The Sun.
London, England, 1859-12-17 00:00:00

THE EXECUTION OF OLD JOE BROWN.

The Boston Journal contains the following tele-
graphic account of the execution of Brown at
Charlestown :

CHARLESTOWN, DEC. 2.
The prisoner was brought nut of gaol at 11 o'clock.
Before leaving he bade adieu to all his fellow-pri-
soners, and was very affectionate to all except
Cook. He charged Cook with having deceived and
misled him in relation to the support he was to
receive from the slaves; He was led to believe
that they were ripe for insurrection, and had found
that his representations were false. Cook denied
the charge, but made little reply.
The prisoner then told the sheriff he was ready.
His arms were pinioned, and with a black slouch
hat on, and the same clothes he wore during the
trial, he proceeded to the door, apparently calm

and cheerful.
As he came out, the six companies of infantry and
one troop of horse, with Gen. Tallaferro and his
entire staff, were deployed in front of the gaol, while
an open waggon, with a pine box, in which was a
fine oak coffin, was waiting for him.
He looked round and spoke to several persons he
recognised, and, walking down the steps, took a
seat on the coffin box along with the gaoler, Avis.
He looked with interest on the fine military dis-
play, but made no remark. The waggon moved off,
flanked by two files of riflemen in close order.
On reaching the field the military had already
full possession of it.
Pickets were stationed, and the citizens kept back
at the. point of the bayonet from taking any posi-
tion but that assigned them.
Through the determined persistence of Dr. Raw-
lings, of Frank Leslie's, the order excluding the
press was partially rescinded, and they were as-
signed a position near the Major-General's Staff.
The prisoner walked up the steps firmly, and was
the first man on the gallows. Avis and Sheriff
Campbell stood by his side, and after shaking hands
and bidding an affectionate adieu he thanked them
for their kindness.
The cap was then put over his face, and the rope
round his seek.
Avis asked him to step forward on the trap. He
replied, "You must lead me; I cannot see."
The rope was adjusted, and the military order
given—" Not ready yet."
The soldiers marched, countermarched, and took
position as if an enemy were in sight, and were thus
occupied for nearly 10 minutes.
The prisoner standing all the time, Avis inquired
if he `was not tired. Brown said---‘` No, not tired ;
but don't keep me waiting longer than necessary."
He was swung off at 15 minutes past 11.
A slight grasping of the hands and twitching of
the muscles was seen, and then all was quiet.
The body was several times examined, .and the
pulse did not cease until 35 minutes had passed.
The body was then cut down, placed in a coffin,
and conveyed, under military escort, to the depot,
where it was put in a car, to be carried to the
Ferry, by a special train at four o'clock.
All the arrangements were carried out with a
precision and military strictness that was most
annoying.
- The general conviction everywhere entertained
was that the excitement about the rescue was an
egregious hoax.
Brown executed an instrument empowering
Sheriff Campbell to administer on all property of
his i. the State, with directions to pay over the
proceeds of the sale of the weapons, if recovered,
to his widow and children.
Sheriff Campbell bid the prisoner farewell in
the cell, the latter returning thanks for the sheriff's
kindness, and speaking of Captain Pate as a brave
man.
The prisoner wss then taken to the cell of Cope-
land and Green. He told them to stand up like
men andrnot betray their friends. He then handed
them a quarter each, saying he had no more use for
money, and bid them adieu.
He then visited Cook and Coppie, who were
chained together, and remarked to Cook," You have
made false statements." Cook asked, " What do
you mean ?"
Brown answered, "Why, by stating that I sent
you to Harper's Ferry."
Cook replied—" Did you not tell me in Pittsburg
to come to Harper's Ferry, and see if Forbes bad
made any disclosures ?"
Brown—" No, sir ; you know I protested against
your coming."
Cook replied—" Captain Brown, we remember
differently," at the same time dropping his head.
Brown then turned to Coppie, and said, " Coppie,
you also made false statements, but I am glad to
hear you have contradicted them. Stand up like a
man." He also handed him a quarter.
He shook both by the hand, and they parted.
The prisoner was then taken to Stevens's cell and
they kindly interchanged greetings.
SteVens—" Good bve, Captain ; I know you are
going to a better land."
Brawn replied—" I know I am." Brown told
him to bear up, and not betray his friends, giving
him a quarter.
He did not visit Hazlitt, as he has always per-
sisted in denying any knowledge of him.
On his way to the scaffold a Mr. Sadler, an un-
dertaker, who was in the waggon with him, re-
marked—" Captain Brown, you are a game man."
He answered, " Yes, I was so trained up. It was
one of the lessons of my mother; but it is hard to
part from friends, though newly made. This is a
'beautiful country; I never had the pleasure of see-
ing it before."
On reaching the field where the gallows was
erected, the prisoner said, " Why are none but mi-
litary allowed in the enclosure ? .1 am sorry citizens
have been put out." On reaching the gallows he
observed Mr. Hunter and Mayor Green standing
near, to whom he said," Gentlemen, good bye," his
voice not faltering.
While on the scaffold Sheriff Campbell asked him
if he would take d handkerchief to drop as a signal
when he was ready. He replied, " No, Ido not
want it, but do not detain me any longer than is
absolutely necessary."
ShOrtly after the execution, and while the body
was being taken to the depot, great excitement was
raised by the arrival of a horseman announcing that
Wheatland, the late residence of George W. Tur-
ner, who was shot at Harper's Ferry, was on fire,
and that the fire was extending to the farm and
buildings of Mr. W. F. Turner.
The, latter, who was in town, said that he had
left home at 10 o'clock in the morning, and that se-
veral of his horses had died very suddenly, and also
some of his sheep. He intended to have their sto-
machs analysed, as he believed them to hate been
poisoned. The stock of Mr. Castleman and Mr.
Myers, in the same neighbourhood, had also 'died
very mysteriously.
The excitement caused by this was very great.
Colonel Davis had the Faquier cavalry in readiness
to go out, and inquire into the truth of the report
about the fire.
The body of Brown arrived by the special train,
and will be taken on by Mrs. Brown and friends
direct to Albany. It is desired to avoid all public
demonstration, and it is determined that the body
shall not be visible anywhere on the route to North
'Elba, where it will be deposited in the family
burying ground.
Mrs. Brown speaks in the highest terms of the
great kindness shown her by the citizens and
authorities of the State. She is, of course, in great
distress. She has most favourably impressed all
who have met her as a woman of fine feeling and
of great affection for her husband.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.

CHARLESTOWN, DEC. 2.
The interview between Brown and his wife yes-
terday lasted from four o'clock in the afternoon
until eight o'clock in the evening, when General
Taliaferro informed her that the period allowed her
had elapsed and that she must prepare for departure
to the Ferry. A carriage was again brought to the
door, the military took possession of the square, and,
with an escort of 20 mounted men, the cortege
moved off, Captain Moore, of the Montgomery
Guards, accompanying her.
The interview was, I learn, not a very affecting
one, rather of a practical character, with regard to
the future of herself and children, and the arrange-
ment and settlement of business affairs. They
seemed considerably affected when they first met,
and Mrs. Brown was for a few moments quite
overcome, but Brown was as firm as a rock, and
she soon recovered her composure.
There w'as an impression that the pr;sone- might
possibly be furnished with a weapon.w
or strychnine
by his wife, and before the interview her person
was searched by the wife of the gaoler.e
A strict watch was kept over them during
time they were together. At the time
ando
the
separation
a Tthet
they both seemed fully self-possessed,
Lig, especially r,,n his part, emhibited cornymPsure,
eitlier feigned or real, that vas surprisln
learn from Captain Moore that she rather re-
pelled all attempts on his part to express sympathy
with her under her afflictions. She resented the
idea that Captain Brown had done anything to
• deserve death or to attaint his name with dishonour,
and declared that the ignominious character of the
punishment that was about tobe inflicted upon him
was as cruel as it was unjust.
-She regarded him as a martyr in a righteous
cause, and was proud to be the wife of such a man.
The gallows, she said, had no terrors for her or him.
She stated that she had not seen him since last
Tune, about six months ago, and that they had been
separated, with the exception of a few days, for
nearlytwo years. They had, however, corresponded,
and she had always felt a deep interest in the cause
in which he was engaged. The character of the
interview may be judged to some extent froni his