The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-11-02
THE HARPER'S FERRY INSURRECTION.
CASE.
TRIAL OF EDWIN coppEE.

CHARLEsrowN, Nov. l. lS59.-The Court met at
10 o'clock this morning, Judge Parker on the
bench and Charles Harding, Esq, assisted by Hon.
Andrew Hunter, Attorneys for the Commonw ealth.
Edwin Coppee was brought in and placed at the
bar for trial, the charge of treason against the
State, conspring and advising with slaves to rebel
and wilful murder He is a small man, not over
FIVE feet five inches in height, and weighing about
100 pound. II has a stupid look, and is regarded
as the least intelligent Of the whole party
Messrs. Grswold of Ohio, and Hoyt of Boston,
appeared as Council for the prisoner.
MOTION FOR ARREST OF JUDGMENT
Previous to proceeding with Coppies trial, Mr.
Grswold stated the points which an arrest of
Judgment asked in Browns case. In addition
to the reasons mentioned yesterday that it had not
been proved, beyond room for reasonable doubt
that the prisoner was even citizen of the United
States, he argued that treason could not be com
mlted against State, but only against the Gener-
al Government citing the authority of Judge Sto-
ry. Also that the jury had not found the pI Isoner
guilty of the crimes charged in the Indictment
and had not responded to the offences charged but
had found him guilty Of offences not charged
They found him guilty Of murder in the first de-
gree, when the indictment don't charge him with
offences constituting that crime.
Mr.. Hunter replied, quoting the Virginia code
to the effect that techncalities should not arrest
the administration of justice. As to the jursdic-
cient to say that Virginia had passed law assum-
ing that jurisdiction, and defining what consti-
tutes that crime.
The Court reserved its decision in Browns case
for the present. 1t is supposed that if new trial
is refused an appeal will be taken to a higher
court.
TRIAL OF CoPPEE.
The jury was then sworn in Coppee's CASE the
main question put to them being, whether they be-
lieved they could give the prisoner fair and i'm
partial trial the testimony, independent of any,
thing they had heard or read on the subject.
The testimony was the same already published
but much more brief, they only being questioned
on such points essential for conviction.
The examination of witnesses for the prrsecu-
tiOn had not concluded up to the time of adjourn
ment
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS.
Capt Cook valves examination before m a. gis-
trates court, and will probably be indicted by a
special Grand Jury to be called next week. He is
more communicative than any of the other prison
ers, and denounces Fred Douglas as traitor and
coward.
The two negroes, Copeland and Green, who are
Indicted with Brown and COppee will be tried next
Phil, the negro of Mr.. Alstadt, who was com
PEELED by Capt. Brown to assist in making the loop
holes through the walls of the engine house. was
arrested and conveyed to Jail, the charge of
sympathisng with the insurgents. He has since
been lying very i'll and died yesterday of pneumO-
MIA, though it is said his sickness was caused by
fright.
Martial law prevails throughout Jefferson coun-
ty, and every stranger that arrives is compelled to
give satisfactory account Of himself or immedi-
ately leave.