Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1875-04-01
ExEcU ION AT po.TsvI1LE, PA.


PoTTsyILLE, PA, March 24.-This is
the day assigned for the execution OF
Joseph Brown, convicted of the muir
der of Daniel S. and Annetts kreamer,
his wife, and her aged mother, Mrs.
Machemer, on the night of February
25, 1872. Brown was only eighteen
at the time the murder was committed,
and is now but twenty one. Mrs
Kreamer lived for a week, and her
dying testimony was nsed on the trial
of Brown. He was sentenced October
Z, 1872, but new trial was ordered
by the Supreme Court, and he was
again convicted November Is, 1878,
but the case was again taken to the
Supreme Court, and on the 18th OF
| August, 1874, the court affirmed the
verdict and Judgment gof the court be-
low After further delay by applca''
ton to the board of pardons, on Fri
day, goth last, Governor Hartranit
signed a warrant fer executions to-
dsY.
Since the scaffold was erected yes
.terday there have been many persons
viewing it, aud at one time the rush
was SO great That it was necessary to
close the prison 20 all applicants
Brown was very repantant ana Wept
much yesterday,
Notwithstanding the heavy snow
that fell all this morning, all TIE trains
arriving from the country. brought
many persons anxious to see all that
was possible. None of Browns imme-
date relatives, except cousin, came
to-day to see him. Some intimate
friends babe him goodbye, and the
scene was very affecting. AT ten
o'clock the death warrant was read to.
him, but he manifested no emotions.
Messrs. Kline and Slime, German Re.
| formed ministers, were in attendance,
and held divine service the entire
morning. The scaffold to be used is
from Moyamensing prison, and is the
the same that Probst, Heidienblul and
others were executed on. Last night
Brown appeared in better spirits than
usual, and desired that several gentle,
men be allowed to come and talk with
! him and stay all night. He ate and
drank but little and smoked. His com
pany remained till one o'clock this
morning, when he was left IN charge
of a keeper. He slept well till six
o'clock A. NJ, ate a slight breakfast,
seemingly in good spirits and well.
AS the time for execution approached
he seemed more cool and collected
At 1130 he was brought out into
! the yard, passing the jury with head
| down and haggard look. He was ac-
companied by the ministers, and fol
lowed by the sheriff. physicians, war
den and jury. The ministers continued
their prayers in German after ascend
ing the scaffold, and Brown was movec
and gave way to his feelings He
Joined in the confession of faith ant
repeated the Lords Prayer. The ben
ediction was then pronounced and the
sheriff adjusted the rope around hi:
) neck. Brown rose from bis knees an(
: broke out crying and saying i'll Ger
: man, 'smy soul recommend to Jesu
Christ, and dear Jesus, Lamb of God.
hdwv75r'1 h lfR1, r0Rs sH,sn , Rapleed apa B.!
strangling. The twistings of his bod.
were awful to behold. Fifteen min
utes after there was slight movement
and at eighteen minutes he was dead
but remained hanging for twenty eigh
minutes, when the body was cut down
Interment will take place in the prison
yard. Men were posted on the tops
| of surrounding houses, and on tai
trees and the summit of the mountain
they could be seen, eager to get view
of the execution.