The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-12-09
Local Affairs.

A DISTRESSING CASUALTY 1T ia our
painful lot to record the sudden death under
circumstances Of very distressing character.
Of John II. Brownson, Esq. Of the firm Of
J. II. Il w. L. Brownson. attorneys OF this
city, and Sons Of Dr. Orestes A. Brownson.
the celebrated editor OF Brownson's Reuiew.
Mr.. Brownson passed the evening Of Fri.
day in the society Of his friends. 10 the 'u!l
vigor Of lusty manhood. On Saturday morn
ing between the hours oil seven and eight,
bs matiIsied corpse was found stretched at
the bottom Of the bluff, near che head Of Hill
atrect. under the rear windows OF his Once,
from which be had evidently Ieapcd or fallen
in the course Of the night. Mr.. Brownson
occupied the room 10 the second story Of the
wooden building at the head Of Hill street,
on Third, which 10 built upon the abrupt
decIyity OF the bluff. giving the rear OF the
building height Of fifty 10 sixty feet from
tho ground-while the height from which
Mr.. Brownson had fallen could not be less
than seventy feet. The open window, and
tho mangled remains, which had rolled down
10 the bottom Of the bluff. too well attcsed
the shock OF tho fearful descent. From the
evidence elected before the Coroner's jury, It
appears that somewhere between twelve and
two o'clock Of the previous night, Mr.. and
Mrs. Mayo, who kept store IN the same
building occupied by Mr. Brownson, and
who lived 10 the basement, were awakened
by noise apparently in the upper story Of
tho building. which seemed like blow
struck with heavy stick OF wood on tho
floor, accompanied with sound AZ OF the
falling Of a window. Nothing was heard
however, after the first alarm TO give any
clue 10 its cause. and the circumstance
made such an impression on the mind OF MIR.
Mayo. though he said nothing TO arouse tho
fears Of his wife, that he slept no more that
night,
In 10 morning the discovery Of the body
Of Brownson. crushed and distorted. at the
foot Of tho bluT. hundred feet below the
open window OF bis ROOM afforded dread
full solution Of tho alarm which haunted him
all night with vague terror.
From the evidence given before the Jury
by the intimate acqusintances OF the de-
ceased, in relation 10 his habits. there Is no
doubt that tho deceased was victim OF an
unfortunate habit somnambulism. Tie was
known by bis friends to b. in the habit OF
walking in his sleep. and somo six weeks
since had fallen down the stairs leading TO
bis rooms while In IA Ct Of this sort. This
tendency was aggravated by any kind OF
mental excitement. On the previous day TO
had spent tbs whole afternoon, from two TO
six, 10 playing chcns with friend. who oc'
cupicll negbborng room, aud tho ex.
citemeut Of the game had undoubtedly de-
yeoped the propensity which led to his
death lie had been out In the evening, and
had returned TO his room with Mr.. Richard
Ireland. who. after arranging some business
matters with him. lcit him about eight
O'Clock and tina was the last which was
seen of IN alive. IA no was found with
his clothes on his person. his bed remaining
uadlsturbcd. il ia probable that he fell asleep
in his chair and perhap, realized terrible
nightmare by precip,tatIng himself asleep
down the day height on which his window
opened A terribly real dream. Let us
hope 1t was the unconscious passage TO
happier waking in another world
A circumstance which lcnd' peculiar
melancholy to this catastrophe, ia, that Mr..
Brownson was in daily expectation OF his
wife. which may, even new. crown the tragic
horror Of the story with the sad coincidence
OF greeting at the grave. The brother of
the deceased ia at ST. Louis, and tho fatal
accident would probably never have occur
red but Tor tho abs nee which consigned his
brother To irightIuI accidents Of insane sleep.
Mr.. lirown,on had resided IN this city for
somewhat over u year, and in the interval
had become the centre Of wide circle of
friends who viii mourn tho sad end OF
career To which tine education and excel.
lent talents, secmed 10 assume a brilliant suo
cess.