The Florida star. (Titusville, Fla.) 1880-1917, 1909-05-28
execution Of wan McFadden

the convicted negro rapist, viii Nc
Fadden, alias Geo. Anderson, was led
from his cell in the Brevard county
Jail to the scaffold, where he went to
pay the penalty for his crime.
There was not a hitch in the entire
proceeding. In ten brief minutes
the negro's hands were tied, the rope
and black cap had been adjusted and
at 1910 the rope was cut that shot
his body through the trap. His neck
was broken by the fall and death was
instantaneous.
In Is minutes the attending ply
sicians, Doctors B. r. Wilson and
H. G.. Utley, pronounced the body
dead and it was cut down one minute
later. AS no one claimed it for
burial the interment was made by
the county in the colored cemetery.
The hanging was witnessed by a
large attendance, people from ad-
joining counties being present, while
citizens from all over Brevard came
here to show their high appreciation
of Sheriff Browns work of almost
two years of never tagging effort to
locate and capture this negro.
I McFadden was captured by Sheriff
Brown near Jacksonville on the 18th
of last January and was held in st.
Johns county Jail at st. Augustine
until April End, when he was brought
here for trial and since then was kept
in Brevard county jairwith no threat
or manifestation having been made
on the part of the people of this coun-
ty to take the prisoner from the Gus
tody of the sheriff.
Before the execution Sheriff Brown
asked McFadden if he had anything
to say and he replied: IL am not
guilty. You are hanging the wrong
man, I was not on the east coast at
the time"
Rev. A. w. Brown, of Titusville,
and Rev. Ross, of Cocoa, were with
the doomed man to the last and were
his spiritual advisers to the end.
Every resident of our county has
just cause for congratulation to our
worthy sheriff, to the court and to
the moral support rendered by the
people for the final vindication of the
law in this notable case.
After McFadden's escape from the
officers at New Smyrna directly after
the crime, no one seemed to feel sure
of his further apprehension or ar
rest, for although the whole country
from Fort Pierce to st. Augustine
was in search and one deputy sheriff
had lost his life and two white men
were wounded in the hunt, he sue
cessfully evaded his pursuers and
left no clue to follow him up by; but
Sheriff Browns vigilance and per-
sistence at great personal risk and
expense was finally rewarded-after
McFadden had left the state and had
returned to it again. Surely this is
an act that commands the apprecia-
ton of all law-abiding people. A de-
termined and fearless officer is the
best and only safeguard of the GRIM
inal law and our personal welfare.
In connection with this matter,
that is now ended and passes into
history. we take pleasure in giving
to the public the following letter of
hearty appreciation from Governor
Gilchrist to Sheriff Brown, which
shows the high esteem of Florida's
chief executive to Brevard's high
sheriff:
Tallahassee, Fla, May 4th.
Hon. J. P. Brown, Sheriff Brevard Co, Fla.
Dear Sir-I have examined the pa
pers relative to your application for
the reward of $250.OO offered by Hon.
N. B. BrOward, governor of the state
of Florida, dated Dec. 10th, 1908 and
attested by the secretary of state, H.
Clay Crawford under the seal of the
state of Florida, for the arrest and
conviction of Will McFadden, alias
George Anderson, charged with rape.
l have approved the application.
In due course of time l presume that
you will receive the warrant for same.
wish to congratulate Won upon