Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-07-23
The Case Of Brown,

Here is the true story OF HeS>y Brown. as
brought to las in the late Philadelphia pa
EerS. Not as pleasant reading. perhaps, as
the last hne fancy iU poem or novel TO take
useful.
Five or six years ago William Rroyyn was
a sober, hearty young fellow. We'll educated
tor his station, and with n kind heart and
pleasant manner, which made him a favorife
with all his ktDstolk, ana brought him plenL y
OF friends. The friends lei him 10 take Il
glass or two now and then, the glass or two
became naturally steady drink: the drink
3i onght dismissal from his shop, idleneSs,
absolute habits Still Brown was, to his
friends, "a gOOd fellow,r with no fault which
SOcrlety would not cure-nObOiy's enemy
IN short but his own. About a year and O
haI ago, going out TO the Park one day he
met ii car neat, pretty young girl who
was introduced TO him as ResSy Hersbeimar
IRON the first moment / saw her loved
her," he says, and there is no reason to iou III
that the poor wretch has loved and been faith
hi 10 his wife nom that day until now.
Love however, never kept any drunken man
from abusing his wife, or making his home
q ioretaste of hell. The girl bore with him
Tor Some months and then left him. suDport-
ing herself by sewing. "Will." she stated
followed her. drunk or sober watched her
continually, being jealous, naturally
enough, as his wife was pretty and reso
iutely refused 10 20 back 10 her life of misery
with him. One night two weeks ago me saw
her accoSt some man upOn the street, in al
innocence, very likely, but il drove him 10
frenzy. The next day, according to his own
account. being sober, he avoided her, but in
the evening he went tOa saloon for "A drink
ana SHORTY afterWard met her with another
woman. He asked her If she wanted money:
she replied 10y taunt then" as one of the
witnesses testlfies, "he threw his ann
about her neck, and, | believe, kieSe!
her, and the next moment l saw
Ic blood streaming from her throat"
She died almost instantly, and Brow. then
escaped lie went 10 some OF his kiusI llk
and told them what he had done. They liked
will and hid his bloody clothes gave him
another shirt, AMI set him On his way. The
man escaped from the police, who were b at
l. The country for him, and reached Read
is' 1here was nothing 10 bar his way far
tier until safety was secure. Bat ne 1urue.!
and came deliberately back, lay secrefei for
two or three days IN the woods near PhiIa-
deIphia, and then made his way II his wire's
grave. The lieu tenant Of police of the dis
tTlct, Knowing what manner CT man he had
10 zeal with, and his morbid affection for
the woman he had murdered. hal placed
watch about the cemetery, expressing his
belief that Brown would come back to his
Wife even there. When he was arrested
letter TO his mother was found on him
which shows his intention of killing him.
self when he had reached the grave
Nothing in fiction or histOry-not the
agonles OF Fagln, nor the face OF his victim
mat pursued Eugene Aram by night and by
noonday-is more tragic than 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 g6llOWs that he sees or cares for
but "Bessle's blood running down her neck
or his hand wet with it. He sees hims elf
dead in his coffin, with dreadful self-pitv
ana bids his mother bring some yOungipeOple
of whom he is fond TO look at him as a
warning against liquor. 1t is not Bessy that
ne blames; she Is an angel waiting for him
10 cross the river" nor himSelf-the "WilI"
that his mother knew; but the liquor. ''If I
had lot taken even that last drink this
would not have happened"
Brown is is prison now waiting his trial
n ha H.
sure he has himself placed the guilt where
1t belongS-N Y Tribune