Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1884-12-11
JNTY. " VA TIL 2SDAY DECEMBER II, 1884. NO is

are game man, Capt Brown, the Southern
sheriff said in the wagon. Yes he an
swered, WAS so brought up. II was one
Of my mothers lessons. From Infancy /
have not suffered from physical fear. |
have suffered thousand times more from
bashiulsess; : and then he kissed y negro
child in its mothers arms aud wslked
cheerfully on to the scaiIold, thankful that
he was allowed to die for cause, and not
merely TO pay thedebt tofnature rs sll must"
Respecting the statements contained in
the above paragraph quoted from the book
above mentioned, solemnly declare:
]. That Capt John Brown was not "al-
lowed to lie in his bloody clothes till the
day OF his execution but that he was fur
nshed with change OF clothing as prompt
Is rs prisoners in such condition usually
are; that he was allowed all the clothing he
desired; and that his washing was done at
his will, without cost 10 himself. As an Of
iicer, charged with his custody, saw that
nc WAS az ali times and by all persons treat.
ed kindly properly and respectfully. Ihavc
no recollection that there ever was any at.
tempt made to humilaie orsmaltreat him.
Capt Brown took many occasions 10 thank
me for my kindness to him, and spoke Of il
to many persons. including his wife. In
further proof of the kindness he received at
my hands, will state that Capt. Brown, in
his last will aud testament, bcqueathed to
nc his Sharpe's rife and pistol. Further
more, on the night before his execution
Capt Brown and his wife, upon my invita-
ton, took supper with me and my family at
our table in our residence, which Was part
Of the jail building.
, have no recollection that the Sheriff
said to Capt. Brown "you are game man.
and received the reply quoted in the above
paragraph, or that any similar 5cmarks were
made by either of the parties. ! am sure
that neither those remarks nor any like
them were made at the time. The only re-
marks made by Capt, Brown between his
ell and the tcaiiold were commonplace re.
marks about the beauty of the country and
the weather.
g. The statement that he kissed negro
child in it, mothers arms, il wholly incor-
rect. Nothing of this sort occurred. Moth.
ing of the sori soull have occurred, for his
hands, "a usual in such eases, were confined
behind him before he left the Jail. He was
between Sheriff Campbell and me, and
guard of soldier, surrounded him aud nj
lowed no persoi. 10 come between them and
The prisoner, from The Jail to tlie scofiold.
except his escorts
l. Respecting tlic statement that he walk
Cd cheerfuily 10 thc scafold,' will say that
! did no, think his bearing .on the scaffold
was conspcuou, for is hcroism--yet not
cowardly
s. Whether he was thankful that he wns
allowed to die for n cause aud not merely
to pay thc debt of nature as all mus" or
not, | cannot say what was in his heart
but If this clause means, as the quotation
marks seer 10 indicate, that Capt. Brown
used any such language or saidanything on
this subject, il is entirely incorrect. Capt.
Brown said nolbing.likcis The only thing
that be did say at or on the seailold was 20
take leave Of us, and then, just about the
iime the moose MAS adjusted, he said, BE
quick lsigacd JoHS AVIS.
CnARLEsTowN, W. VA, April 18th, 's2.
STATE oF WEST VIRGINIA, -
COUNTY OF JErFERsoN.
/. Cleon Moore, Notary Public in and
for the County of Jefferson, State aforesaid.
hereby certify that John Avis, whose name
j. signed 10 the f5regoing affidavit, this day
personally appeared before me, in my Coun-
iy aforesaid, and made oath that the state
ments contained in said affidavit are true.
to the best Of his knowledge and belief.
Given under my hand and notarial seal.
az Charlestown, West Virginia, this 25th
day Of April, 1882.
(Signed CLRoN MOORE,
Notary Public
Norg.-Mr. Cleon Moore's certificate ~
boye i stamped with his public official seal.
A. c. HoPKIgs.