Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-25
JOHN BROWNS SCAFFOLD.
1t VIII Be Taken to the Worlds Fair at
Chicago.


Chicago.
Intact and in storage on one of the topmost
floors Of the American Security and Trust
building there is CHASTITY relic of the abolition
period. 1t is the scaffold on which John
Brown and his accomplices were executed.
The history of the structure is as follows: In
the latter part of November. 1859. David II.
Cockerin of Charlestown, Jefferson county
". Va. was employed by the authorities of
that county 10 erect the scaffold for the execu-
ton of Brown and Of those persons implicated
with him in the raid on Harper's Ferry
Cockerill bought the lumber from William
Phillips and with the assistance of three
carpenters. Jacob p. Croft. Joseph II. Cock
erili and Charles Barrett. built the hanging
apparatus in field along the east side
of Samuel street extended. The abolition
ist leader was hanged at ~ o'clock on
December 2, 1859. The scaffold was taken
down and removed to the Jail yard. where i: re-
manned till The morning Of December IS. when
II was again put up and Browns confederates.
Edwin Coppie. Shields Green. John f. Cooke
and John Copeland were hanged. The scaffold
was again removed to the Charestown Jail and
again On the 18th of March re-erec:ed for the
execution OF Albert Haysiett. alias Vim. Hays
lett. alias VIM. Harrison. and Albert D. SteveEs.
1t was once more taken down and stored at the
Jail Later. Mr.. BraSICn Davenport: president
of the county court of Jefferson county, gave
the timber 10 the builder. Mr.. Cocke-ill. This
gentleman used it in building front porch to
The home of Daniel Sheets the corner of
Lawrence and Liberty streets, Charlestown.
Here Ii remained till 1883.
STORED IN THE JAIL.
In that year the property mentioned was
bought by Col. John ". CoyIe and he, with the
help of Constructor Cockerill. pulled down the
porch and stored the material in the jail. After
Coyle's death the scaffo.d timber became the
property of II. II. Cooke Forrest Washington
Brown and George Washington. By them it
was sold TO Augustus q. Brummell of Ills G
street norths est, Washington.
The facts stated here are vouched for by
affidsvits from Frederick Douglass Gen. David
Ii. Strother. Frank Z. Lynch. clerk of the
county court OF Jefferson county, West Viz
gInia; Charles }. Faulkner, jr.. judge OF the
circuit court OF Jefferson coanIy: James y.
'Ialiaher. editor OF the Virginia Free Press;
George W. Haines. editor OF the SPIRIT of
Jefferson: Cleon Moore. Thomas A. Moore and
Andrew E kennedy. attorneys. large num-
Der OF prominent business people also testify
to the genuineness of the scaffold.
The present owner. Mr.. Brummell was
member OF the Richmond Blues that were
called out TO suppress the instruction and was
present at the interview between Gov. Wise
and John Brown at the Jail on the day before
the hanging. Brown was tacirurn and abruptly
closed the interview by turning to the governor
and saying: You have duty to perform, and
the sooner it is ended the better"
HOW IT LOOKS.
The scaffold is an old-fashioned one. It is
ska feet and seven feet high. Across tine top
five feet above the drop runs the beam to
which the rope WAS fastened. An old rope still
bangles here. and it is said that it is a piece of
the original hemp.
1t Is assembled by ten steps and is painted
with pitch. The drop is four feet long and two
wide, is hinged and falls upon the withdrawing
of a bolt from the rear 1t then swings down and
outward 30 that it would partially conceal the
body of a man who had gone through it. 1t is
to be shipped in few days to Chicago and will