Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1888-10-04
JOHN BROWNS DEATH.
CHAT WITH THE MAN WHO LED
IN THE PROSECUTION.


| Interesting "Reminiscences OF tho Last
Act in the Tragedy-A False State
ment Corrected - "Porte Crayon's u
Sketch-Politeness on the Scanold.
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 calmed down and acquiesced in the
arrangement. Mrs. Brown stayed in the
jail two or three hours and was then sent
down to Harper's 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 while she 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 Mr.. Smith. of the military insti-
tute. went out the afternoon before the
execution and selected the location for the
gallows. which was Immediately put up
by Capt. Cockrell. the town carpenter
THE EXECUTION.
I'VE chose an elevated place, Just out
Of town, where there wasn't a tree OF
anything else to serve as a landmark.
Our idea was that the exact spot should
be forgotten as soon as possible. And we
were eminently successful There ism
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 up the
afternoon before. and it was taken down
as soon as the execution was over, and
the timbers 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 yard and
built into porch to hide them from the
Yankees. There they remained until /.
few years ago, when their owner, Capt.
J. w. Coyle. sold part of them for more
than his whole house cost him They
were 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 stopping
on the way to the scafford to kiss little
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. 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 a lot of movements. While
Sheriff Campbell and Capt Avis were
binding him and adjusting the rope
heard him say, Make haster Make haster
When heard that | dropped my handker-
chief as signal for them to cut the rope
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
It Charlestown. He was here during the
rial reporting and sketching.
''Strother. said Mr. Hunter, was with
ne when the drop fell He slipped UP,
aised the cap from John Browns face
md commenced making a sketch of the
lying mans face On my asking some
question, Strother replied that Lydia
Maria Childs had published her wish to
AVE a picture of John Brown in !ery
ondition of life to hang in her room, and |
le was taking the sketch that she might |
AVE him when he was finished"
Mr. Hunter says that he Immediately
lad Browns body packed and sent it off |
hat afternoon to Harper's Ferry
Not one of them was buried here" he
dded Il shipped the bodies north to
riends and was very glad to do so. Ste
hens sister and sweetheart came here
rom Connecticut and were with him the
light before he was hung They took his
ody back with them
There was one thing in connection
nth the execution of Brown l have always
egretted," said Mr.. Hunter, as he con-
luded his "reminiscences land that is
his: As he ascended the gallows he
owed to me very politely. was looking
1 another direction and did not see him,
ut was told of it afterward. If I had
cen him should certainly have returned
he bow"
Mr.. Hunter said this with the sincerity
Virginia gentleman CT the old school,
'ho felt that by accident he failed to sus-
hin on one occasion his reputation for
ood manners.-''W 3. s." in Globe
Inventing an Aristocracy.
Says an Engishman: "You Americans