Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian., 1859-11-12
TIE WEEKLY MINNESOTIAN
Trial or the UParper,s Ferry Insurrec.
tionisls..Old BrOWn Convicted.
CHARLEsrowN, Oct. 81

Trial OF the uRarper's Ferry Insurrec-
tionisIs.-Old Brown Convicted.
CHARLEsrowN, Oct. 81.
The Court House was densely crowded to
witness the close Of the trial of Old Brown.
The counsel proceeded to sum up. Mr.. Girls
void opened for the defence, followed by Mr..
Chiffon on the same side, and the argument
was closed by Mr.. Hunter for the prosecu-
ton.
The argument being concluded, Mr.. Chill
ton asked the Court to instruct the jury that
if they believed the prisoner was not citizen
of Virginia, they cannot convict him on the
count oftreason. The Court declined, saying
ing the Constitution did not give rights and
immunities alone, but also responsibilities.
Mr. Chiffon asked another instruction to
the effect that the jury must be satisfied as
to the place where the offence was committed
whether within the boundaries of jefferson
county, which the Court granted
A recess for half an hour was taken, when
theJury came in with their verdict An in
tense excitement prevailed in the Court Room.
Brown sat up in his bed while the verdict was
rendered. The jury found him "guty of
treason, advising and conspiring with slaves
and others to repel, and of murder in the first
degree"
Brown laid down quietly. He said moth
ing, and there was no demonstration of any
kind.
Mr.. Chiffon moved an arrest of Judgment,
ooth on account OF .ne errors in the indict-
mcnt and errors in the verdict The objec-
,,,n IN regard to the indictment has been al.
ready stated. The prisoner has been tried
for an offence not appearing upon the record
of the Grand Jury. The verdict was not on
each count separately, but a geheral verdict
fha h,u
also been found guilty of both counts, for
murder of the same persons. 1t was manifest
that he could not be guilty of both.
BY agreement, the points will be argued to
morrow morning. Brown was remaded to
Jail.
Mr.. Harding announced that he was ready
to proceed with the trial of Coppie, who was
brought in, the ceremony of passing between
file of armed men being dispensed with
Coppie took sect between uriswoId and
noy., who appeared AS his counsel. lie ap-
peared calm and composed.
The remainder of the day was spent in en-
deavoring to procure 4 jury. The panel was
not complete, when, at 8 O'Clock, the Court
adjourned.
New YORK, Nov. l.
The Rera1ds Washington dispatch says ::
"l ti,aye it on the most reliable authority that
the death penalty will not be Immediately in
f,icted ON Old Brown lie may be sentenced
to die on the gallows within two or three days
because the ordinary delay Of thirty days be-
tween sentence and execution does not apply
in the case of one convicted ofeXcltlng slaves
to insurrection. But Governor Wise admlres
Browns indomtable pluck, and for that and
because he wishes to show the world how
magnanimous Virginia can be, he will pro-
bably respite the execution for at least thirty
days"
should not be surprised from what learn
if an order will be made directing Brown to
be sent to Richmond, and il he should be
kept in the Penitentiary there till such time
as the Governor shall fix for his execution.
A Massachusetts, lady, whose name | un-
derstand to be Childs, has written to Wise,
requesting permission to wait upon and nurse
the unfortunate old man. The permission was
granted"
CHARLESTowN, Va, Nov. l.
The Court met at ten o'clock-Coppee was
brought in. pre";", %,,,,s TO proceeding with his
trial Mr.. Griswold stated the points on "hlE"
an arrest of Judgment was asked IN brown
case In addition to reasons mentiohea e
terdav. it had not been proved De- ,ond
doubt that he was even citizen OF ,ne Unite
States.
He argued that treason co'Ild not be con
mitted against State, but, only against I'll
general government; ci,ng as an authOrit,
Judge Story. Also That the jury had nc
found the prisoner guilty of crimes as chars
ed in the indictment, and had not responde
to offences charged, but had found him guilt
of offences not charged. They found hil
guilty of murder in the first degree, when ii
indictment does not charge him with offence
constituting that crime.
Hunter replied quoting the Virginia cod
to the effect that technicalities should not a
rest the administration of justice. AS to Il
jurisdiction over treason, it was sufficient
say that Virginia had passed a law assumi
that jurisdiction, and defining what constitute
that crime. The Court reserved its decision
Brown was present during the argument
The jury have been sworn in Coppee's cas-,
The testimony is about the same as alread
published, but more brief The examinatio
OF witnesses for the prosi cution was not col
cluded at adjournment.
Cook valves an examination before IL
Magistrate S Court
CHARLEsTowN, Nov ..
Russell and SinnOtt, attorneys from Bosto
reached here to-day
Cook was brought before the Magistrate
Court, but waived an examination. He W;
committed for trial
Coppie's trial was resumed. No witness,
were called for the defence Mr.. Hardin
opened the argument for the State and Ilo,
ard GriSwold followed for the defendant
MIR. Hunter closed for the prosecution. I'll
speeches were of marked ability. Mr.. Gri
void asked for several instructions, whic
were all granted by the Court. Jury tn,
retired.
<ho,, 4 IL
House, which was Immediately thronged
The Court then gave its decision on tl
motion to arrest judgment, overruling the O,
lection made that treason cannot be commi
ted against State, except by a citizen.
ruled that wherever allegiance was due, tire;
son may be committed. Most of the State
have passed laws against treason. The OF
Jections as to the form of the verdict rendere
were also regarded as insufficient
The Clerk then asked Brown whether h
had anything to say why sentence should nc
be pronounced, when Brown stood up an
in clear and distinct voice, said:
l have, may it please the Court, fe,
words to say. In the first place, deny eve
rything but what | have all along admitted
the design on my part to free slaves. il
tended certainly to have made a clean thin
of that matter, as | did last winter when
went into Missouri, and there took the slave
without the swapping of gun on either side
moved them through the country, and final
left them in Canada designed to have don
the same thing again on a larger scale. Tha
was all | intended. | never did intend t
commit murder, nor treason, nor to excite O
incite the slaves to rebellion and to make a
inSurrection.
have another objection, and that is that
is unjust that should suffer such a penalty
Had interfered in the manner which | admi,
and which | admit has been fairly proved (fo
! admire the truthtulness and candor of tn
greater portion of the witnesses who have ties
titled in this case) had so interfercd in be
half of the rich, the powerful, the ntelligen,