Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-04-12
Tragic AfairFin BrownstOvvn Indiana
Two Men Hung by "a Mob.

Tragic Aha1rT1n BroWnstOXvn, Indiana
Two Men Hung by "a Mob.
BRowNsTowN, Ind, April 1.-The town
of Brownstown, the county-seat of Jackson
county, Indiana, on the line of the Ohio
and Mississippi railroad, was on Saturday
| night. the scene of a tragic affair, which re-
suited in the forcible capture from Jail and
the hanging. by mob of the exasperated
| citizens of that vicinity, of two men, charg-
| ed with the murder of an old lady, for the
purpose of robbery, at or near Clear Springs,
Jackson county, Indiana, some months
ago.
1t will be remembered that three men,
named respectively Tally, Brooks, and
Easton, were arrested, charged with COM
mitting that horribly fendish crime. They
were placed in jail at Brownstown to await
trial at the coming spring term of the Cir
cult Court.
The people Of Jackson county we're great
ly excited when the details of the murder
became known, and although the proof
that these men committed the crime was
very strong, there was some doubt, and
| this doubt was not removed until few
| days since, when one Of the men, Brooks,
unable longer to resist the gnawings of a
| guilty conscience, revealed, by partial
| confession, enough to conclusively show
that he and Tally did actually commit the
murder, and that Easton, through their
| conmvance, was an accessory.
{ This confession caused a renewal of the
excitement in the community. The excite
| ment was at fever heat, and deep feeling
of vengeance gathered in the public mind.
| The law was too slow, and it was whispered
| around that the trial of the murderers
would probably be delayed from court tc
| court, and that, finally, they would escape
the punishment they so richly deserved
| This feeling resulted Oh Saturday night,
in the formation of mob, numbering from
two hundred and fifty to three hundred
men. On meeting, it is said, they resolv
ed to hang Brooks and Tally, and leave
| Easton to be tried by the court, to sec il
| law would hang him, the crowd agreeing,
! at the same time, that they would hang
him if the law failed. At midnight the
mob entered Brownstown, mounted upon
horses. They marched for the Jail, and
filing right and left, completely surrounded
it. The leaders called out the jailor, and
demanded the prisoners, Brooks and Tally,
or the keys of the Jail.
The Jailor peremptorily refused to give
| up either the prisoners or the keys. On
| this the mob cried out Break down the
! door ! break in the door 20 and q rush was
made for the jail door. 1t readily gave
way, and several men entered the jail, who
soon returned, dragging forth the two
| murderers.
| They were taken to the courthouse yard
and surrounded by the mob. Brooks was
horror-stricken, and upon his knees beg
ged fer life, and declared that he would
| make a full confession If he was allowed
time. Tally, being man OF great nerve
and possessed of great calmness, declared
he was not guilty, and that if he was hung
| he would die all innocent man.
The shouts from the crowd were, Hang
| them, ''Hang them" Tally was told thai
time would be given him to make con.
| fession.
He replied that he had none to make.
He was then asked if he wished minis
ter to pray for him.
He replied he did.
The Rev. Mr. Benton Was sent for, and
soon made his appearance, and geainS the
determination of those around him, and
that an appeal Tor mercy was useless, ad
ministered to the spiritual wants of the
| doomed men. He prayed for forgiveness
of their sins, and for peace with their God.
After this religious service Tally was told
to prepare for immediate execution. He
| very coolly objected to the tree which the
mob had selected. He pointed to one neal
| by, saying it was much better tree, as its
| projecting limbs would allow their bodies
to swing clear of the body of the tree
| The desired change was made. Barrels
were placed under projecting limb, tc
which ropes were attached. Tally got up
on barrel and made d request that ho be
| allowed to fasten the rope around his own
neck, which he was allowed to do. After
adjusting the rope around his neck to his
satisfaction, which operation occupied but
| about three minutes, he gave the barrel
under him q kick and was left suspended
| in the air. Brooks lost several minutes in
begging and praying for his life to be
spared. He was put upon the barrel, the
rope tied fast around his neck, and the
barrel knocked from under him.
They hung for forty-fve minutes, when
life was declared extinct. The bodies were
then taken down and placed in the court
house. The mob then quietly dispersed to
their homes.
The men composing the mob were not
in any way disguised, and did their work
in quiet and orderly manner.
The coroner yesterday held an inquest
upon the bodies.
The town was crowded all day with citi-
zens from all parts of the country.
TaIly's last request was that his body
might be given into the hands of his wife,
who lives at Richview, Illinois.