Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-11-08
THE TRIALS IN VIRGINIA.

We do not know what motive induced Mr..
Sennott of Boston to make the Journey to
Charlestown, Va, to assist in defending the
prisoners on trial there. We cannot ascertain
that anybody engaged him to go and therefore
presume that he went as a volunteer 1t ap-
pears that he has made some stir there not so
much by anything remarkable in his legal
skill, as by his manner of doing his work. We
take the following from letter from that place,
dated Nov. 3, and published in the New York
Tribune =
1t was in the courtroom that the real sensa-
ton of the day was felt. Shields Green, a
negro participation in the Instruction was put
on trial. His defense was entrusted to Mr..
George Sennott Of Boston. Mr.. Sennott was
lively. The spectators marveled at his keenly-
drawn arguments His struggle with the
prosecution was sort of guerrilla warfare.
lie attacked the indictment on all points, He
moved that the first count charging the pris-
oner with treason, should be abandoned,
on the strength OF the bred Scott decision
winch deprlves negroes of citizenship, and
consequently of their reasonable capabilities
and this count was abandoned. He moved
that the entire Indictment should be quashed
Tor variety of reasons, involving any number
OF legal technlcalltles. First, he objected to it
on account OF Its excessive interlineaton ; but
lois, the Court ruled, was not material point.
Then he objected on the ground that, as it
comprised three various charges, it confused
the prisoners right of challenging iurymen-
since, the law allowing him to challenge eight,
he might desire to set aside a juryman for rea-
sons connected with one charge, and to retain
nm III reference to another. This also was
overruled by the court. Mr.. Sennott however,
went on with an infinite variety of objections,
scattering them all over the Indictment with
unfllnching persistence. The spectators list
ened, then laughed, then fell to whispering,
and then unbridled their irritation What
other effect the lawyers close practice may
have, 1t is not possible to toresee; but it Ger.
tainly had that of squirting on the audience to
bitterness OF spirit. The word circulated that
the Boston gentleman was making an abolition
halangue. People who spoke as if by pro-
phetic assurance, foretold the rising of the
court, and its abrupt departure in the midst of
the argument. The least thing they looked
for was that the discourse would be peremp-
torily checked. But in both they were disap-
pointed. The court heard, and the spectators
grew more dissatisfied, until Mr.. Sennott's
name was coupled with great many unpleas-
ant eplthets. The general idea was that of
complete anazement at the utterance of
abolition sentiments" in Virginia court of
justice"
BROWN AND HIS FRrENDs-Brown's cheer
tulness never fails him. He converses with all
who visit him. i'll manner so free from re.
straint, and with so much unconcern, that none
can doubt his real convictions OF selfapproval.
His daring courage has strongly impressed the
people, and L have more than once heard pub
lie avowals Of admiration of his iearlessness,
III spite of ominOus murmurs of disapprobation
from bystanders. A Geographic dispatch,
dated Boston, was this morning received from
L. w. Higginson, by Mr. Sennott 1t sad:-
John Browns wife wishes to go on and see
him. Can you obtain permission for her 90
This was answered affirmatively; but when
the matter was mentioned to Brown, he direct
ed that this message should be Immediately
sent: "Do not, for Gods sake, come here now.
John Brown"