The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-02-09
brown HANGED.
Slayer Of Policeman Gebhardt
Meets an Awful Fate
Today.
yam HISE'S BUNGLING
Murderer Struggles for Thir-
teen Minutes After the
Drop Fell.
HIS LAST STATEMENT
Denounces Capital Punish
ment Scenes In and
Around the Jail.
CRIME OF A FREAK
Lawyer Peshall Secures AM
other Respite for the AS
sassin of Watson.
CRIME OF A FREAK
Lawyer Peshall Secures An
other Respite for the AS
sassin of Watson.

!! James x. Brown, who slew Policeman
Gebhardt in Hoboken. on July S, 1888,
was hanged this morning in the County
Jail The weight fell at 10:9lA, and life
was pronounced extinct at 1O:217a. By
the bungling of Hangman Van Hise the
wretehed man slowly strangled to death.
Foggy, drizzly weather ushered in the
last day on earth for Brown. He was not
in bed when midnight came, being en-
gagged with Rev. Father mckinley, of St.
Joseph's R. C. Church. A quarter past
twelve the good priest administered the
Blessed Sacrament, and after he left
Brown quickly undressed and jumped on
his cot.
Good night he said to the death
watch, and not long afterwards he fell
into a sound slunber. Keepers O'Brien,
Stanton, De Hart and Craig carefully
examined the doomed mans clothing and
then it was removed. The hours dragged
on: Brown slunbering like a child until
a little after six o'clock when he awoke
and instantly arising stretched his arms,
yawned and said to the death waltch:-
..Hullo, good morning. What time is
it?''
He was informed Then he turned to
the chair to don his clothes. Instead Of
those he had placed there before going
to bed he found a new black suit. The
curious expression in his face changed
swiftly and his keepers knew that he
realized what in few short hours would
take place.
"a clean white Shirt he/ exclaimed.
you've often heard of the story that a
white shirt would do you; well, this is
going to do me. It's the last I'll ever
wear"
He dressed quickly and carefully ad-
justed the black tie around the stand-up
collar One of his keepers asked him If
he was ready for breakfast. He nodded
his head and was very particular in or
dering what he wanted. No tea, no coffee,
but chocolate; three eggs one potato and
rolls. These were brought and he ate
heartily. He could have had almost what
he wished: Sheriff Ruempler giving or
ders to supply him bountifuily. Breakfast
over, Rev. Father mckinley returned to
prepare him for his end.
BY nine o'clock crowds began to gather
outside the jail. Squads of police were ar
irving and by Inspector Archibold's order
were posted around the buildings, in the
square and on the sidewalks. Later the
jurors appointed by the Court and Sheriff
began to arrive. They were as follows:-
BY the Court-Robert Davis, Elbert
Rappleye, Chas. E. Wells, Dr. John D.
Mctiill, DIR. G. f. Snyder, G. H. Bowly, T.
Murtaugh, DR.. Oscar F. Coe, DR.. H. H.
Burnette, +. T. Lockwood, Peter Erhart,
William Baxter.
By the Sheriff-Dr. O'Gorman, Rev. F.
w. Hotter, P. H. Murphy, DR.. G. ]. Hor-
nung, George Dittmar, w. j. Moran, Ira
Miller, Charles Mcbride DR.. C. z. Hen-
bricks, E. Kenny. DR.. w. P. Slevin. Pre-
ceded by Sheriff Ruempler and Deputy
Sheriff John J. Heavy, they walked in
pairs from the Court House to the Jail.
BY this time Newark avenue and the
Court House steps were crowded with
people From windows in Willow Court,
on which side of the jail hangings take
place every window had head and two
glasses trained on the windows of the corr
ridor where the grim tragedy was to pc
enacted.
It was precisely ten o'clock when the
Jurors lined up on both sides of the cor
rfdor, at the end of which stood the gal
lows This gruesome piece of mac h1nsry,
painted a dark brown, and not black as
SOME people think was a foot and haif
higher than usual From the scaffeld de-
pended the rope at which. when the jurors
entered the hangman was nervously tug
ging. van Hise was in a sulky numcr
even for him. He had built his scaffold
higher for Clifford, and when he heard
that a stay had been granted and the $3.50
fee for the murderer of Watson would
not not be- forthcoming that day, he was
clearly disgusted.
HThat fellow Peshall again." he NUT.
tered, ssI wouldn't charge anything to
hang him." The entrance of the Sherin
cut short his soiloquy and dropping the
rope. he shuffled through the lane OF
Jurors behind Mr.. Ruempler to the con-
Here was Brown with Rev. Fathers Me-
Ginley and Foye, who We're giving him
spiritual comfort.
\ Il am not afraid to die he said firmly,
ltsI forgive all who have done anything
to me and I hope for forgiveness from
others I"
Slowly advancing the Sheriff produced
a piece Of paper with a black seal at
tached TO it and to Brown said:
Sts1he time has arrived for the execution
of t he WARRANT have here
xsThatss all right Sheriff you needn't
'Dl6lcultles give way 70 diligence. and