has died.

Judge R.E. "Ed" Brandenburg died Oct. 5 at age 94. Black Hills Funeral Home and Cremation Services says his remains are to be buried in Black Hills National Cemetery in the spring.

Belle Fourche lawyer and Deadwood history buff Michael Trump says that Brandenburg was an 8th Circuit Judge when he declared the houses of prostitution in Deadwood a public nuisance and closed them down.

Prostitution had operated for a century in the gambling town but was targeted by federal officials investigating organized crime activity, possibly including a murder.