The times., 1899-08-19

Rockville, Nd, Aug. S.-The hanging of
Armistead Taylor and John Alfred Brown,
colored, this morning for the murder OF
Louis Resenstein and his wife, Dora, at
Slidell. Md. May IS, was one OF the most
revolving executions ever witnessed in this
State. The drop was not high enough and
the nooses were SO poorly adjusted that
even the force Of the fall failed to cause
them TO tighten. About seventy-five per-
sons witnessed the shocking scene. The
drop fell at 1915. Brown was pronounced
dead in twelve minutes and Taylor in six
teen minutes The doctors stated that
death was caused by strangulation.
When the condemned men were being
bound, before the march TO the scaffold
began, Fathers Coleman and Cunnane who
ministered 10 Brown. protested to Sheriff
Thompson that the drop was not high
enough and that the heavy, coarse ropes
would cause some bungling. The protests
had no effect. however. and the walk TO
death began Rev. Howard c. England
and Rev. Osborne EngIe accompanied
Taylor Both he and Brown muttered
prayers while ascending the steps leading
TO the scaffold. but showed no nervousness
When the nOCses had been adjusted by
Sheriff Thompson, Taylor was asked by
his spiritual advisers if he cared 10 say
anything. Just a word" said he Il
want TO say as my last words what / said
Al FIRST to Sheriff Thompson Brown had
nothing TO do with the killing / did the
job myself Christ, forgive me. Jesus, re-
ceiTe me-"
Smiled Mt the Priest.
Brown then smiled at Father Cunnane
and repeated after the latter, You may
take my body. but my soul goes to God"
= VII her,
want to say to you people but was in
terrupted by the sheriff, who placed the
black caps over the mems heads The
deputies then stepped aside and as Brown
called "Goodby, Mr.. Thompson and Mr.
Connell.' the sheriff placed q large lever
10 the spring which supported the trap and
the two bodies shot downward for a dis
tance Of about five feet. The heavy rope
nooses failed TO draw tight and the knots
slipped forward to the point of the chin.
Both men struggled violently Taylor
repeatedly jerked his body downward
as If 20 aid the moose and end the
agony. The physicians. Drs. Linthieura
and Stonestreet, pronounced Brown dead
at 1881 and Taylor was declared dead at
1875
The prisoners last night was spent
quietly, both men sleeping soundiy and
partaking OF good breakfasts in the morn
ing. The last few hours were spent in !
prayer and in singing hymns. Brown con-
1inued 10 protest his Innocence to Fathers j
Cunnaae and Coleman Just before the /
hour appointed for the execution, Taylor /
stated to Rev. Howard G. England and |
Rev. DR.. Engie that Brown was entirely
innocent of the killing OF either Louis or
Dora Rosenstein. As given out by the |
ministers after the execution, the con-
demned murderer made the following
statement:
TayIor's Last Confession.
Nobody on earth knew anything about |
that killing except me and God. ! saw
Brown coming down the road little dis
tance from the store before killed them |
/ hid in the woods until Brown passed |
After Brown passed / entered the house
and killed them / killed the man first
downstairs. / went upstairs and found
the woman in bed. / 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 |
I then rushed across the room and struck
her with the iron bar. No one had ia ked
TO me about the murder before, but Brown
had remarked 10 me that those people
were making money"
Just before the execution Browns little
son, James. was admitted TO the cell and
bade farewell 10 his father. Brown pre-
sented his son with the prayerbook which
he had used during the few weeks previous
10 the execution
large number of persons were present
from Washington, among them being Lieu
tenant Kelley, OF the Sixth precinct and
Policemen Lintler, Conner, Gitson, Garrett,
Ford, and Hewlett 4 large crowd gath
cred around the Jail during the morning and
every tree was occupied by a number OF
spectators w. II. Belt, Of Chicago. whose
father formerly owned Brown, sent the fol-
lowing despatch TO Governor Lowndes. af-
ter the execution: Il hold you and Judge
McSherry responsible for the death of an
innocent man. This viii be heralded
throughout the Uaited States"
The bodies were turned over TO local
undertaken for interment. Brown viii be
inferred IN the new Catholic graveyard
near Rockville, while Taylor viii be buried
at the aims house Feeling is intense here
over the confession made by Taylor, and IL
Is believed by many that Brown was an
4nnoceDt man