New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-07-19
TIE CASE OF BROWN

THE CASE OF BROWN.
Here is the true story of Bessy Brown, as
brought to us in the late Philadelphia papers.
Not as pleasant reading, perhaps, as the last
fine fancy in poem or novel to take with us to
the shady nook or beach, but useful.
Five or six years ago William Brown was
sober, hearty young fellow, well educated for
his station, and with kind heart
and pleasant manner, which made him
favorite with all his kinsfOlk and brought
him plenty of friends. The friends led him to
take glass or two now and then; the glass
or two became naturally steady drink; the
drink brought dismissal from his shop idle
ness, dissolutc habits. Still, Brown was, to
his friends, ga good fellow" with no fault
which sobriety would not cure-nobody's
enemy, in short, but his own. About
year and half ago, going out to the Park
one day, he met in car q neat, pretty Young
girl, who was introduced to him as Bessy
Hcrshcimer "FrOm the first moment saw
cher loved her, he says and there is no reason
to doubt that the poor wretch has loved and been
faithful to his wife from that day until now.
Love, however, never kept any drunken man
from abusing his wife, or making his home
f0retaste of hell The girl bore with him for
some months and then left him, supporting
herself by sewing. "Will,' she stated, "fol-
"lOwcd hor, drunk or sober" watched her con-
tinually, being jealous, naturally enough, as
his wife was pretty, and resolutcly refused to
go back to her life of misery with him.
One night two weeks ago he saw her
accOst some man upon the street, IN
all innocence, very likely, but it drove
him TO frenzy. The next day, according
to his own account, being sober, he avoided
her, but in the evening he went to saloon
for O drink, and shortly afterward met her
with another woman. He asked her ii she
wanted money she replied by taunt i;
"then,r as one of the witnesses testifies, he
threw his arm about her neck, and, think,
"kissed her, and the next moment saw the
"bleod streaming from her throat"
She died almost instantly, and Brown
escaped. He went to some OF his klnsfok
and told them what he had done. They "liked
"Willr and hid his bloody clothes, gave him
another shirt, and set him on his way. The
man escaped from the police, who were
heating the country for him, and reached
Reading There was nothing to bar his way
farther until safety was secure. But he turned
and came deliberately back, lay secreted for
two or three days in the woods near Philadel-
phia, and then made his way to his wife's
grave. The Lieutenant of Police of The Dis
trict, knowing what manner of man he had to
deal with, and his morbid affection for the
woman he had murdered, had placed
watch about the cemetery, ex-
pressing his belief that Brown would
come back to his wife even there.
When he was arrested a letter to his mother
was found on him which shows his intention
of killing himself when he had reached the
grave. Nothing in fiction or hlstOry-not the
agonics of Fagn, ner the face of his victim that
pursued Eugene Aram by night and noonday-is
more tragic tim this letter written by the
murderer to his mother from time to time, as
he fled through the country, horror OF great
darkness pursuing him. 1t is not the gallows
that he sees or cares for, but "Bessy's blood
running down her neck" or his own
hand wet with it, He sees himself dead
in his coffin, with dreadful self-pity, and
bids his mother bring some young people OF
whom he is fond to look at him. as warning
against liquor. 1t is not Bessy that he blamcs /;
{" she is an angel waiting for him to cross the
"river;" nor himself-tlie "Will' that his
mother knew and he knew; but the liquor
the liquor. eff had not taken even that last
"driik. this would not have happened"
Brown is in prison now, waiting his trial.
Whatever the verdict may be, we may be sure
he has himself placed the guilt where it be-
longs.