Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1891-01-30
JOHN BROWNS DEATH.
CHAT WITH THE MAN WHO LED
IN THE PROSECUTION.

Interesting "Reminiscences of the Last
Act in the Trag"dy-A False S'"'"
mani Corrected - "I'orte Crayoh's
sketch-politeness on the scnfiold.
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
Drown 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 IIorper'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 liarper'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
galows, which was Immediately put up
by Capt. Cockrell, the town carpenter.
THE EXECUTION,
1--WE chose an elevated place, just out
of town, where there wasn't tree or
anything else to serve as u landmark.
be forgotten as soon as possible. And we
were eminently successful There isn't a
man living, except myself, who can tell
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 us 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 scatford to kiss little
negro child is utterly false" he said.
mo negroes were allowed to be near |
saw him all the way from the Jail to the
galows | was close beside the scaffold
when he mounted it and heard him say
in a plaintiye 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 hastel' Make hastep
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 a nephew of
Mr.. Hunter He died few months ago
at Charlestown. He was here during the
trial reporting and sletchng.
"Strother, said Mr. Hunter, was with
me when the drop fell. He slipped up,
raised the cap from John Browns face
and commenced making sketch of the
dying mans face. On my asking some
question, Strother replied that lydia
Maria Childa 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. y"
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. he
added. II 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 thing in connection
with the execution of Brown have ALWAYS
regretted, said MIR. Hunter, as he con.
clnded his "reminiscences and 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. IfIbad
seen him should certainly have returned
the bow"
Mr.. Hunter said this with the sincerity
OF Virginia gentleman of the old school
who felt that by accident he failed to sus.
tam ON one occasion his reputation for
good manners w. B. So in GIoLo
Democrat.
sympathetic, Yet Cruel,
1t is strange by the way, how eaeilv
the symPathies Of the majority of man.
KIND can be excited in certain directions
in h..