The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-11-03

G. BAILEY, Washington, d. c.
asked him If he was willing to accept Messrs.
Faulkner and Bolts as counsel.
Captain Brown replied: ~ wish to say that
/ have sent for counsel. did apply, through
the advice Of some persons here, TO some per
sons, whose names 1 do not now recolect, TO
act as counsel for me, and have sent for other
counsel, who have not had time TO reach here,
and have had no possible opportunity to see
me- / wish for counsel, if am TO have trial
but if am to have nothing bat the nockery Of
trial, as / said, do not care anything about
counsel. Ii is unnecessary to trouble any gen
tleman with that duty"
Mr.. Harding. "You are to have fair trial"
Captain Brown. "There were certain men,
think Mr.. Bolts was one of them, who declined
acting as counsel, but am not positive about
it; / cannot remember whether he was one, be-
cause / have heard so many names. am a
stranger here, and do not know the disposition
or character Of the gentlemen named. have
applied for counsel Of my own, and doubtless
could have them, If / am not as have said
before, TO be hurried to execution before they
can reach here. But if that is the disposition
that is to be made of me, all this trouble and
expense can be saved"
Mr. Harding "The question is, DO you de-
sire the aid of Messrs. Faulkner and Bolts as
your counsel? Please to answer yes or no."
| Captain Brown. f" cannot regard this as an
examination under any circumstances. would
prefer that they should exercise their own
pleasure. | feel it as a matter Of little account
to me. If they had designed to assist me as
counsel, should have wanted an opportunity
to consult with them at my leisure"
Mr.. Harding. Stevens, are you willing
those gentlemen should act as your counsel +? y
Stevens. 81 am willing that gentleman shall"
| (pointing to Mr.. Bolts.
Mr.. Harding. ado you object to Faux
ner2"
Stevens. "Nol am willing to take both"
Mr.. Harding then addressed each of the other
prisoners separately, and each stated his will
lingness to be defended by the counsel named.
The Court then issued peremptory orders
that the press should not publish detailed test-
mony as it would render the getting of jury
before the Circuit Court impossible.
EXAMINATION OF WITNESSES.
The examination of witnesses was then com.
menced:
Col. Washington stated that at one o'clock
on Sunday night he was asleep and awoke By
a noise; heard his name called; went down,
and was surrounded by six men Stevens APP
peared to be in command; Cooke, Coppee, and
two negro prisoners, were along, and another
white man, whom ,he afterwards recognised as
Kagi. Colonel Washington then proceeded to
detail all particulars of his taking as prisoner,
with his negroes, to the Armory, and subse-
quent events, up to attack by marines, and de-
livery.
Mr.. Kittzmiller gave particulars of his being
taken prisoner and locked up; subsequently
had several interviews with Brown, who always
treated them with gread deal of respect and
courtesy; endeavored to ascertain from Brown
what object he had in view, and he repeatedly
told him his only object was to free slaves, aud
he was willing to fight Pro-Slavery men to &C
complish that object. On one occasion, during
attack, l said to Brown, {" this is getting hot
work and if you will allow me to interfere,
can possibly accommodate matters" Witness
then went out with Stevens with flag of truce
this was on Monday afternoon; be requested
Stevens to remain whilst he went forward,
when Stevens was fred on and fell; recognises
only Brown and Stevens; counted twenty-five
men early in the morning, armed with Sharpo's
rifles. When Stevens was lying wounded, he
remarked to me, al have been cruelty de
ceived - to which l replied, Il wish had
Col. Washington recalled. IN -convsrsuuuz
with Gov. Wise, Brown was told he need not
answer questions unless be chose. Brown re-
piled, he had nothing to conceal; had no favors
to ask, and that he had arms enough for two
thousand men, and could get enough for FIVE
thousand, if wanted.
Armistead Ball examined. Stated the par.
ticulars of his arrest by the insurgents; had in
terview after arrest with Brown, who stated he
had come for no child's play, and was prepared
to carry out his designs; that his object was
not to make war upon the people, and they
would not be injured if they remained quiet
his object was to place the United States arms
in the hands of black men, and he proposed
then to free all slaves in the vicinity. Brown
repeatedly said his whole object was to release
the slaves / asked him il some plan could not
be arranged for liberation of self and prisoners ;
he said we could only be released by furnishing
an able-bodied slave in place Of each recog-
Misses Stevens, Green, aud Brown, as among the
party; Capt. Brown told the prisoners, when
the charge of the marines was about being
made, that though he did not intend to ipjure
them himself, they should equally occupy the
post of danger with himself; that if they were
not dear enough to their fellow-citizens to in
duce them to accept the terms be had proposed
to secure their safety, they must be the worst
of barbarians; Coppee, on the other hand, told
himself and friends to get behind the engines,
that he did not wish to see any of them injured.
One of the insurgents, who was killed. the wit.
ness thinks killed Beckham heard him say,
~ have dropped him." did not see Captain
Brown fire once from the engine-house does
not think he fred at all Green fired several
times; the prisoners were never unreasonably
exposed.
Mr.. John Allstadt, one of the slave-owners
who was brought into the Armory with his
slaves, detailed the particulars Of battering
down the doors and his seizure by six armed
men.
At this point Stevens appeared to be faint
ing, and mattrass was procured for him, on
which he laid during the remainder Of the ex-
animation.
| Mr.. Allstadt resumed. Thinks that Brown
fred several times knows that he saw him
with gun levelled saw all the prisoners but
the yellow man, Copeland.
Alexander Kelly detailed particulars of COL
| lision with insurgents, and the exchanging of
several shots could not identify any of the
prisoners.
William johnson testified TO the arrest Of
Copeland, the yellow man, who was attempting
to escape across the river he was armed with
spear and rifle, and was arrested in the middle
of the Shenandoah he said he had been placed
in charge of Halls rife factory by Capt Brown.
Andrew Kennedy was at the jail when Cope.
land was brought in, and questioned him /; he
said he had come from the Western Reserve of
Ohio that Brown came there in August last,
and employed him at twenty dollars per month.
Mr.. Faulkner objected to this testimony, "a
duplicating white prisoners.
The Presiding Judge said his testimony could
only be received as duplicating himself.
Kennedy resumed. Copeland said their OBJ
iect was to release the slaves of this country :;
that he knew of nineteen in the party, but there
were several others he did not know.
Joseph A. Brua was one of the prisoners in
the engine-house, and was permitted to 90 out