Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-11-12
Trial OF CAPTAIN John Cook.

Semt@"cc ~ aHA, Prisoners.
CuARLE>Towy, Nov. 9.-The case Of Capt.
Cook wa, continued i'll our Circuit Court To-
day, and drew together very large crowd.
The excitement in regard TO this ease eX-
ceeds that of any of the cases tried.
The confession OF Cook, which was read
yesterday afternoon, caused much excite
ment.
Cook states in the confession. that he met
Capt. Brown in Kansas some two years ago,
and was led by the representations OF Brown
to Join his band, not knowing at the time
what would lie the field of their operations
After some time had elapsed, Brown inform
ed him that the town Of llarper's Ferry was
the place he contemplated making his stand
at. and that he wished him Cook 10 pro-
coed there and try and ascertain whether or
not the man Forbes had divulSed the plan
IL any one al llarper's Ferry, as rumOr
had reached him to that effect. Cook strong
" objected to any such move as contempia-
ted, but was replied to by Brown that he had
taken the oath to stand by him and that he
must not now desert him. Cook therefore
started for the Ferry, and took up his resi-
dence. After having been there sometime,
he was introduced into society. which result
ed in his counting and marryinga Miss Ken
nedy, of South Bolivar. He then determiu-
ed by ali possible means IL change the de-
termination of Old Brown. but all his argu
ments and cntrcaticS failed when brought
to bear against the iron-wil Of the kanSa.
outlaw.
The more important portions were those
which told of the Convention held in Cana
da, ut which the well-known constitution
was framed of the military training under
Stevens which Browns party went through
altering their original intention, which was
10 be instructed BY Col. Forbes; and of his
own exploration OF Jefferson county, Va, un-
der Browns directions, 10 prepare the way
for the instruction.
Gcrrit Smith. Fred. Douglass DR.. 5. e.
Howe. and others, were mentioned III the
confession, but not in Il way 10 deeply lmpli-
cate them. Their connection with Brown
involved, however. the presentation of pis
tolls, money, &c. Cook said that the time OF
the invasion would have been different but
for the information given by Col. Forbes.
Before the case of Cook was taken up this
morning, George Sennott. esq, the counsel
OF Copeland, appeared and read a number Of
bills Of exception, which he desired the
Court to take into consideration, although
he felt sure from the former action of the
Court that it was of but little avail. His
duty to the prisoner, however, demanded
that he should 20 through all the forms,
even if the substance Of Justice WAS denied.
One OF the bills created considerable mcrrl
ment during its reading, 1t being filled with
denunciations of the verdict rendered The
adjectivcs We're put on i'll proiusion, and the
effect was 10 bring the counsel reading them
into position OF rid!cule.
After the proceedings in the case Of Cope
land had been gone through with, the case
Of John Z. Cook was called, and the prison
er brought in and placed at the bar. He
was accompanied by Gov. Willard and Mr..
Crowly, and looked quite cheerful, being
evidently buoyed up with the hope Of a IA.
vorablc result from the verdict Of the ury
cmpanelled Mrs. Kennedy. his mo.her-in-
law, also entered the court room nj the same
time, and took seat outside the bar. She
seemed III great distress of mind, and wept
considerably during the taking Of the teStl-
mony Young Kennedy, brother of Cooks
wife. was also present, giving close attention
to the proceedings. The attendance of stran-
gers from the adjoining counties was much
larger than on any former occasion, and the
proceedings were of much interest. \ large
number of witnesses were examined, but
the testimony of the large majority of them
has been heretofore published
Col. l.. W. Washington was the first wit
ness sworn and detailed his first meeting
with Captain Cook. H. met him in South
Bolivar, whilst on his return from ilarper'>
Ferry some two months ago: he was riding
along when he was approached by Cook, who
asked il his name was not Washington. To
which hc gave an affirmative answer; Cook
then told him that he had heard that he
(Col. W J had in his possession some relies
of arms. and that he had also heard that he
was fond of shooting; the Colonel told him
that such was the case, and asked the name
of the gentlemen: he was informed by the
man that his name was Cook, and had been
in Kansas some time; he also expressed
great desire IT, see the arms IN the posses
sion Of Col. Washington. and proposed 10
come up some time Ia See them. and also try
the Colonel in the use OF small arms; an IN
vtatiun was gwen bin accordingly 10 VISIT
the CoIonel'S mansion, and they parted mu-
tualiy pleased with each other; the witness
then testified that hr did not then hear any
thing Of Cook for some time, and was 81 the
opinion then he had returned 10 Kansas,
which he had Informed him he intended do
ing in IA short time: about three weeks before
the insurrection, however, whilst witness
was standing about q hundred yards from
his house, witnessing the departure of some
friends for the ears, he saw Cook approach
ing; he met him in very friendly and gen
tlemany manner, but witness did not intro.
duce him to his friends, simply because he
did not know him we'll enough.
After his friends lett. he 10 * Cook into the
parlor and showed HIM the relics he desired
10 see. which consisted Of Il sword presented
by Frederick the Great. of Prussia, Ia Cen
eral Washington, in 1850, and a pistol pre-.
scented bv General Lafayette t" General
Washington during the Revolution. and
worn ly the Father Of his country III the
struggle for independence: Cook expressed
much pleasure in being enabled to examine
them, after which he entered into converse
ton with witness in regard I" the use o'
fire arms; Cook showed witness a pair OF
Colts reyolyers, which he SAID he used III
hunting buffalo in Kansas; witness asked
him if he did not think that he ought 10 have
some more formidable weapon IN case oil al
attack by wolves. when he replied that he
had his horse so trained that there was no
danger: he also said that he had been sick.
and was then accustomimg himself 10 the