The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-12
NEGRO EXECUTION IN ARKANSAS.
A Large Congregation Witness the
Hanging.
Men, Women and Children, Nearly All
Oolored People, at the Foot Of
the Gallows.
From the Little Rock Gazette.l

From the Little Rock GaZette.1
Brown Brewer, the colored man who was sen.
fenced to be hung at recent term OF Court at
Searcy, for the murder OF a colored man by the
name OF Bayley, paid the extreme penalty of the
law on Friday afternoon, May 2, at nineteen min
utes past two O'Clock. At few minutes before
two O'Clock the prisoner left the Jail in q lumber
wagon seated on his cofnn-a good one. covered
with black cloth. He was not In the least nervous
or trembling From the jail ne was driven TO the
place OF execution about half mile east OF searcy.
The place was the same where white man waa
executed one week before. large number ofpeo-
pie from the surrounding country were present and
number OF women, mainly colored The prisoner.
as he rode to the place OF execution calmly viewed
the scenes for the last time, meanwhile Downing
the ride to the scatfod the moose was attached to
the prisoners neck and he playfuy toyed with the
end Of the rope: Accompanying the wagon were
twenty-six sheritrs guards, armed with reviewers,
rides and shotguns, who watched the movements
OF the prisoner and the multitude, determined at
law After arriving at the scairold Sheriff Pettey
examined 1t infinitely. The prisoner remained in
propounded to MIN by persons present. DR..
Lewis Bigham asked the prisoner 4 no
wng whe e ssg IN The Msso5
he was observed to smile num-
Der OF times. Rev. Alexander Stephenson lcoloredN
offered the prisoner spiritual consolation, to which
he listened with bowed head, answering ques-
lions only in monosyllables. After tauklng a few
minutes the pastor withdrew, his eyes dimmed
with tears. Sheriff Pettey approached the con-
demned and asked, 'Are you readyY" receiving as
an answer, "Yes" John Stamp (coored), with
tears in his eyes, conversed few moments with
the prisoner, but in tones 50 low the reporter was
steady voice, saying Rome thing, am ready and
willing to CO. and believe God has forgiven me for
what have done. have prayed to HIM night and
day to be forgiven and think everybody should
ask to be Iorgiven.n
After this conversation ceased one OF the guards
took hold Of the rope which was attached to the
doomed mans neck, while the latter leaped lightly
froa the rear end OF the wagon and took his posi-
ton at the foot OF the scaffod steps. Mr.. WIl!am
Walker who was upon the scanold, prayed for him
and repeated the Lords prayer. the prisoner say.
ing Amen The prisoner a. inc conclusion ; OF
trembling violently and clinchlng his hands, At
the conclusion of the prayer ne arose with q.
changed color, becoming tlnged with yellow:
When he arose the persons on the scaiold came
down, ana the prisoner, the Sheriff and two
aeRat elastic saep sner was s Very
beam Sherilr Pettey addressed the people present
IN solemn tones Of Sadness saving that they had
assembled on an occasion similar TO Indt al ans
people present OF the danger OF lawessness and
particularly the colored; and said the win Of Jus.
few remarks he read the death warrant, his voice
trembling perceptibly. At the close ne turned and
condemned then looked on all SIDES and, with
slight bow, said ~ say let my faas DC warning
God l. and and to lead good, pfous, holy
and moral life Love ana serve God; d. do
be % best v days" Turning to the Sheriff
he said he desired to say no more, and asked per,
mission to pray, which was willingly granted, ana
his knees and began an earnest prayer TO God, 10
| whom his soul would 80 soon be sent HIS voice
| was tremulous and his words unintelligible, ana
before he ceased his voice not above whisper.
Immediately at the conclusion OF the prayer he
position under the beam. Sheriff Pettey then adj
usted the noose placing the fatal knot In position,
the prisoner turning his head to one side to laci.
tate the motions of the officer. After this the officer
brushed the Int ana dust rom ms clothing
at att this time gazed on the assembled multitude Tor
the last time, turning nearly around. At last his
eye became rveted on seemingly sougnt-ior per.
closed his eyes to the light of the world forever, as
the sheriff pulled the black cap down over his head
and tied It, After this the Sheriff came down, and.
with q Ratchet near by, sprung the trap the n0or-
ing OF the scanod falling to the ground. The
the rope slipped TO the back OF his neck, and the
fall was not sufficient to break his neck. He was
nounced dead and the penalty OF the law paid.
After hanging fifteen minutes he drew his limbs
and body up; at twenty-elght minutes his heart
was beating quite fast.
The scaiold was built in the woods and an oaE
tree used as one OF the posts; me flooring was
time OF his execution, had on black br0adcloth
pants, black alpaca coat, brown colored slouch.
nat and pair OF old shoes The hat and shoes
were the same he wore when the deed was perpe-
trated.
lvered to friends by request, as the following let
ter shows. There had been rumors that he had
sold his body to certain physicians The letter was
written by a friend OF the deceased at the dictate
of the mother and Is as follows:-
Mr.. n. b. PErrEy:-
SlR-Having learned that you will execute my
Brown Brewer to-day aud that his body will be In
Were my m s maj
that 1t ncapacitaes from being there 70 make this
Brewer and Sherod Roach (colored tor and
doing vi" eve, e fss,sn
In an interview with the prisoner in the jail, tho
following facts were elicited- He was about twcn-
ty-fve years DID, and his former master was dead /;
he knew he must die, and was ready and willing
to go; he said he had never stolen anything, but
acknowledged that he had shot at Charles Bayley,
but didn't know whether he had killed him or not !
he said that Bayley mad threatened his life, telling
times before the murder; Bayley remarked at tie
house while he was there, that there was "too ID
much company and spoke of killing some one.
He said he went there TO get his hair wrapped. He
also remarked that he had no intention OF killing
Bayley the night he went there, and when
he went to the house he called "Hallo!' to which
Bayley's wife answered, ''Is that you, Brown ~
He answered, "Yes.n Uncle Charley Zone OF the
men at the housed came out and stephens jerked
him back. On the day OF the murder he ate dinner
at Dave Dantons. lie said he did not know the
number Of the shot In the gum and would not I'M
dertake to tell, because he did not want to rel q
lie. He positively affirmed that he was not under
the influence OF liquor when he did the shooting.
He said ne knew he mad but lew hours to live,
and would tell nothing but the truth, asd
was ready TO die. His closing remark was 81 at
he never had thought Of killing Bayley before he
went there.
With the hanging OF Brewer justice was again
indicated, and one OF the coolest and most self
possessed OF men passed away to meet his God.
HORSE NOTES.
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