The Washington times., 1908-06-29
Albert Brown Goes &c Death
Willingly, Proclaiming
Guilt of Murder.
HIS NECK BROKEN
BY SIX-FOOT DROP
Killing Result of Quarrel With
Negro Woman, in Which
Brother Interfered.


ing paid for his crime, the law taking \
life for life. At 1875 o'clock the scai-
fold trap dropped, and, without muir
rnur or a struggle, Brown plunged into !
eternity. Despite his light weight ms
neck was broken by the fall Brown 4
was calm and serene and prepared 10 /
die and he walked steadily TO the scat
fold.
Refore stepD1ng out or the scaffold he /
made his last statement TO Dr' Jothl /
Roberts, the colOred minister, VINO, Lo4 /
thirty years. has cOmtorted the uh.HI |
tunates condemned 70 de IN ~
Statement he was profuse in his thanks /
10 those who had ministered 10 hlIn' /
he said that he would carry away W. /
him kind thoughts for the Wal Gen /
Thomas H Mckee. and his assistants |
and for DR.. Roberts
Ready to lie.
I am ready TO die" ne said 'and
would rather die than go TO the peni-
tertiary. I know that killed my
brother. and 1 am sorry and willing to
die for IT, 1 hold no III feeling toward
the courts. the judge, jury, or any %
those Who had anything 20 90 Win
my 80 ~ 81 The witnesses did not tell
the truth at my trial. but forgive /
them, and forgive all for everything
that was done. l am READY 10 dle; anu
20
Grown spoke highly Of the courts.
ana was in an extremely contrite state
of mind. But Few men nave met IheIl
death so calmly.
Dr- Roberts sat UP in the death cham
- nth Brown until IL o'clock last
night. when ne advised him TO go 10
sly s.T have found in my long experience.
said the doctor that men VINO L,-ro
slept well always meet deaIh HlOIo
lrf1NVr
'A-' Prisoners Join Singing.
All evening while he was with Brown
CONG nsIaYns TO him. and ell those in
she north wing of the prison Joined in
Conspicuous in the singing, was the
,ojce of '.Ducky'' Holmes. who ire
ouently led in some Of his tavotlte
bvruns Holmes, perhaps, dld more 20
49, provyn M 10 meet his death than
anyone else Before the condemned man
was taken 10 the death chanoeF ne
talked TO him and cheered him oy the
When DIR. Roberts left Brown. at Il
O'Clock last night, DR.. William Howard
colored, of Zion Baptist Churcn OF south
washington took his place. No other
r,erson was in the room with Brown, eX-
cent the jailer. who had the death
watch. Brown took DR.. Roberts ad-
vice and slept sOundly. He aWoke cam
This morning and ate a hearty break
fast Il was for a time believed that ne
would break down at the last moment,
morning. he sang with DR.. Roberts, and
listened to passages Of scripture
Goes on Scafold.
Promptly at 10 o'clock, with the Min
lister and Warden Mckee by his side
he stepped upon the scanoId- He was
cool and with a firm tread and HIS head
erect he took his place. All the while,
with the ministers who were giving him
comfort he sang Blessed Assurance
with a clear ringing voice,
The spectators stood in silence, while
the moose was fastened, the condemned
mans legs tied and the cap SLIPPED on
his head.
and with a click the trap fell. Instant
" the singing ceased Browns body
shot for a short distance through space,
and came UP short with q heavy muir
fed jerk. His body quivered. and there
was silence. The sun shOne yellow on
the white walls of the court and out
side the birds Uwittered mCcklugly-
Their notes did not relieve the feeling
OF impenetrable silence. No one of The
twenty-five spectators spoke, but each
swallowed hard. and wished they might
muffIe the heart throbs that il seemed
would break tho silence.
Body Suspended % Minutes.
For twenty minutes Browns body
hung suspended His muscles did not
jump violently, but quivered, in appar-
emily ceaseless motion. This lasted for
an unusually long time, and accounted
for the time his body was left suspend
ed. At the expiration of the twenty
eight minutes his body was taken down,
limp and lifeless. Upon examination by
Dr. Shute, the Jail physician, and sew
eral others who conferred with him. Il
was found that the siX-fOOt drop had
broken Browns neck and death had
been instantaneous.
In talking to Warden Mckee several
days ago. Brown said that he was not
looking for and did not expect a stay
or any action by the President He
knew that his attorneys, Gaskins 6
Thomas had taken his case before the
President. but he declared that he eX'
pected nothing.
Made Good Prisoner.
Upon his commitment to the jail or
December 6. 1907, Brown was what IS
generally known as a bad man." He
changed. however. and became a mode
prisoner. He was treated as kindly a.
possible under the circumstances. H,
sent for DR.. Roberts and other minister.
and devoted all his time 10 religion anC
prayer.
Browns exact age is not known. Hi.
parents have been dead for many years
and no one seems to know exactly He
said q few days ago that he was nine
teen. 1t is the opinion Of Warden Nc
Kee and others that has was twenty
He locked a mere boy.
When the warden came to his eel
this morning. the prisoner said, Wv
are ready. just as Icon as everything
is all right" He asked il he ccnld veal
collar. and was granted permission
He was dressed in a black coat. are
dark gray trousers. the clothes tina
were mis- Sunday best before the i'll
fated day when ne killed his brother.
Showed Courage.
In all the preIirninaries Brown wa;
COURAGEOUS. but knowing his condition
and his strength DR.. Roberts prepare,
him. He told Brown just how every
thing would be done. and how II would
be best for him to act. Several day
REO. the executiOner wanted TO ge
Browns measurements, but was reluct
ant TO tell him what he wanted Or
Roberts told him. and he calmly hat
his neck measured, his height taken
and was weighed
disagreement about girl Brow
slapped the girl and his older brOthe
interfered. The two came TO blows. an
the younger man got the worst Of tn