Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-07-10

Some person asked witness TO go down into
one of the rooms of the Capitol and make oath
OF what he saw. Sumner appeared considera-
bly, stunned; blood was running from his head
Mr.. j. w. Simonton, Washington cores
pendent of the New York Times, was then
sworn. and called to the stand. He did not
witness the beginning of the assault; was stand
ing in the southeast angle of the Senate cham
Der, conversing with Hon. Messrs. Morgan and
Murray, of New York: heard the crash of Mr.
Summers desk, and turning round, saw Mr..
Sumner had sprung forward towards Mr..
Brooks. Mr.. Brooks was striking Mr. Sum
ner, sweeping his blows after the fashion of
the sword exercise witness looked towards
Sumner, and felt the more interest as he was
his personal friend saw Sumner reel and
stagger off sideways and backwards, and then
fall felt satisfied Sumner was reeling from
| dizziness; his hand was partly raised; Brooks
continued his blows Sumner rested for a
moment on the desk, and then fell into the
| centre aisle; did not think Brooks struck him
after he had fallen down; the cane was about
an inch in diameter, taperng rapidly towards
| the end it was hollow.
| Hon. Senator Foster, Of Connecticut, was
called, and said he was in the Senate at the
time of the occurrence. 1t was about forty
minutes las we understood him to say) after
the Senate had adjourned. His back was to-
wards Mr.. Summers seat, and he was engaged
in writing letters Heard sudden unusual
noise, and turning round, saw Brooks striking
Sumner in his seat rapidly over the head
Sumner attempted to rise, and looked as though
reeling, and partially unconscious. Ran up to
the parties. Mr.. Sumner had turned partly
round, when witness got nearly between the
two with his face to Brooks and back to Sum
ner, and at the same time Mr.. Morgan, OF New
York, caught hold of Brooks. Sumner had
fallen partly on the desk and floor. Witness
held him, and then carried him to the lobby Of
the Senate on sofa. The hair was then cut
away from the wound. There were two cuts,
one on each side of the head there we're other
bruises, but these two were deep and pretty
severe. Cannot form an opinion, as to the
number of blows struck. Could not speak
precisely as to the time occupied in the assault;
it was few seconds only. Somebody in the
Senate chamber said Fair play, let them be-"
but witness did not know who said it.
Hon. J.. M. Keitt examined. Did not wit.
ness the beginning of the affair. Was stand
ing at the time in the rear of the chair of the
President of the Senate. Heard Il noise; saw
two persons engaged, one of them inacting
blows upon the other with small cane; the
cane was small and hollow, not sufficient to
knock man down with witness impression
is that Sumner was not knocked down by the
blow of the cane. The wound inflicted was
not very deep. Saw some blood. Did not
continue by Sumner after he fell. The blows
did not seem severe. Brooks grasped the cane
in the middle and struck Sumner with the
small end. II was very small cane, little
less than the one now in his (witness's) hand.
Hon. James A. Pearce, Senator from Mary
land, was next called, and testified that he was
in the Senate chamber at the time Of the as
sault. The first notice he had of it was given
by sound of blows. Did not at first think it
was anything more serious than the rough play
that sometimes takes place in the Senate
chamber; but looking he saw the parties, and
Mr.. Brooks striking Senator Sumner over the
head. Sumner was standing cutching at the
stick held by Brooks. Three or four blows
and possibly half dozen, were given after
this. Mr.. Sumner was trying to parry off the
blows. Thinks Summers desk was upset. He
then got into the neighborhood occupied by
Gen. James There was rush towards the
spot. Witness saw Mr.. Morgan, Mr.. Foster,
employees of the Senate, and other persons
rush up to the scene. Mr. Sumner then fell,
either exhausted by the blows or trpped at the
edge of the aisle. Witness saw no blow struck
after Sumner was down is quite clear as to
that Had the cane measured. 1t was FIVE
eighths of an inch in diameter when broken;
| two-eighths were hollow, and the hollow was
not in the middle, there were two-eighths thick
ness on the one side and one-eighth on the
other. The cane increased in size towards the
handle. 1t was brittle and riggid. Witness
did not see the injury done. Saw Mr.. Sum-
ners head bleeding little. Heard somebody
make remark, and Mr. Brooks reply, al did
- L, hut ~
In reply to question from Mr.. Linton, de-
fendant's counsel, Mr.. Pearce said that Sum-
ner's desk was upset; but at first Sumner sat
upright before it.
Hon. Senator Toombs, of Georgia, next ex.
amined. Mr.. Toombs was standing at the
time in question in the main aisle near the
clerks desk. Hearing a noise, he turned and
saw Mr.. Brooks striking Sumner. Mr.. Sum.
ner was in the act Of rising. Brooks was
striking right and left. Sumner spun round,
and getting into the main aisle fell. When he
fell witness saw blood over his forehead; blood
was also running down his clothes. No blow
was struck after he fell. Saw one cut on one
side of the head The skin, if broken, was
about the edge of the hair. Deponent made
no examination Of the wound. Sumner was
not in an insensible condition. He called for
bis hat. He walked out Of the Senate, though
| assisted by two friends. Did not see him after
be had left the Senate chamber.
In answer to question from Mr.. Linton,
| Mr.. Toombs said he was in the Senate and
heard Mr.. Summers speech of the 10Th and
| goth of May.
The District Attorney objected to question
| put by Mr.. Linton as to whether Mr.. Toombs
knew that the speech Of Mr.. Sumner was
| printed and published before delivered in the
Senate, and appealed to the court to know if
| it could be admitted.
The Court thought it matter of no material
| Importance whether the question was asked or
not.
At the request Of Mr.. Linton, and by permits
sion Of the court, Mr.. Toombs read aloud two
extracts from Mr.. Summers speech of the 18th
and goth Of May, the first beginning with the
words, "but, before entering upon the argu-
ment," and ending with the Senator from
South Carolina is one of the maddest zealots !"
the second beginning with, with regret come
again upon the Senator from South Carolina"
and ending with "when South Carolina, in the
cloak of darkness which she hugs, lies how.
i