St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1859-11-10
TRIAL OF
The Harper's Ferry lnsurrectionists,
CONVICTION OF BROWN.

| CONVICTION OF BROWN
The arguments of counsel in the
case Of John Brown being concluded,
Mr.. Chiffon asked the Court to instruct
the jury that if they believe the pris.
oner was not citizen Of Virginia they
cannot convict him on the count of
treason.
The Court declined, saying the Con-
stitution did not give rights and i'm.
munities alone but also responsible
ties
Mr.. Chiffon asked another instruc-
ton, to the effect that the jury must
he satisfied as to the place where the
oflense was committed, whether with
in the boundaries of jefferson Co.,
which the Court granted.
A recess for half an hourwas taken,
when the jury came in with their YER
dict.
An intense excitement prevailed in
the court room.
Brown sat up in his bed while the
verdict was rendered, as fnlIows
The jury find him guilty of treason,
advising and conspiring with slaves
and others to rebel, aud of murder in
the first degree.
Brown lay down quietly. He said
nothing, and there was no demonstra-
ton of any kind.
Mr.. Chiffon moved an arrest of iudg-
ment, both on account of the errors in
the Indictment and errors in the YER
dict
The objection in regard to the in
dictlnent has been already stated :.
The prisoner has been tried for an Of
fence not appearing on the record Of
the Grand Jury. The verdict was not
on each count separately, but gen
eral verdict on the whole indictment.
The prisoner has also been found
guilty of both counts for the murder
of the same persons. 1t was mani
fest that he could not be guilty of both
by agreement.
Mr.. Griswold stated the points on
which an arrest of judgment was
asked in Browns case, in addition to
reasons mentioned yesterday. 1t had
not been proven beyond a doubt that
he was ever a citizen of the United
States. He argued that treason could
not be committed against State but
only against Il general government,
citing as authority Judge Story. AL
50 that the Jury had not touaG the
prisoner guilty of crimes as charged
IN the indictment, and had not re-
spondcd to offences charged, but found
him guilty of offences not charged.
They fund him guilty of murder in
the first degree, when the indictment
don't charge him with offences cousti-
tutlng that crime.
Hunter replied, quoting the Vir-
ginia code to the effect that technicali-
ties should not arrest the administra-
ton Of justice. AS to the jurisdiction
over treason it was sufficient to say
that Virginia had passed law as
suniug that jurisdiction, and defining
| what constitutes that crime.
The Court reserved its decision.
On the I'd inst. Brown was brought
into the court house, which was im-
mensely tllronged, and the court gave
its decision on the motion to arrest
Judgment, everything the objections
made, Oh the objection that treason
cannot be committed in State, cx-
ccpt 10y IA citizen. 1t ruled that where
ever allegiance was due treason may
be committed. Most of the States
have passed laws against treason
The objections as to the form of
verdict rendered were also regarded
as insufficient.
The clerk then asked Brown whetl,.
or he had anything to say why sen
tcnce should not be pronounced, when
Brown stood up and in clear and
distinct voice SAID
g have, may it please the Court, Il
few words to say. In the first place
deny everything but what have
all along admittcd-tnc design on my
part to free the slaves. intended
certainly, to have made clean thing
of that matter. So did last winter
when ! went to Missouri and there
took the slaves without the swapping
Of Il gun on either side, moved them
into Canada, and finally left them
III Canada. | Designed to have done
the same thing again on Il larger scale.
That was all | intended. never did
intend to commit murder or treason.
or to destroy property, or to excite or
incItc the slaves to rebellion and to
make an Instruction. have anoth-
ct objection, and that is, it is unjust
that should suffer such a penalty.
Had | interfered in the manner which
| admit, and which admit has been
fairly proved, for admire the truthful
ness and candor of the greater por-
ton OF the witnesses who have testi-
fled in this case, had | so interfered
in behalf of the rich, the powerful,
the intelligent, and SO called great, or
i'll behalf of their friends, either father,
mother brother, sister, wife or chill
dren, on any of that class, and suffered
and sacrificed what have in this in
reference, it would have been all
right every man in this Court would
have deemed it an act worthy of re-
ward rather than punishment. This
Court acknowledges as suppose, the
validity of the law of God. see a
book kissed here which ! suppose to
be Bible, or at least the New Tesla
ment. That teaches me that all things
whatsoever l would that men should
do to me even SO should do to them
that are in bonds, as bound with them.
| cndeavored to act up TO that in
struction. say am yet too young
to understand that God is any respector
Of persons. | believe that have in
tericrcd AS have done, as have al
ways freely admitted l have done in
behalf Of his despised poor, was no
wrong, but right.
Now, if it is deemed necessary that
should forfeit my life for the further
ance Of ends Of justice, and mingle
my blood further with the blood Of my
children, and with the blood of mil