Wichita eagle., 1888-06-30
JOHN BROWNS DEATH.
CHAT WITH THE MAN WHO LED
IN THE PROSECUTION.

b Act in the Tragedy-A False State
ment Corrected -"Porte Crayon's"
Sketch-Politeness, on the Scafsold.
r The only time during the whole time Of
his captivity that John Brown showed
temper. according to Mr.. Andrew Hunter,
was when his wife visited him the day
before the execution. and Gen Taliaferro.
who was in command Of the troops, re-
fused to let her remain over night.
Brown did show right smart temper
over that" said Mr.. Hunter "But he
soon Gained down and acquiesced in the
arrangement. Mrs. Brown stayed in the
Jail two or three,hours and was then sent
down to Harpers Ferry. where she waited
until next day, when the body of her hus-
band was delivered to her She was a
woman of-very little sentiment, think,
for whileshe was at Harper's Ferry wait
ing for the body she was getting receipts
to make particular dishes"
Of the last act in the tragedy Mr.. Hun.
ter tells some interesting "reminiscences,
He, with MIR. Smith, of the military insti-
tute. went out the afternoon before the
execution and selectedthe location for the
gallows. which was Immediately put I'D
by Capt. .Cockreu. the town carpenter.
THE EXECUTION.
eve chose an elevated place, lust out
Of town, where there wasn't a tree or
anything else TO serve as landmark
Our idea was that the exact spot should
be forgotten asssoon as possible. And we
were eminently successful There ism a
man living, except myself. who can tel.
you just where John Brown was hung.
can put my hand on the spot, but |
wouldn't The gallows was put ND the
afternoon before, and 1t was taken down
as soon as the execution was over. and
the tmbers were stored in the jail yard.
Afterwards the gallows was erected as
wanted for Browns companions, but not
in the same place. As soon as one. HANG
ing was over the gallows was taken
down When the war came on the tim
bers were moved from the jail ward and
built into porch TO hide them from the
Yankees There they remained until a
few years ago, when their owner. Capt.
J. w. Coyle. sold part of them for moro
than his whole house cost him. They
we're taken north TO be distributed among
admirers of old John Brown"
Some things which have been printed
about the execution were utterly untrue.
according TO Mr.-Hunter.
THAT story of John Brown stoppipa
ON the way to the scafford to kiss littte
negro child is utterly false" he said.
no negroes were allowed to be near. !
saw him all the way from the Jail to the
gallows- l was close beside the scaffold
when he mounted it and heard him say
in plaintive tone, 4 hope they will.not
keep me standing here any longer than
necessary. The military were going
through lot Of movements. While
Sheriff Campbell and Capt Avis were
binding him and adjusting the rope |
heard him say, Make hasteP Make haster
When hesru that dropped my handker-
chief as signal for them to cut the rome
which held the drop, and they obeyed.
The military kept on moving about. but
before they got into position and knew
what had happened John Brown had been
hung and was as dead as Henry VIII"
THE LAST SKETCH
Strother, the artist and author. best
known to the literary world as Porte
Crayon- until recently in the diplomatic
service OF this country, was nephew of
Mr.. Hunter he died few months ago |
ut Charlestown- He was here during the |
trial reporting and sketching
''Strother. said Mr. Hunter, was with |
me when the drop fell He slipped I'D. |
raised the cap from John Browns face /
aud commenced making sketch of the /
dying mans face On my asking some
question. Strother replied that lydia
Maria Childs had published her wish to
have picture of John Brown in every
condition OF life to hang in her room. and
he was taking the sketch that she might
have him when he was finished"
Mr.. Hunter says that he immediately
had Browns body packed and sent it off
that afternoon TO Harper's Ferry
Not one of them was buried here. be
added Il shipped the bodies north to
friends and was very glad to do So Ste
phens' sister and sweetheart came here
from Connecticut and were with him the
night before he was hung They took his
body back with them
There was one ihing in connection
with the execution of Brown Ihsve always
regretted" said Mr.. Hunter. as he con-
cluded his "reminiscences land that is
this; As he assembled the gallows he
bowed to me very politely. was looking
In another direction and did not see him.
but was told of it afterward If had
seen him | should certainly have returned
the bow.
MIR. Hunter said this with the sincerity
OF a Virginia gentleman of the old school
who felt that by accident be failed to sus.
tain on one occasion his reputation for
good manners.-"W. 3. S." In Globe
Democrat