The New York herald., 1869-04-26
THE CANAAN CHILD HORROR.

THE CANAAN CHILD HORROR.
Close Of the Trinl of Josephine Brown at
Hudson, N. Y.-A Verdict Of ssNot
Juilty'' Given by the Jury-Scenes in the
Court RO0m-A Hidden Confession of Joseph
Brown Coming to Light-The Real MUIR
derer Of Angie Stewart Still at Large.
PoUGHKEEpsIE, April 25 1860.
For six long days aud nights the trial OF Joseph
inc Brown for the murder OF Angle Stewart a little
child eleven years Of age, at Canaan, Columbia
county, has been In progress at Hudson, closing yes
terday with the jury rendering verdict Of 'Not
guilty." The part culars Of che murder are condensed
as fol lows:-In December 1857, Brown and his wife
were at Dayton, Ohio, where they became acquainted
with Angie Stewart and her mother. and prevailed
on the latter to allow her child to accom-.
pany them to Canaan, Columbia county.
On their way East with Angie the party
stopped at Cleveland, where an insurance Of 900
was effected on Angie Stewart's1ife. They reached
Canaan In due time and hired q house for three
months. The insurance on the chiid's life was to
run only one month. Before the policy expired
their house took fire one evening about eight O'Clock
and Angie Stewart was found dead and burned to q
crisp in pantry, with seven bushels of rubbish
piled on top OF her. A hurried burial Of the body
took place and Brown made application at the office
OF the Travellers Insurance Company, Hartford for
tn ti insurance money: @ That company, noticing his
right and proceeded to have the body Of
Angie stewart dsinterred. A rigid examina-
ti0n OF the remains was then entered into
by O shrewd physician and surgeon of the company,
which impressed the minds of all the parties inter-
ested with the idea that the child had been mur-
dered warrant was issued for the arrest OF
Brown and his wife and they were lodged In Hudson
gntT and on the 3o6 OF Nay last hung for the muir
der OF the cnid. The trial OF Josephine Brown for
.being an accessory before the iacp' commenced on
Monday last, her counse being Robert Il. Andrews,
who also defepded her husband. The counsel for
the people were District Attorney John w. Longley
and Attorney General Champlin. BY Thursday night
the evidence was all in, so that the counsel ON both
sides had all day Friday 10 sum up, Mr..
Andrews ,,orns occupying ve hours and ha
The charge OF Judge ingalls, followed, and at
six p. NJ. on Friday the case was given to the
out all night and all the next morning until twelve
O'Clock saturday nOon when the foreman sent
word to the court room that they had agreed. A
little boy overhearng the announcement left sud.
denly for the street. and In twenty minutes there
after the fact was known all over the city and there
was general rush to the court house. The sheriff
proceeded after Mrs. Brown, who was In ner CELL
and brought her into the court r0om which by this
time was crowded almost TO suuocation, large
number OF females being present. Every available
standing and sitting place was filled. As the
jury entered the room the Dadged officers Id
attendance showed the crowd back and opened the
way for their advancement to the jury box. Mrs.
Brown eyed the foreman OF the jury closely. and
her features wore painful expression OF alternate
hope and dependency As soon "a possible after
the command Of the officers, ''Siience In the cour-
quired OF the foreman of the jury II they had agreed
upon verdict when the person addressed SIMPLY
nodded In the Affirmative, and IN reply to the legal
question, "Do you find the prisoner at the bar guilty
or not guiltyf' replied. "Not guilty" Before the
last words were pronounced BY ,he foreman the
countenance OF Mrs. Brown underwent very
noticeable changes. There was q tremor upon
her lips and an imploring look from her
Now her face was pale and in an instant il would be
covered with red flashes; but soon the words
were pronounced when Set her free the blood leaped
in hAF hAF Ind md fkARn
expression OF JOY upon her countenance which Will
be forgotten by those VINO watched her closely
room, and then Robert E. Andrews, Mrs. Browns
true counsel throughout the trial. advanced to her
side and Congratulated her with hearty shake OF
the hand, she returning IL vigorously. They then
separated, and for few moments no business was
transacted In the court. Meanwhile Byron @. How.
ard the local editor OF the Hudson star, received
from Mrs. Brown a statement, which In itself ~ OF
the highest importance 20 "a, and y al Is true WIN In
horrible murder Of Angie stewart.
STATEMENT.
She informed Mr.. Howard that Joseph Brown wrote
O confession before he was executed, In which, az
lao himself Informed her, the name OF the real mur-
derer OF Angeline Stewart was made known. The
contents Of this confession she bound by %
solemn oath not To make public, unless Il was to
save her own life or unless she acquitted. Tnis
confession was written In French and IL now being
TRANSLATED and as soon as this Is accomplished will
be placed IN the hands OF District Attorney Iougley
so that the real murderer may be brought TO that
punishment winch tue enorinlty Of the crime de-
mands.
Mrs. Brown sad that she took an oath, ut her hus-
bands command, never to divulge tue secret of the
existence OF the CONCESSION until the stpuations
above named should lie fullled--that Is, unless to
save her own lie aud II she should be acquitted. In
answer TO n question put TO her. 'what Brown said
TO her as he was led out Of the cell the morning
OF the execution" Mrs. Brown replied that he again
cautioned her to he true 10 her oath. Mrs. Brown
also said that her husband nstgated tue perpetra-
tion of the murder, aud that was the reason why
he did not make confession before he died
on MS trial. being satisfied that he would be found
guilty OF beng IAN accessory before the facv and
havlug made an oath OF secresy with the real muir
dcrer never to disclose the crime, he Kept that oatn
InviOate.
These facts were told Mrs. Brown bv her husband,
as well as the import OF the contents OF the
did not know what the details therein contained
were. Mrs. Brown remarked that II she hal been
convicted ana sent TO state Prison she never would
nave told oil the confession but she felt 1t her duty
now that she was clear and her innocence proven,
10 disclose such facts would place the murderer
IN the same position she has occupied so long.
She stated that the theory OF the prosecution that
the child was first killed and then heat was applied
was untrue. She also said that one witness swore
falsely when he stated she slapped Brown on tne
face at Caanan, and said, "Yes we may nave
$4,000 In a few days. He should have sworn that
Brown made that remark. she asserts that Brown
was guilty OF many crimes The plan 10 niu,aer rue,
Angie stewart concocted at Dayton, ONO. Ihe
confession In French from Brown was IN her pos
session, in sealed envelope, since Browns execu-
tion up TO within two days OF the termination OF ner
trial. when she placed 1t IN the hands OF her mother,
Mrs. Lydia Fox, TO take with her 10 west Granby,
Conn., for translation with 10 nave sent
back az translated to District ATTORNEY iona'av OF