The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-08-02
Prom che Rio araude.

MURDER AND LircH Law.--By the arrival of
the steamship Yacht we have received the Amer
lean Flag of the 18th inst
There were reports Of Indian depredations be-
tween Brownsville and Point Isabel. The house
Of Mr.. G. l.. Stillwell, near the Sal Colorado,
was attacked by eleven Indians, who, however,
were repused. II is supposed that Mr. Hol-
brook was killed by them
The Flag relates that a young Mexican, who
shot and killed another Mexican at monte bank,
and attempted to escape by swimming the river,
was captured, brought back, and hung in twenty
minutes from the time the murder was COM
mitted.
Another occurrence of the same kind took
place on the tn inst The night before at a
fmdango, or rather after having left it, Captain
John Brennan was followed stabbed and killed
by a notorious rufhan named Bill Hardy. The
murderer then walked back to the house, with
his knife in hand, reeking with blood, exclaming,
TN tart; and that's the way I'll serve any
man who will follow me-" Some of those who
heard him, supposing he had got into difficulty
with Mexican advised him TO leave, which he
did. As soon as it was ascertained that he had
killed Captain Brennan, men were sent to the
several ferries to prevent his escape into Mexico,
and Others started in pursuit He was arrested
next morning about daylight, near one of the
ferries, ironed and taken to Jail. The only cause
assigned for this brutal outrage is the refusal OF
Brennan to let Hardy have money, while at Bra
EOS. This Hardy, ii appears, had killed a man
at st Louis, one on the Arkansas, and had at
tempted TO take the lives of several in Gal
yes on, Austin and San Antonio, and was sent
away from Monterey in irons during the war.
On learning the character of the man, and the
insecureness of the Jail, the citizens of Browns
vile determined, as the prisoner had confessed
his guilt, to cut short his murderous career Mt
once. A meeting assembled, and it was voted
that the culprt should be hung forthwith. The
Flag describes the rest Of the proceedings as
follows
The crowd then proceeded to the jail and de-
minded the culprt. The deputy sheriff remark
ed to the crowd, that he held the keys of the JAIL
and it was his duty to safely keep the prisoner,
but he did not feel disposed to resist the demand
Of so large portion of the citizens of the coun-
ty. He would, therefore, deliver up the keys,
with the request that the prisoner be permitted
to make any statement in extenuation or other
wise, he might wish. This was readily ncceded,
when the prisoner was unfettered and brought
forth, and in that condition permitted to walk to
| the place of his execution. 1t was proposed to
| tie him, but on his assuring that he would not
attempt to run. he was suffered to go free and
untrammeed in any way. On reaching the spot
selected for this tragic scene, he remarked that
he knew he had to die, and intended to die like
a man but would rather be shot than hung.
The crowd assembled to witness the solemn
tragedy was quite large, but orderly and quiet
with few exceptions No one volunteering to
shoot the guilty, hardened wretch, it was decided
that he must be hung. Rev. Mr. Crayens then
came forward and introduced himself, and asked
Hardy if he desired any preparation, or had any
statement to make. He said he had nothing to
say except as to the disposition of his effects and
request the writing of few letters to his friends
He then requested Mr.. Cravens TO pray for him
During all this time, and even while the arrange
ments were making for launching him into eter
nifty, where he would meet a more dread tribunal
than any on earth, he eyinced the most perfect
indifference as to his fate, not suffering muscle
Of his face or limbs to betray the least emotion
And even took the rope that was to hang him
and tied the hangman's knot to show how il
was done, without the slightest perceptible
tremor of the nerves. Those managing the
matter, fearing the knot was not well tied, untiet
it for the purpose of relying, in which they fail
| ed, when he remarked TO gentleman standing
near him that he would have to tie it again.
| This kind Office the individual addressed prom
ised to perform for him. The doomed man ther
| got into cart, mounted on plank which restet
on the wheels, without any resistance or assist
aRce, and, while the rope, which was suspended
from beam used for hosting becves, was being
adjusted around his neck, asked to have his
hands tied behind him. There he stood, higt
above the crowd his hands tied, the moose close
about his neck, death staring him in the face
calm, cool, and collected. The cart moved from
under him, and in this condition he was hurled
into eternity. Such a spectacle we never wit
messed before, may we never again. 1t was evi
IDENTIFY his intention to leap from the cart, bu
was prevented from so doing by some one at
tracing his attention as it started which caused
his feet to drag from the tail He died after ;
slight struggle, and thus terminated the earthly
career of the notorious Bill Hardy, who had beer
the terror of every community in which he lived
| He met death with the same reckless Indifference
that he had meeted it out 10 others. May his
fate be a warning to all who have heretofore
considered themselves beyond the reach of law
and justice. @
Capt Brennan was consigned to his last rest
ing place by the Odd Fellows, attended by .
large concourse of citizens"