The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1859-11-08
Sentence OF Old John BrOvvn-verdict OF
the Jury In Coppie's Case-BroSNn Z. be
Hung on the I'd OF December.
CuApIrsrowx Va No

Sentence OF Old John Brovwn-Serdict OF
the Jury I'm Copies Case-Brow" a. be
Hung on the ed OF December.
CHARLEsrowN, Va, Nov. ,.
Russell and Sennstt, Attorneys from Boston,
reached here to-day.
Cook was brought before the Magistrates
Court, but waived an examination. He was
committed for trial.
Copies trial was resumed No witnesses
were called for the defense. Mr.. Hardnge
opened the argument for the Commonwealth. |
Hoyt and Griswold opened for the defense. Mr..
Hunter closed for the prosecution. The speeches
were OF marked ability. Mr.. Griswold asked for
several Instructions, which were all granted by
the Court. The jury then retired.
! Brown was then brought into the Court House,
which was Immediately thronged. The Court
gave its decision on the motion to arrest judg.
ment, overriding the objections made. On the
objection that treason cannot be committed
against State except by citizen, it ruled that
! whenever allegiance was due, treason may be
committed. Most of the States have passed laws
against treason. The objections as to the form
of the verdict rendered, were also regarded as
insufficient The Clerk then asked Brown
whether he had anything to say why sentence
should not be pronounced, when Brown stood
up, and in a clear and distinct voice said:
l have, may it please the Court, few words
to say. In the first place l deny everything,
but what | have all along admtted-the design
on my part 10 free the slaves. l intended, GER
tainly, to have made clean thing of that mat
ter as did last winter when went into Mis-
souri,, and there took the slaves without the
swapping of gun on either side, moved them
through the country, and finally left them in
Canada. | designed to have done the same
thing again on larger scale. That was all
/. oil I paver did inland IN commit murder
or trea n, or to destroy property, or TO excite,
or incite, the slaves TO rebellion, or TO make an
Instruction. l have another 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 truthfulness and candor
OF the greater portion of the witnesses who have
; testified in this case.) Had / so interfered in
behalf of the rich the powerful, the intelligent,
the so-called great, or in behalf of their friends,
! either father, mother, brother, sister, wife or
t children, or any Of that class and suffered and
!. sacrificed what ! have in this interference, it
would have been all right. Every man in this
court would have deemed it an act worthy of
reward rather than punishment This court ac-
knowledges, l suppose, the validity Of Gods
law: | see book passed here which suppose
to he the Bible, or at least the New Testament,
that teaches me that all things whatsoever
would that men should do unto me, should
even so TO them 1t teaches me farther, TO re-
member those that are in bonds, as bound with
them. l endeavored to act up to those instruc-
tons. say am yet too young to understand
that God is any respecter OF persons believe
that to have interfered as have done, as have
always freely admitted have done, in behalf of
His despised poor, was not wrong but right
Now It il deemed necessary that should forfeit
my life for the furtherance of the ends of Justice
aud mingle nv blood with the blood of nv chill
dren and with the blood of millions in this slave
country, whose ights are dsregaldei by wicked,
cruel, and unjust attachments. | submit, so let
II be done. Let lie say one word further.
feel entirely satisfied with the treatment have
received in my trial. Considering all the cir
cunstances, 1t has been more generous than
expected; but feel no Consciousness of guilt.
| have stated from the first what was nv inten-
tons and what was not. | never had any design
against the life of any person, nor any DISPOSE
ton to commit treason, excite the slaves to
rebel, or make any general instruction. Inevcr
| encouraged any man to do so, but ALWAYS dis.
couraged any idea Of that kind Let me saw,
also, in regard Ia the statements made by some
of those convicted with me, | hear il has been
stated by some of them that | have induced
them to join me; but the contrary is true.
do not say this to injure them, but as regretting
their weakness. No: one joined me but of his
own accord and the question put at their own
expense. A number of them never saw and
never had word of conversation with till the
day they came to HE, aud that was for the pur-
pose have stated Now am DONE
When Brown was speaking perfect quiet pre-
vailed. When he had finished the Court pro-
ceeded to pronounce the sentence, after few
preliminary remarks, in which he said no rea
sOnable doubt could exist TO the prisoners
guilt. He sentenced him TO be hung in public,
on Friday, the second day of December.
Brown received the sentence with cOmposure,
and the only demonstration made was the clap
ping OF hands by one man in the crowd, who is
not resident of Jefferson county. This was
promptly suppressed, and much regret was ex-
pressed by citizens at its occurrence.
After being out an hour, the Jury in the case
OF Coppie returned with verdict, declaring
COppie guilty on all the counts in the indictment
His counsel gave notice of a motion to arrest
Judgment as in Browns case.
| The Court then adjourned