Famous double Hanging in Denton, TX
The case of Andrew J Brown originated in Montague County but moved to Denton County for prosecution. It ended with one of the only three legal executions in Denton County. Brown is believed to have been a member of a secret vigilante organization known as "The Law and Order League." A group organized after the Civil War to round up thieves entering Montague county from Indian country and the lawless, as was without a sheriff or jail system. Their founding intent was to turn them over to the County Attorney to be tried before the community. This group is believed to have been responsible for a number of mysterious murders, including the murder for which Andrew J Brown was arrested, tried, found guilty and executed. The arrest of the Brown brothers (George and Andrew)from the "Law and Order League" is said to have been the result of a family quarrel. Andrew was bitter against his sister Lucinda for wanting to marry a member of the vigilante group, one S. Barras/Barris, whom he felt was more ruthless and lawless than the others. Andrew did not want this man in their family circle. Lucinda over heard a family conversation of the group's murder of the horse thief Morrow, she used the information to threaten her brother (along with Andrew's wife Eliz. Bettie Hart Brown) to tell the community. Which she and her soon to be husband did. This S. Barras after hearing the League intended to go after Lucinda if she divulged League information, went to County Attorney Metloch, and made an affidavit against the Brown brothers for the murder of Morrow. his led to their arrest and ultimate execution. Lucinda and Barras married before the trials.
Andrew J Brown and his brother George were arrested and indicted for the murder of Robert Morrow, a known horse thief from across the Red River in Indian Territory . Several other defendants of the "Law and Order League" were indicted at the same time, but fled town before they could be tried. The League members caught turned witness against the Brown's, with S. Barras/Barris for a plea deal.
On March 11, 1878 Andrew Brown and later George were put on trial for the murder of Robert Morrow. He was tried before the following, jury: Sol Carpenter, W. D. Cloyd, S. G. Sconce, W. L. Matthews, W. H. Pinkley, William Burris, G. W. Parker, J. I. G. Cowan, E. B. Harry, M. Willis, E. Boone, J. M. Johnson. The jury also assessed the death penalty in this case.
Appeal [was] taken in [the case], but the [judgment] of the lower [court] (presided over by Judge J. A. Carroll) [was], affirmed. Gov. Roberts of Texas, having refused to commute it to imprisonment, although they had been presented petitions in favor of executive clemency in the case signed by 800 citizens of Denton County, including the officers of the county. The officers of the penitentiary in Huntsville also recommended commutation of sentence on account of their good behavior while in prison.
However, on November 21, 1879 executed as shown by the sheriff's report on the writ, to-wit:
'Come to hand on the 19th day of November, A. D. 1879, and executed on the 21st day of November, A. D. 1879, between 11 o'clock a. m. and sundown on the said last day mentioned, by hanging each and both of the within named defendants, George and Andrew Brown by the neck until each and both of them were dead, in the city and county of Denton, outside and immediately north of the jail of said county, in the presence of five freeholders of said county, W. B. Brown, A. G. Stapp, S. H. Skinner, L. Willis and W. P. Harmonson.'
Said executions did not take place inside of said jail, because said jail was not so constructed that a gallows could be erected therein; that the bodies of said George Brown and Andrew Brown were each and both decently buried. 'R. H. HOPKINS, Sheriff of Denton County, Texas.'
Andrew had three small boys at the time of his execution: George W. age 7, Andrew J. age 3, and Jesse an infant, all named after his brothers.
The case of Andrew J Brown originated in Montague County but moved to Denton County for prosecution. It ended with one of the only three legal executions in Denton County. Brown is believed to have been a member of a secret vigilante organization known as "The Law and Order League." A group organized after the Civil War to round up thieves entering Montague county from Indian country and the lawless, as was without a sheriff or jail system. Their founding intent was to turn them over to the County Attorney to be tried before the community. This group is believed to have been responsible for a number of mysterious murders, including the murder for which Andrew J Brown was arrested, tried, found guilty and executed. The arrest of the Brown brothers (George and Andrew)from the "Law and Order League" is said to have been the result of a family quarrel. Andrew was bitter against his sister Lucinda for wanting to marry a member of the vigilante group, one S. Barras/Barris, whom he felt was more ruthless and lawless than the others. Andrew did not want this man in their family circle. Lucinda over heard a family conversation of the group's murder of the horse thief Morrow, she used the information to threaten her brother (along with Andrew's wife Eliz. Bettie Hart Brown) to tell the community. Which she and her soon to be husband did. This S. Barras after hearing the League intended to go after Lucinda if she divulged League information, went to County Attorney Metloch, and made an affidavit against the Brown brothers for the murder of Morrow. his led to their arrest and ultimate execution. Lucinda and Barras married before the trials.
Andrew J Brown and his brother George were arrested and indicted for the murder of Robert Morrow, a known horse thief from across the Red River in Indian Territory . Several other defendants of the "Law and Order League" were indicted at the same time, but fled town before they could be tried. The League members caught turned witness against the Brown's, with S. Barras/Barris for a plea deal.
On March 11, 1878 Andrew Brown and later George were put on trial for the murder of Robert Morrow. He was tried before the following, jury: Sol Carpenter, W. D. Cloyd, S. G. Sconce, W. L. Matthews, W. H. Pinkley, William Burris, G. W. Parker, J. I. G. Cowan, E. B. Harry, M. Willis, E. Boone, J. M. Johnson. The jury also assessed the death penalty in this case.
Appeal [was] taken in [the case], but the [judgment] of the lower [court] (presided over by Judge J. A. Carroll) [was], affirmed. Gov. Roberts of Texas, having refused to commute it to imprisonment, although they had been presented petitions in favor of executive clemency in the case signed by 800 citizens of Denton County, including the officers of the county. The officers of the penitentiary in Huntsville also recommended commutation of sentence on account of their good behavior while in prison.
However, on November 21, 1879 executed as shown by the sheriff's report on the writ, to-wit:
'Come to hand on the 19th day of November, A. D. 1879, and executed on the 21st day of November, A. D. 1879, between 11 o'clock a. m. and sundown on the said last day mentioned, by hanging each and both of the within named defendants, George and Andrew Brown by the neck until each and both of them were dead, in the city and county of Denton, outside and immediately north of the jail of said county, in the presence of five freeholders of said county, W. B. Brown, A. G. Stapp, S. H. Skinner, L. Willis and W. P. Harmonson.'
Said executions did not take place inside of said jail, because said jail was not so constructed that a gallows could be erected therein; that the bodies of said George Brown and Andrew Brown were each and both decently buried. 'R. H. HOPKINS, Sheriff of Denton County, Texas.'
Andrew had three small boys at the time of his execution: George W. age 7, Andrew J. age 3, and Jesse an infant, all named after his brothers.
Famous double Hanging in Denton, TX
The case of Andrew J Brown originated in Montague County but moved to Denton County for prosecution. It ended with one of the only three legal executions in Denton County. Brown is believed to have been a member of a secret vigilante organization known as "The Law and Order League." A group organized after the Civil War to round up thieves entering Montague county from Indian country and the lawless, as was without a sheriff or jail system. Their founding intent was to turn them over to the County Attorney to be tried before the community. This group is believed to have been responsible for a number of mysterious murders, including the murder for which Andrew J Brown was arrested, tried, found guilty and executed. The arrest of the Brown brothers (George and Andrew)from the "Law and Order League" is said to have been the result of a family quarrel. Andrew was bitter against his sister Lucinda for wanting to marry a member of the vigilante group, one S. Barras/Barris, whom he felt was more ruthless and lawless than the others. Andrew did not want this man in their family circle. Lucinda over heard a family conversation of the group's murder of the horse thief Morrow, she used the information to threaten her brother (along with Andrew's wife Eliz. Bettie Hart Brown) to tell the community. Which she and her soon to be husband did. This S. Barras after hearing the League intended to go after Lucinda if she divulged League information, went to County Attorney Metloch, and made an affidavit against the Brown brothers for the murder of Morrow. his led to their arrest and ultimate execution. Lucinda and Barras married before the trials.
Andrew J Brown and his brother George were arrested and indicted for the murder of Robert Morrow, a known horse thief from across the Red River in Indian Territory . Several other defendants of the "Law and Order League" were indicted at the same time, but fled town before they could be tried. The League members caught turned witness against the Brown's, with S. Barras/Barris for a plea deal.
On March 11, 1878 Andrew Brown and later George were put on trial for the murder of Robert Morrow. He was tried before the following, jury: Sol Carpenter, W. D. Cloyd, S. G. Sconce, W. L. Matthews, W. H. Pinkley, William Burris, G. W. Parker, J. I. G. Cowan, E. B. Harry, M. Willis, E. Boone, J. M. Johnson. The jury also assessed the death penalty in this case.
Appeal [was] taken in [the case], but the [judgment] of the lower [court] (presided over by Judge J. A. Carroll) [was], affirmed. Gov. Roberts of Texas, having refused to commute it to imprisonment, although they had been presented petitions in favor of executive clemency in the case signed by 800 citizens of Denton County, including the officers of the county. The officers of the penitentiary in Huntsville also recommended commutation of sentence on account of their good behavior while in prison.
However, on November 21, 1879 executed as shown by the sheriff's report on the writ, to-wit:
'Come to hand on the 19th day of November, A. D. 1879, and executed on the 21st day of November, A. D. 1879, between 11 o'clock a. m. and sundown on the said last day mentioned, by hanging each and both of the within named defendants, George and Andrew Brown by the neck until each and both of them were dead, in the city and county of Denton, outside and immediately north of the jail of said county, in the presence of five freeholders of said county, W. B. Brown, A. G. Stapp, S. H. Skinner, L. Willis and W. P. Harmonson.'
Said executions did not take place inside of said jail, because said jail was not so constructed that a gallows could be erected therein; that the bodies of said George Brown and Andrew Brown were each and both decently buried. 'R. H. HOPKINS, Sheriff of Denton County, Texas.'
Andrew had three small boys at the time of his execution: George W. age 7, Andrew J. age 3, and Jesse an infant, all named after his brothers.
The case of Andrew J Brown originated in Montague County but moved to Denton County for prosecution. It ended with one of the only three legal executions in Denton County. Brown is believed to have been a member of a secret vigilante organization known as "The Law and Order League." A group organized after the Civil War to round up thieves entering Montague county from Indian country and the lawless, as was without a sheriff or jail system. Their founding intent was to turn them over to the County Attorney to be tried before the community. This group is believed to have been responsible for a number of mysterious murders, including the murder for which Andrew J Brown was arrested, tried, found guilty and executed. The arrest of the Brown brothers (George and Andrew)from the "Law and Order League" is said to have been the result of a family quarrel. Andrew was bitter against his sister Lucinda for wanting to marry a member of the vigilante group, one S. Barras/Barris, whom he felt was more ruthless and lawless than the others. Andrew did not want this man in their family circle. Lucinda over heard a family conversation of the group's murder of the horse thief Morrow, she used the information to threaten her brother (along with Andrew's wife Eliz. Bettie Hart Brown) to tell the community. Which she and her soon to be husband did. This S. Barras after hearing the League intended to go after Lucinda if she divulged League information, went to County Attorney Metloch, and made an affidavit against the Brown brothers for the murder of Morrow. his led to their arrest and ultimate execution. Lucinda and Barras married before the trials.
Andrew J Brown and his brother George were arrested and indicted for the murder of Robert Morrow, a known horse thief from across the Red River in Indian Territory . Several other defendants of the "Law and Order League" were indicted at the same time, but fled town before they could be tried. The League members caught turned witness against the Brown's, with S. Barras/Barris for a plea deal.
On March 11, 1878 Andrew Brown and later George were put on trial for the murder of Robert Morrow. He was tried before the following, jury: Sol Carpenter, W. D. Cloyd, S. G. Sconce, W. L. Matthews, W. H. Pinkley, William Burris, G. W. Parker, J. I. G. Cowan, E. B. Harry, M. Willis, E. Boone, J. M. Johnson. The jury also assessed the death penalty in this case.
Appeal [was] taken in [the case], but the [judgment] of the lower [court] (presided over by Judge J. A. Carroll) [was], affirmed. Gov. Roberts of Texas, having refused to commute it to imprisonment, although they had been presented petitions in favor of executive clemency in the case signed by 800 citizens of Denton County, including the officers of the county. The officers of the penitentiary in Huntsville also recommended commutation of sentence on account of their good behavior while in prison.
However, on November 21, 1879 executed as shown by the sheriff's report on the writ, to-wit:
'Come to hand on the 19th day of November, A. D. 1879, and executed on the 21st day of November, A. D. 1879, between 11 o'clock a. m. and sundown on the said last day mentioned, by hanging each and both of the within named defendants, George and Andrew Brown by the neck until each and both of them were dead, in the city and county of Denton, outside and immediately north of the jail of said county, in the presence of five freeholders of said county, W. B. Brown, A. G. Stapp, S. H. Skinner, L. Willis and W. P. Harmonson.'
Said executions did not take place inside of said jail, because said jail was not so constructed that a gallows could be erected therein; that the bodies of said George Brown and Andrew Brown were each and both decently buried. 'R. H. HOPKINS, Sheriff of Denton County, Texas.'
Andrew had three small boys at the time of his execution: George W. age 7, Andrew J. age 3, and Jesse an infant, all named after his brothers.
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