The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-08-01
MADISON BROWN HANGED
,,sr EXECUTION IN NORFOLK FOR
HALF A CENTURY.
rhs Negro Murderer Of Mr. John Do'iard
Goes to His Donth without Iremor.
He Made no Confession.

He Made no Confession.
NORFOLK, VA, July 3t.-Special.-
The first execution In Norfolk for fifty
wears took place at noon to-day. Madi-
son Brown (coIored) was hanged for
the murder of John Dollard. The exc
cution was Witnessed by about sixty
persons. and went off without a hitch.
Brown was decidedly the coolest man
In the crowd. He assembled the steps
OF the scaffold at ll:O without tremor
and maintained himself In Ike manner
throughout the ordeal Religious cere-
monies were conducted by Catholic
priest, at the close of which the drop
fell. Death was caused by strangula-
tion.
The condemned man made no confess
sion on the scaffold.
HISTORY OF THE CRIME
The morning OF April T. 1893 about
! o'clock, several pistol shots were heard
in the vicinity of Queen and James
streets. The residents of the neighbor-
hood were aroused, and soon II was re-
ported that Mr.. John Dollard, a member
OF the Select Council, a prominent and
wealthy citizen. had geen killed by burg
lars. who were attempting to rob his
store.
The FIRST Information received by the
police was through the telephone. re-
questing the presence OF the patrol wagon
and announcing that two young white
men, the sons OF prominent parents. had
been arrested charged With the crime
A few minutes after the shooting these
young men We're arrested by officer
Joynes near Centenary church.
PROTESTED INNOCENCE.
They protested their innocence, ex-
planned their presence in the vicinity at
that hour OF the night. and the next
morning at the preliminary trial in the
Police Court. Justice East and the coro-
ner's jury,, composed OF Or. Newton lcor-
c. W. r. Russell. c. ". T'yree. James
Barley and Alex Rudd. hearing the evil
dence, were discharged, on motion Of the
communicating Attorney, as there was
not the slightest suspicion against them.
IL being simply an unfortunate circum-
stance liable To overtake any young man
After this trial the police for a time
appeared to be at sea" The newspapers
demanded that no stone be lett unturned
that would throw the slightest light upon
the perpetratOr OF so heinOus an offence
and declared that the reputation Of the
force was at stake. reward Of 500
was offered, and the police worked night
and day. About ten days after the muir
der the detectives discovered a clue and
on the 18th Of April their efforts were
rewarded by the capture of Madison
Brown and Alex Boush.
NUMEROUS RoBBERIFs.
For some weeks before the murder
numerous robberles had been committed
in the upper part Of the city. The police
believed that these robberies were com
United by inexperienced hOusebreatefs
and that one Of these killed Mr. Io-
lard The fact proved that they were
upon the right trail. They located one Of
the suspects, Madison Brown. at a house
on Fenchurch. between Cove and Holt
and arrested him and several negroes.
one of whom was Alex. Boush. very
black and very small negro about eigh-
teen years OF age who was found at
Butts cook shop up town.
Boush proved 10 be friend of Browns,
and in their possession were found articles
connecting them with the uptown rob
berries and the murder OF Mr.. Dollatd.
To the police they confessed numerous
hOuse-breakings and ne murder. An eX-
animation was had before Justice East.
and Brown and BOush were sent on to the
grand jury.
THE TRIAL.
a true bill was returned. and the case
was called at the criminal term following.
Browns father, who H. n cOlored Bap-
fist preacher Of Winston, Y. c., came
to Norfolk 10 see that his son was proper
~ defended, and employed Judge John
Nicely as counsel
The prisoners elected TO be tried sepa-
rately after the examination of numerous
Dollard's family who said that while sit
ting in his chamber he heard some one
attempting 10 enter his store by forcing
the back door. He went down into the
street and around 20 the side gate. and
while I'm the act of opening the gate
shot was fired from within, the bah
striking him in the lower part OF the neck;
that he staggered back from the gate.
and while returning TO the front OF the
street fell upon the pavement and died
in "A few minutes.
The most important witness for the
Commonwealth was Alex. Boush who
said that he and Brown were friends;
that Brown asked him If he did not
want 10 make some money, and pro-
posed that they rob certain stores;
Brown would enter the buildings while
he CBoush) should watch; that they sue
ceeded in several robberies and then
arranged 10 break into the DOllard store.
While at work upon the back door, Mr.
DOnarh approached ana attempted 10
open the gate when Brown. who had
the pistol, fired, and during the con-
fusion attendant upon the shooting both
escaped.
Brown was put upon the stand 10y
the defence and said that Boush fred
the shot, and that his statement was
actuated by ill-feeling OF account OF a
certain woman whom both had been
visiting. The case was argued with
great ability by Judge Nicely The at
tOrney for the Commonwealth i'm closing
the case, asked for a verdict Of murder
III tit IlISl u'SItc, WHICH was so render
ed.
Boush was tried and defended by Mr..
Triton. As only one shot had been fred
and Brown had been convicted Of firing
that shot. he was given eighteen years in
the pententiary.
motion for a new trial was made
in the Brown case and overruled and
certain exceptions noted. The case was.
taken TO the Court of Appeals, which
sustained the rulings Of the lower court
GOVERNOR REFUSED TO INTERFERE.
When every effort had failed in the
courts to open the case an appeal was
made TO the Governor to commute the
sentence 70 life Imprisonment In the
state penitentiary The father or the
condemned murderer came TO Norfolk.
secured the signature OF a number of
Justice and several OF the jurors, and
this pettiCr was presented TO Governor
OFeIraA by Mr.. TiltUn. who based the
request upon the fact that Boush had
been punished by imprisonment in the
penitentiary.
The Governor refused to interfere and
Rrowu was carried before Judge Brooke
and the day of his execution fixed at
July 3lst. between the hours OF sunrise
and sunset
Two Negroes Hanged for Murder.
CANTON, MISS. July 31.-The two
Scott brothers megroes) were hanged in
the Jail yard at daylight for the murder
of Norman Hopson, October. 1893.