The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1871-11-29
TORTURED TO DEATH.
Horrible Scenes IN Me SoasA Carolina Pen
itentiory.
From the Now York Star,

Il "a -
The death OF Jefferson Brown, ii the po
nitcntiary Of the State Of South Carolina,
will form one Of the most terrible chapters
in the history Of modern crime. The bor.
rible manner in which he was tortured Il
death is sufficient evidenc that the boastod
civilization Of tho Nineteenth century has
not yet rid itself Of the barbarous practices
OF tho DIRK ages. Certainly no act Of mo
dorm times win surpass. in cruelty that
which resulted few days since ID TIE
death Of former resident Of New York
City. The following are some of the facts,
which were elected at the inqus5::, al
though tho authorities havo shown great
reluctance 10 permitting them TO be pub
lished,
II all the torturespf the damned wero
double distilled and roctihed and then con.
sccrated upon tho hidoous monsters, who
thus cruelty and inhumanly murdered this
poor wretch, they would be inadequate TO
satisfy the demands Of justice:
Jefferson Brown, . young man eighteen
years Of ago, left this city shortly aftor tho
close Of the war 10 60 to Richmond, whore
no expected to work at his trade as q car
penter. Being unable to secure employ
mont At Richmond, be moved to Spartans-
burg, 8. q. Hero, for time, be succeed
ed II earning enough to support him; but
business began 10 grow duh, work failed.
and az length hc found himself utterly des-
titute either ofthe means 10 return North.
or the ability to support himself where he
was. As he stated on his trial, be was
driven by necessity to lawlessness and was
captured in the FIRST attempt 1t petty thicy-
ing. He was tried at tho county scat, and
sentenced to Eve years at hard ladur in tho
State peuitentiary at Columbia. South Ca
rolina, q prison which has a national repu-
tation for its dizziness and tho brutality Of
its keepers.
For noaIly two years Brown worked at
bis trade within the wall Of the penitentia-
y. quietly and faithfully performing the
work that was given him, hoping BY good
conduct 70 shorten his term Of imprison-
nicnt. One day about . morth ago bow
eyer, be yontured to remomsrate vish the
warden for furnishing him with mouldy
bread, and moat % patrid that II could not
DO eaten. The warden replied that il was !
a did sight too good for such hound |
md ordered two Of the keepers to place
Brown In the black hole,' 4 cell twenty |
eet under ground and shut Of from either
light, or air. remarking that be (Brownl
sould DO hungry enough before he got any |
more food 10 complain about Alter 10. |
naming in tho dungeon nearly ten days
Without food or water lie was taken out and |
'rdered 70 return 10 bis work. lie had been
. weakened, however BY hunger and tho
oul air Of the loathsome cell, that be found
lliDsclf unable to perform his usual task.
The warden accused him Of Iazinoss and
hrcatenci 70 have him punished again. |
irOwn replied that be was doing as much
: hc could, and said ho believed the var
Iel wanted to murder him. For this of-
ence the warden ordered the captain Of the
risen guard to place Brown IN tho shower
'ath and 'giyo him as much a. be could
tand. Tho shower bath IA one of tie
aost terrible devices that cruelty over in
ented. Its construction IS very simple.
square box, little higher than mans
cad. and Just broad enough for him to
tand ID, surmounted by reservoir contain
IS water, form the principal features Of
bis instrument Of torture. The upper lid
I the box Is perforated with auger holes,
Ihich may bo opened or closed 1t will by n
leans q string which hangs upon the out
ide Of tho box. The prisoner is gagged
cfore being placed in the shower bath, bis
ands and feet arc slapped 10 the sides OF
le box, and his chin y thon placed upon 4
ar Of wood which IS put st such height
: 70 just permit tho toes TO touch the iloors
ias the weight rests mainly on the face
irnod up 10 receive the descending torrent
leo cold water. Thofo Il DO opporluni-
/ for fcsistanco--strupped fast and gagged,
% victim can neither struggle or cry out
,sins. the terrible torture which Is metod
u AZ tha discretion Of the brutal keeper.
Into "a instrument OF tlSs sort Brown ,
asplaced, in spite Of bis ontroalios 10 Be
lowed 10 wait until hc had recovered from
e u hls sprevi0us puntShsfcnt. Not ,
bis frantic struggles, he VIVA
lally gagged aud secured by the strars
the manner above described. Tic
soper then drew tho string, permitting
Ie water, which was almost as cold ID icc.
fall upon The uplurued Eacc of tho dying
risoner.
To heighten tho torture and pfolong the
ctims suliarings, tho water was allowed
frs. V strickle slowly down, but with .
'adually increasing force. until Il poured
ier him in perfect torrent. In this man
y eight or ten buckets Of water we're pour
into tho prisoners face whom the bar un- .
Or bis chin, which had been placed Ut such I,
height hs 70 raise him completely of his
et, broke, and he fell as far as the straps,
ith which his hands we're fastened, would /.
srmit him. The scene which ensued was
revolving that the description Of IL would
} incredible, IL the testimony on which the
ory Is based were not ineontcstible. TAX
g the limp and liieless body in their arms,