Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-07-18
EXECUTION AT WALTERBORO.

At IL o'clock noon, on Friday last, Henry
M. Wise was executed in the Jail building at
Walterboro, for the murder of Fletcher
Brown at Ross Station, on the Sd of Novem-
+ ber last. Both the murderer and his victim
we're white men in good standing in Colleton
county, and the tragedy created consider
BILE excitement at the time Of its occurrence.
The circumstances of the crime, as gathered
from the witnesses, are as follows
1t seemed that Wise and the deceased
(Brown) we're both enamored of two charm
ing sisters, daughter of gentleman near
Ross. The old man favored the suit of
Brown, but was decidedly opposed to his
daughters receiving the attention of Wise.
Being in great deal of trouble about the
matter, the old gentleman went to Brown and
asked him to assist him to break off the match
between Wise and his daughter. Brown
agreed to do so, and availed himself of the
first opportunity to inform Wise of the wishes
of his Observation-Disclosures Wise treated
the matter very indiferently at the time,
but it is known that they were not on very
friendly terms from that time until the day of
the unfortunate affair which resulted in the
death of Brown.
A short time before the killing, Wise met
Fletcher Brown and handed him note, and
asked him to take it to the lady. Brown con.
sented and drove off in his wagon. A little
further on he met the father of the lady, who
asked for ride as far as his house. The two
then rode on, when the breaking Of hame
string necessitated halt. Brown got down,
and pulling some strings from bis pocket,
unwittiugly drew out the letter which Wise
had given him, and it fell to the ground.
The old gent picked itup, and seeing the ad.
dress. asked for an explanation. Brown told
him the whole truth, and the old man read
the letter.
On the morning of the Sd of November last,
Wise met Brown and asked him how the old
man got hold of his letter? Brown told him,
and assured him that it was altogether an &C.
cident. Wise insisted upon fight, and, after
trying to smooth it over for while, Brown
said, we'll, ifyou will fight, let us have it out
right here like men, and, suiting the action
to the word, began pulling of his coat Wise,
as soon as he saw that Brown meant business,
said that he wouldn't fight it out that way,
but that he (Brown) would have to take the
contents of his revolver. Brown, being IN.
armed, turned to walk off, when Wise fired
at him. He turned and faced his antagonist
lust as Wise fired the second shot. He then
retreated rapidly to fence near by, and as
he was attempting to jump overit, Wise fired
the third shot, which took effect in his tenn
pie, causing death in fifteen minutes. Wise
ran of, but was arrested by the two Messrs.
Harley.
Wise was tried at the March term of the
Court of General Sessions, Judge Thomson
presiding, and was convicted of murder, des'
pite the earnest efforts of his counsel to save
him. The prisoner was sentenced to be hang
ed on Friday, June the 7th, but through the
efforts of bis counsel and friends, he was res
pited by the Governor until June the 18th.
Just before the hour for the execution, the
Governor again respited the prisoner until
Friday last, the 18th instant; it having been
alleged that additional evidence had been
found in his case. When the 18th came round
the Governor refused to interfere further, and
the prisoner paid, upon the scatfold, the terri
BILE penalty for his crime.
Wise was a native of North Carolina,
and was between 80 and 40 years of age
He is said to have been brave soldier dur.
ing the war, and to have been compllmented
by Governor (then GeneraD Hampton him
self for bravery upon the field of battle.
The conduct of Wise during his incarcera-
ton is reported to have been very revolving,
having occupied his last days of life in bias.
phemings aud maledictions against God and
.man, instead of preparing his soul for the
world to come. He stoutly protested from
first to last that he had killed Brown in self
defence, and that he would have repeated the
act under similar circumstances.
Under the recent law regulating the mode
of conducting capital punishment in this
State, the execution was conducted in the Jail
building, in the presence of the sheriff and
few witnesses. The prisoner maintained to
the last an appearance of stolid indifference
to his impending doom, and died without
struggle.