The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-08-25
specIal Dispatch to the IntellIrencer.


FAYETTEVILLE, W. Va, Aug "a
The execution of Jerry Brown occurred
to-day at 2a9 o'clock, and in eighteen
minutes life was pronounced extinct.
Browns neck was not broken and he
died In great agony; his groans and
writings were fearful to witness. He
protested his innocence to the last, and
maintained that indifference to his fate
that has characterized his behavior
throughout his long imprisonment. Dur
ing the religious exercises he talked u
bystanders about trivial matters, more
frequently taking notice OF the audience
and making some remarks about their
beauty and their pretty clothes He
brought to the scaffold large and hand
some bouquet that was given him by
some colored women on the road from
the Jail to the scaffold.
He told the sheriff that he had moth
ing to say, but that DR.. Washington,
colored physician of the county, would
talk for him. Washington's speech was
q miserable wrangle of words with no
meaning whatever. II was thought that
he was meaning to issue threat that in
the future the 5000 negroes that he was
called TO represent would see to who
would be elected court officials.
There was no disturbance at the hang
ing as had been anticipated. The sheriff
had provided good posse Of guards and
the sight of the many Winchesters in the
hands Of determined men Is thought to
have had q QuletIng effect upon their
resolution. There is little doubt that
they had been organized TO prevent the
hanging.
About 1000 people witnessed the execu-
ton. Mrs. Radford, the woman upon
whom the assault was made was spec
tator. and viewed the proceedings with
expressions OF satisfaction.
Story of the Crime.
It was on the night OF the 18th of Feb
ruary that the crime occurred at Deep
water, thriving little town at the lower
extremity of the county. Brown entered
the home Of Araminta j. Radford,
widow, and with axe In hand, compelled
her to leave her house, taking her some
distance into the woods, terrifying her
with 1t at every step, and finally assault
Ing her,
No one knew anything about the
crime until the next morning, when the
doctor was summoned to care for the
wounds that the negro had inflicted.
Several weeks rolled by, and 1t hap
pened that a negro was arrested and
lodged in Jail on mlsdemeanor charge.
To him the credit belongs OF fastening
the crime upon Jerry Brown. On the
day after the commission OF the crime,
this darkey saw Brown helping unload
freight at the depot at Charleston. When
asked why he had left Deepwater, ha
told that he had had some trouble with
q woman up there and that he was trying
to get away
A reward was then offered for the ar
rest OF Brown and his return 10 this
county Upon the advertisement Of this
reward Jerry was arrested at Hunting
ton, by Hon. S. s. Vlnson, ex-United
States marshall Brown was making
his home at Wilson'S at the time. He
had worked there for upward of a year
before coming to Fnyette county. Sheriff
McVey was dispatched for, and together
with detective Harrison Ash, went to
Huntington to claim their prisoner. They
took him 10 Deepwater, to the home of
Mrs. Rhdford, who fully identified him
az the man who had assaulted her.
Brown strenuously denied having any
knowledge Of the affair, and claimed that
he had never seen nor heard OF the
woman He said that his sudden leaving
OF Deepwater was entirely accidental;
| that he had gone TO sleep In an empty
box car on the evening In question and
that when he awakened in the morning
that he found himself in Kenova.
Albert Volres, who planned and helped
in the execution Of Charles Gibson. at
Montgomery, on April 22nd, 1895. was
sentenced to be hanged to-day. also, but
he managed to escape from the Jail n
few days ago, and has not since been
! hpnrd from