Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1853-05-24

of those .disasreeable incidents in its history the
impressions of which are not easily eEfaeed The ]
negro boy George, who had made "a most violent
and unprovoked attack upon his employer Mr.. SAM
II. BnowN, in obedience to the Sentence of the
Court after fair and impartial Investigation of
all the circumstances connected with the affair paid
the penalty of his IIe for the Nervousness of the
offence. Quite number were in attendance to
witness the execution though every thing connect
ed with its disagreeable performance, passed of
quite as well as could have been expected, and in
many respects creditable to those whose sunpleas-
ant duty it was TO carry ont the sentence; of the
law, as well as those whose curiosity alone Undue
cd them % BE present. spectators upon so solemn
an occasion. =
The gallows hadsbeen erected ON the lot of Mr..
ANDREW HUNrER, near town. and at about IL o'clock,
NJ, the negro, under charge of the High Sheriff.
Mr. JoHNi w. MooRE, and the Tailor, Capt iJoHS w !.
Rowan, as also the Potomac Rife, of Shepherds
town, walked from the Jail to the place oflexecu-
ton. The Rev. w, B. DUTToN, the oficiating Cler-
gyman as also DIR. w. A. DOUGLASS, the Physician,
We're assigned appropriate places in the line of pro
cession. The boy had been clad in the habilaments
of death before he left the Jail, and though he
moved with a firm step, and manifested much less,
concern than many spectators who were present,
yet as the mourntul pageant moved through the
toWn1 IL Prouuced considerable sensation Ihe pro-
ceedings at the scaold were of but short duration
The negro addressed the crowd in bnt a few words,
in which he declared his willingness to die, and
his hope of preparation for eternity. He bid an
affectionate farewell to the multitude, and hoped
to meet them all in heaven. The Rev. Mr. Dutton
then offered up to the Throne of Grace, a most
feeling and appropriate prayer which have heard
universally commended for its peculiar fitness to the
OCCASION and the fervor and eoqnence of its appeal
The cap was then adjusted the signal given the rope
cut by the High Sheriff, and in some two or three
moments the negro pronounced to be dead. The
example thus furnished, for the violation of law and
the INSTRUMENTATION the part of our negroes will
no doubt prove a salutary lesson for good, and we
hope there may be no occasion to witness a similar
occurrence for many day to come.
The day before the negroes execution, he made a
confession to having carried the "corn-knife" with
him into the courthouse, the morning on which the
difficulty occurred, also having it under his coat
at the time he ate his breakfast This was the only
link of evidence wanting to establish most clearly
and unequivocally the premeditation OF resistance
against his masters authority even unto death if it
were necessary. That Mr.. Brown escaped with his
life is more owing to his powers of resistance
than any abatement of effort the part of the negro
to accomplish what has been clearly established to
have been his premeditated purpose resist at the
sacrifice OF life The poor negro received during his
confinement in Jail, the kindest attention upon the
part of our Clergymen and other religious advisers
and as to both his temporal and spiritual welfare the
community manifested a becoming interest He was
exceedingly llliterate, and exhibited throughout
most shocking indifference to the dread fate that
awaited him. But he has paid the forfeit of his
life, as warning to other transgressors.