Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-18
4 Shaking Scene.


A Shocking Scene.
A scene ensucd that made the stoutest
present turn their heads. The nooses had
not been properly adjusted, and the knots,
instead of going under the left ears of the
condemned men, seemed to slip to a point
on the left side of their faces between their
chins and the points of their jaws. The
drop had been about five and one-half feet,
and as neither nan weighed more than 135
or 40 pounds the fall was apparently not
sufficient.
Both men struggled violently, but Tay-
lOr's cOntortions We're shocking. There
We're muffled sounds of groans and once
Taylor was heard to utter by those near
the scaffold "Oh, Cod. His body writhed
frantically, and he seemed to be trying to
help the moose to end his existence.
Browns struggles were active, but not so
horrible Taylor's. Both men worked
their arms convulsiyely as If trying to get
their hands around and put them in their
pockets Their contortions plainly showed
that both were being strangled to death,
and when the bodies We're partially lowered
and examined by Drs. Linthicum and
Stonestreet the examination proved that
this was correct. Experienced persons
present, including Lieutenant Kelley Of
Washington, said Taylor's death was the
most horrible they had ever seen on the
scaffold.
After the bodies We're cut down they were
turned over to Undertakers Groome and
Humphrey for interment. Taylor Will be
buried by the former at the aims house.
while Brown will be buried by the latter
at the new Catholic graveyard near Rock
vile.
TaylOr's Statement to Ministers.
After the execution Rev. Howard G..
England, who was one of Taylors spir-
| itual advisers while at Rockville and who
accompanied him to the scaffold made
public the detailed statement made by Tay-
lor to him and the Rev. Mr.. Ingle a few
minutes before the execution. The state
ment is as follows:
Nobody on earth knew anything about
that killing except me and God. L saw
Brown coming down the road a little dis
tance from the store before ] killed them.
l hid in the woods until Brown passed.
After Brown passed / entered the house
and killed them. ] killed the man first
down stairs. ! went upstairs and found
the woman in bed. l went to the bed and
looked at her, then / walked back to the
other end of the room. The woman jumped
out of bed and stood on the floor. l then
rushed across the room and struck her
with the iron bar. No one had talked to
| me about the murder before, but Brown
had remarked to me that those people were
making money
When questioned by Mr. England as to
his reason for making a statement impli-
| eating Brown. Taylor replied: Il was
scared to death and nearly crazy, and
| didn't know what 1 was doing"
Mr. England and the other ministers con-
nected with the execution believe in
Browns innocence
The condemned men spent the entire
morning in religious devotion Taylor was
attended by Rev. Osborn Ingle of Freder-
! lex and Rev Howard G. England of Wick
| life, Va. who is visiting his parents in this
| place. Rev. Father Coleman of Frederick
| and Father Cunnane of Rockville were
| with Brown.
About ten minutes before the execution
Brown 9 little son James visited him in his
cell Brown appeared to be delighted to see
| him. and inquired after his brothers and
SISTERS Rather Coleman gave Brown a
hymn book, requesting him to make a
present of 1t to his son, which he did
| Father Coleman then told the little bov
| that his father was an innocent man. and
had made his peace with God. The solemn
| procession started at 1912 O'Clock First
| came Revs. Englapd and Ingle then Tay-
| lor. in charge of Deputies Embrey, Selby
and Wheatley. Brown followed in charge
| of Deputies Howes, Gather and Jones. and
| Deputies Watkins and Sullivan and Sheriff
| Thompson brought up the rear When the
Scanoid was reached the condemned men
| mounted with firm steps. All the while
| their lips moved in prayer The two were
placed in position upon the trap, and Depu-
| ty Wheatley strapped the legs of TAYLOR,
| while Deputy Howes performed a simiIa r
| duty for Brown.
| The deputy sheriff and the religious at
| tendants named and Sheriff Thompson
We're the only ones upon the scaffold.
Preceding Incidents.
| At Z o'clock this morning Rockville wore
| it's usual quiet aspect, and no observer
| would have thought that anything unusual
| was to occur during the day. The expecta-
| tons that the town would fill up with
| crowds of the curious over night were not
| --- ZTS--.i-,-e5 - SrI-I-3