St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1859-12-15
The Execution Of Old John Brown.
FULL PARTICULARS OF THE PRISON
AND GALLOWs SCENE.
HIS LAST INTERVIEW WITH Ills WIFE.

from Harper's Ferry, under command
of Capt Moore, of the Richmond Mont
gomcry Guards. The carriage which
conveyed her was stopped at the out
skirts of the town.
Capt. Brown was informed of his
wife's arrival, and requested that she
might be allowed to enter his room al
soon as possible. In few minutes
the jailor conducted her into his pres
ence. The meeting was affecting, anC
at first neither party spoke.
Brown embraced her, pressed hel
to his bosom and exclaimed, "My
wife |" No tears were shed, but a
deep drawn sigh told too well of the
intensity of the feelings which each
was undergoing.
After a few moments thus spent,
the Captain drew a chair, and Mrs.
Brown sat down. He then spoke to
her of bis condition, told her he was
contented, and if it was not for part.
ing with her and others whom he loved,
he would have no regret in dying.
Mrs. Brown entered fully into the feel
ings Of her husband, and both were
resigned to the fate which awaited
him.
Capt. Brown referred to the DISPOSE
ton of his property aud the welfare
of his children. and after spending an
hour in conversation, supper was
brought in by the kind jailor, and the
husband and wife sat down together
to partake of their last meal. The
Captain raised his hands, and asked
God to bless the meal, and then with
a cheersulness which has no parallel,
they commenced their repast. From
the time Mrs Brown arrived old Cap
tain BIS spirits rose and he exhibited
light heartedness, which surprised
those who were around him. Mrs.
Brown remained with her husband
until half past six o'clock, when she
was informed that the interview must
end. The captain desired that his
wife might remain with him during
the night, but the orders from head
quarters were to the contrary, and &C
cordingly they separated. While the
parting scene was one which showed
much intensity Of feeling, there was
no exhibition of passion, and after an
embrace and kiss, and kind admoni-
ton from Brown they parted forever.
Mrs. Brown was conducted to her
carriage, and under a similar escort
with Capt. Moore, who was kind and
gentlemanly in his department, the
carriage started for the Ferry. The
substance of Browns interview with
his wife was relative to settlement
of his monetary affairs and the dispo
sition of his body. Previous to her
arrival he had desired that his body
should be burned, and Ike ashes there.
of urned, and in that condition re-
moved. He also expressed a desire
that the bodies of his two sons who
were killed at Harper's Ferry should
be disinterrcd, and after undergoing
similar process, be placed in the
same urn with his own, and taker
North.
This would have been impossible
as the physicians of Winchester ha,
secured their bodies and dissectet
) them.
Brown spent some two or three hours
} last night, writing and reading, an,
r then retired to rest. He slept sound
ly, and rose about six o'clock, cheer
full and apparently unconcerned abou
the fate which awaited him. About
half-past seven o'clock, after partakinp
of his breakfast, ,jaiIor Capt. Avis,
who had been very kind to Brown and
who had endeared himself thereby,
informed him that he could visit Cook,
Coppic, and the other prisoners, if he
desired. Accordingly he was con-
Quoted to the room of Cook first.
INTERVIEW BETWEEN BROWN AND HIS
FELLOW PRISONERS.
On entering, a kindly recognition
took place, when Capt. Brown said,
addressing Cook II am sorry you
have not confined yourself to truth in
your statement called your confession.
never sent you to Harper's Ferry as
spy, and your statement to that eff
feet is false"
Cook" You certainly did"
Capt. Brown lin commanding
tone y" l did not, sir. You have, by
your course, held yourself up as an
object of contempt, and deservedly
So"
At this remark, Cooks head fell,
and he made no reply Brown was
next conducted to Stevens room. The
meeting between them was cordial.
Brown remarked that he was about to
die. Stephns said F.: 81 feel assured
that you will go to better world than
this" Capt. Brown said Conduct
yourself like man. know you will
do so without my advising.' They
again shook hands, and parted. He
then repaired to the room of Coppic,
where conversation almost similar
took place. Thence he went to the
rooms OF the negroes, whom he said
he expected to die like men, and as
became their condition and position.
the negroes gave him the assurance
that they would die fearlessly, as they
were fully assured that their action
was just and proper. Brown then re-
turned to his room, and continued wri-
ting for some time.
THE EXECUTION.
As the hour approached for his exc
cution, the Medical Faculty in attend
ancc, the Sheriff of the county. and
the officers of the Jail, visited his room
and conversed with him. Brown was
cheerful, and talked as though the
hour which was appointed for his
death, was Indifferent, aud far in the
future. Nothing of any material in
tcrest occurred in these interviews.
At nine o'clock, agrecably to the
general order, the military companies
commenced assuming their positions.
One company was stationed ia front
OF the Jail another directly opposite
of the Market House, and yet another
in front Of the Court House, which
was only a few yards to the north of
the prison. Two pieces of brass can
non were placed near the Jail wall, on
the road leading to the scaffold.
The placa NJ oyacut;,,, ,. -.