Before his scheduled hanging, the Texas-native escaped and was caught later in Washington State. The hanging was rescheduled and he was hanged one year later.  According to legend, his last meal consisted of scrambled eggs, toast and tea which he didn't touch.  On May 17,1899, 300 people showed up to watch Marion Brown hang.  People even climbed up near by trees to get a better view.  At 8:09 that morning the trap door swung open , and he died.

He maintained his innocence until his death, and on the way to the gallows he said that his innocence would be proven by the fact that "grass would never grow over his grave and that he would haunt the building every year on the date of his death."

Brown is said to haunt the courthouse at dawn on the anniversary of his execution.  There are countless reports of strange happenings, unexplained sounds and cold spots suddenly developing.  A former guard used to tell prisoners that Peg Leg would not rest until everything was quiet.  He would then stump along the corridors pretending to be Peg Leg until the prisoners quieted.

Later this area became the walled in excersise yard for prisioners, grass never grew on his grave.  The fact that the jail graveyard later became the Middlesex County Courthouse parking lot, gives more proof to his statement. 

When the Courthouse expanded in recent years they had to exhume several bodies including Marion Brown.  Perhaps he is at rest now, with grass over his grave in his new location at St. Pauls Anglican Churchyard.