Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1856-06-13

WV "9'""iV We ht'c uiicduy Iupusncu, 50
far as his direct testimony was concerned.-
That on the cross examination we subioin:
In answer toquestions propounded by mem
bers of the committee, Mr.. Sumner testified :
am very much at a loss to say whether this
occurrence took place half an hour or fifteen
minutes alter the adjournment ! should say
from fifteen minutes to an hour; was so
very much absorbed that took very little
note of anything, not even of time the first
blow came down with the close of the remark
made by Mr.. Brooks it seemed to me that
the blow came in the middle of an unfinished
sentence; in the statement | have made,
used the language while these words were
still passing from his lips he commenced a
succession of blows - ! heard distinctly the
words ga relative Of mine, and then it SEEM
cd to me there was Il break, and have left it
as an unfinished sentence, the sequel Of which
| did not hear on account of the blows |
never received any intimation in writing or
otherwise, directly or indirectly, that Mr.
Brooks intended to attack me, nor had the
most remote Suspicion of an attack | had
no arms or means of defence Of any kind
was, in fact, entirely deicnceless at the time.
except 50 far as my natural strength went :
IN other words, ! had no arms either about
my person or in my desk nor did lever
wear arms in my life, have always lived in
Il civilized community, where wearing arms
has not been considered necessary when |
had finished my speech on Tuesday, think it
was my colleague came to me and slil "
am going home with you to-dly-scvcrll Of
us are going home with you :" said ]. "Nonc
Of that. Wilson - and instead of waiting for
him or allowing him to accompany me home,
| shot off Just as | should any other day ;
while on my way from the capitol overlook
Mr.. Seward, with whom had engaged to
dine we walked together as far as the ON
nibus he then proposed that we should
take an omnibus, which declined. stating
that | must 80 to the printing office in order
to look over the proof, therefore walked
alone, oycrtaking one or two persons on the
way | have referred to this remark of my
colleague, in answer to your question wheth-
cr had in any way been put or my guard.
! understand now that the remark of my col
league was founded upon an apprehension
growing out of what | had said in my speech 4;
he has told me since that member of the
House had put him on his guard, but he did
/ not mention 1t to me at the time. ! suspected
no danger, and therefore | treated what he
said to me as triting.
Mr.. Pennington-liaye you ever defed or
invited violence
Ans Never ,at any time. When | was taken
from the chamber ! was in such n condition
that ! was unaware Of the blood upon my
clothes; knew little about it until | reached
my room. when | took my clothes off ; my
shirt around the neck and collar was soaked
| with blood the waistcoat had many marks
/ of blood upon it,-also the trousers TIE
/ brOadclOth coat was covered with blood on
the shoulders 50 thick that the blood had
soaked through the cloth, even through the
padding, and appeared ON the inside also a
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