Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1925-09-09

IIOIU 1oL UdktI
in-law of Governor Willard, of Ind
lana. The forty hungry hostages
were liberated unframed.
Sent To Charles Town.
The prisoners we're sent by train to
Charles Town, six miles distant, and
placed in the jail there, now gone,
opposite the Courthouse. The trial
lasted several days. 1t was necessary
to carry Brown to the first session,
though he was able to walk back.
Six men were detailed for this duty.
Mr.. Conklyn said: Brown sat up
in field litter. There were George
Eagle and Bill Webster, both six feet
two, then Joe Ponder and Taverner.
George Davis and myself were the
low fellows: we carried his feet. We
put the railing up on our shoulders.
"There were a couple of steps from
the sidewalk TO the courtyard and
George whispered to me, Charlie. I
when we get to the steps, let's stub
our toes and let the damn old fellow
fall But we didn't. had no idea
then he'd ever be hanged. He was
an ugly looking devil. His face was
SCARED, the skin broken and the /
blood dried ON it and not washed
away"
Making sure that the Government
properties were safe, the Secretary
of War turned the case over to the /
State of Virginia, since she had suf-
fered the most damage. And it was
Virginia that tried sentenced and
hung John Brown.
Colleagues Executed.
Governor Willard tried hard to
save the life of his brother-in-law.
Cook. implicated with Brown. "Send
him to the penitentiary, anything,
but do not hang him." Willard plead.
Harding, the prosecuting attorney
for the State, said of Wizards speech
that it was one of the grandest APP
peals for mercy he ever heard, that
if pleading could save him his life
would be saved. But Cook and Cop
poe suffered like fate to that of
Brown day or two later.
That Brown was hanged on a
locust tree is a fond fable of some
historians, and that the moose was
placed about his neck while seated in
a wagon which was then driven out
from under him is also untrue. Mr..
Conklyn claims. Brown rode to his
execution in a spring wagon and was
hanged on a scaffold made by a man
named Cockrell.
Afterward the court gave this
structure back to the carpenter, who
carried it to his house and placed it
on the porch. Some weeks later
Coekrell, needing lumber for a job
on a dwelling in Charles Town, used
the beams of this scaffold. The wood
is in the house yet.
4 Locust Tree Near.
The locust tree, several yards away
from the scene of the execution, was
filled with boy spectators. Some one
objected to their presence there, but
an officer replied "Them bows do no
harm up there: if they get down
they'll likely be run over and killed"
So they were allowed to remain.
But the legend of the locust tree
was believed by many people north
of the Potomac. And the tree was
cut down and sold in pieces to tour
lists. When nothing was left but the
stump and roots a colored barber in
Charles Town dug up what remained
and sold it for $3.50.
The spot where Brown was hanged
is now the Gibson property on Samuel
street, half mile east of the center
Of town. Miss Gibson and her sis
ter, Mrs. Packet. have in their pos !
session piece of the scaffold. pike
which was one of 1000 with which
Brown planned to arm the slaves,
the table on which the Indictment J
was written by Major Hunter and
commission found on the body of
Leeman after he was killed. This
commission appointed Leeman a cap
tain and was signed by John Brown,
commander in chief of the headquar-
tiers, War Department. The scaffold
stood in the ward near the back porch
of the house.
Served Throughout War.
Mr.. Conklyn served the entire dur
alton of the war. He was field quar-
termaster under General Early. Mr..
Conklyn owns a badge of honor
which he wears and which reads:
Badge of Honor C. C. Conklyn,
Co. B., 18th Va. Cavalry. Laurel
Brigade Gross of Southern Honor.
Dec Vindiee. 1861-1S65."
Perhaps no character in history
has provoked more contrasting opin-
ions than John Brown. After his
death the song was written which in
spired Northern troops: "John
Browns body lies a-moldering in the
grave, but his soul goes marching
on"
Certainly John Brown gave his life
for his convictions. u. S. Grant said
of him that he was "a man of great
purity Of character, of high moral
and physical courage, but a fanatic
and extremist" Emerson proclaim
ed him ''the new saint than whom
none purer or more brave was ever
led by love of men into conflict and
death-the new saint who has achiev-
ed his martyrdom and will make the
gallows glorious as the cross"
Longfellow's View.