Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-12-05
Execution of John Brown,
HIS LAST HOURS.
Affecting Interview with his Wife,
-
soRNRs AND INCIDBNTs or THR OcCA-
SION.
MS IINT Will AVN pQCmlNHNT
HIS LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT


NANAAflnNNMH " KtNutf Aut ANsNH ANtaeANN " Wv
execution Of Ossawatomie Brown, full parties
ulars of which ! send you At Baltimore,
| crowds endeavored to purchase tickets for
Harper's Ferry, among whom were number
VI Northern editors, but the ompany positives
" refused TO sell auy tickets except to through
passengers or to those whose business and
character were known to the officers Of the
road. As consequence, many were disap
pointed in the effort to crafty their curiosity,
and the number of passengers upon the road
was unusually small At the Washington
| Junction, seven miles west Of Baltimore, two
gentlemen got into the train, and were imme-
diaty approached by an officer of the Com.
pany, who told them he must know who they
were and what was their destination. To this
query one Of them demuned, when the fol-
lowing colloquy ensued:
Ofiicer-lt is absolutely necessary that you
should answer me.
| Passenger am | in Austriai
Officer-TheTe is no time for argument--the
State that grants us charter has right to
proclaim martial law, and we must comply
with her requirements
| 2d Passenger-I am subject of her Britain
mic Msjesty--I have a through ticket.
lst Passenger-l have a ticket to Wheeling,
(showiug his ticket and am going to Mime
sofa. My name and business / choose TO keep
to myself
ofhcer-all right, gentlemen, you can pass
along.
The passengers seemed COED deal sur
prised and irritat ed, but were Modified when an
explanation was given by an official connected
with the Road. Some military gentlemen be
longing to the staff of Gen. VIM. b. Taliaier-
/ 70, in command at CharlestOwn, also got in at
the Relay House. They lived in a remote part
of Virginia, and hal been unable to jJin there
/ T,,. 1ar LII . L.. gN.Nt
along the route between Baltimore and the
Ferry, groups of people were gathered evident.
ly awaiting the arrival of the down train, car
rying news of Browne execution. Our train
reached the Ferry at a quarter before IL o'clock
and we found the platform carefully guarded
by soldiers who closely scOnned every passen
ger and kept the space in front clear. Every
where about the town soldiers were stationed
and the Government buildings had been turned
into barracks, in which were quartsred the u.
s. troops from Old Point Comfort
But few strangers were in the village, the
Wis itors consisting chiefly of people of the ad-
jsceDt country, who had como to hear of
Browns execution. a military company
which has Just been organized hsre, was being
marched through the streets with drum and
fife, and both sights and sounds conspiIed to
remind one of the pomp and circumstance Of
glorious war
l learned that Mrs Brown, with lady and
two gentlemen friends, from Philadelphia,
were staying at the Wager, having arrived on
Wednesday night. l Immediately sought one
of the gentlemen, named McKim, who was
loud in his complaints OF the manner in which
they had been treated by the military authori-
ties, sandss gave me the following narrative. He
says that last week Brown wrote to his wife,
saying if she thought she could bear the meet
ing with calmness. he would be glad to take
leave of her; whereupon she determined to
see him once more before he died. Mrs. Nc
Kim, knowing the value of woman's sYms
pathy and companionship, under such trying
circumstances, volunteered to accompany her,
as also did Mr.. McKim and another gentleN
man. The latter supplied themselves with
the hest testimonials as to respectabilty and
character and also with letters of introduction
to Col. Lewis A. Washington and others, and
reached Harper's Ferry on Wednesday night
On the next MORNING, they communicated
with the officer in commend of the Virginia
military here, that Mrs Brown had arrived,
aud that they wished to accompany her to
Charlestown The officer cOurteously respond
ed that he presumed there would be no Difficult.
ty in granting their request, and Immediately
, telegraphed to Gen. Talialerro, at OharlestOwn,
who, in turn, telegraphed to Gov. Wise for in
structoDs. A great number of messages were
then exchanged, and finally it was ordered
that Mrs Brown should be sent alone TO see
her husband and under an escort of military,
and the others of the party should be detained
and watched. Mrs Brown was greatly dis
tressed at being compelled to 90 without her
friends, but finally consented, and was taken to
CharlestOwn and allowed an interview OF two
hours with her husband, but was not permitted
i TO remain during the night. An anecdote is
J related of Brown in this connection, which is
eninently characteristic: When Gen Talia>
terro had arranged for the visit Of Mrs Brown,
he called on the prisoner and informed him
that his wife would come to see him, and he
! wished to know how long an interview he de-
f sired.
Brown said-"Three or four bours," to which
the General responded that was too long; an
hour he thought was enough. Brown replied
every well, sir, obey your orders, and do
your duty | have no iayors to ask Of the
State of Virginia"
This indomitable spirit was manifested TO th'
very last. Ia his final interview with Cook
I he accused him sterniy of falsehood in repre-
sentiDg that he, Cook had been misled by him
, He shook hands with all the prisoners, anI
handed each of them twenty five cents re
marking that the money was of no further use
to him.
When parting from his wife, he asked the
jaIor as though it were the most casual and in
different question, "At what hour am to b.
executedl'' Aud on being told IL O'Clock, h'
/ turned to his wife and said, Every well; if
i think Of anything else to say, l will write i
= down and leave it for you"
l. On the scaffold he refused TO make the usua
. signal to the Sheriff to let the drop fall, an,
A Iesoutey declined the services Of any clergy
Q man. No one attended him but ths Sherii
G and his assistants. lie has left two Wills
;. one disposing of some small landed property
and the other relating 10 the disposition of hl
pixies and Shapes rih-s
OF the final interview between himself an
wife, II is too soon TO speab. ] learn that sh
is sleepless and nervous, but sternly represse
external manifestations Of her feelings.
wIsE's LETTER TO MRS. BROWN,
o RlcuMoND, Va, Nov 20, 1889
q To Mrs MARY BRowN, now in Philadelphia
q Madam Yours Of the 2lst inst, addressed {
e me from Philadelphia, came to my hand thi
4 morning. Believe me, madam, that sadl
= thank you for your trust in my feelings as
d man, Your situation touches these feeling
e deeply, Sympathizing, as do, with yoGr 81
' Fiction, you shall have the exertion of my au
,e thority and personal influence to assist you i
gathering up the bones of your son and husban
g in Virginia for decent and tender intermsa
f among their kindred. l sm happy, MADAM
K that you have the wisdom aud virtue TO appre
eiate my position Of duty Would to God ths
public considerations could avert his doom, fc
e the Omniseient knows that take not the slight
z est pleasure in the execution of any whom th
. laws condemn. May He have mercy on tn
+ erring and afflicted.
n Enclosed is an order to Maj Gen. VIM. i
o Talliaferro, in command at Charlestown, Va
y TO deliver TO you the mortal remains Of you
y husband when all shall be over, to be deliyere
II to your agent at Hafper's Ferry. and il YOU al