Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-10-28

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EASTMAN CO., and personally either Of the Pro
prietors
THE aARPERs FERRY HNSURRECTION
Trial Of the PrIsORers.
CHARLESTON, Va, Oct. 25.-The preliminary exam
nation OF the prisoners captured at Harpers Ferry
commenced this morning before the Magistrates
Court The following magistrates occupied the
bench: Col. Davenport, Presiding. assisted by Dr.
| Alexander John J. Lock, John f. Smith, Thomas
| Fl. Wills, Geo w Rlcheiberger, Charles II. Lewis
and Moses w. Burr. At half past ten O'Clock the
Sheriff was directed TO bring in the prisoners who
were conducted from the Jail under guard of egh-
ty armed men. guard was also stationed around
the Court HoHse. and bayonets bristling on all
sides. Chas. B. Harding, attorney for the county is
assisted by A. Hunter, COUNSEL for the Common
| wealth. The prisoners were brought ID
General Brown and +. Coppee were manacled tcs
gether. Brown seemed weak and haggard with his
| eyes swollen from the effect OF the wounds on his
head. COppee is uninjured Stevens seemed less
| injured than Brown but looked haggard and de-
pressed There number Of wounds on the
head of both, John Copeland Is bright mulatto
about Is years old, and Green who about 80 years
of age, is dark negro.
prisoners charged with treason and murder Hard
ing, the State Attorney asked the court if he might
assign counsel for the prisoners if they had none
The court inquired If the prisoners hada counsel
| when Brown addressed the court as follows
did not ask for any quarter at the time | was
taken. | did not ask TO have my life spared The
Governor of the State of Virginia rendered me his
assurance that should have fair trial and under
| no circumstances whatever viii | be able to attend
| to a trial If you seek my blood you can have it at
| any moment, without the mOekery OF trial have
had no counsel; have not been able to advise with
! one. ] know nothing about the feelings of my fell
low-prsoners, and am utterly unable 10 attend in
| any way to my own defense MY memory don't
| serve me, nv health is insufficient although I'M
| proving. There are mitigating circumstances, if a
| fair trial is to be allowed u.s. that l would urge in
| our favor; but if we are TO be forced with more
/ form of trial 10 execution. you might spare YOUR
selves the trouble. lam ready for nay fate; don't
ask trial; beg for no mockery OF trial no in.
sub nothing but that which conscience gives Orcow-
aTdice would drive you TO practice. ask to be ex-
! eused from the mockery OF a trial. do not know
what the design of this examination IS lido not know
what is to be the benefit OF il to the Commonwealth
have now little to ask other than that | be not
! foolishiy insuted cOwardly baFbarians insult
| those who fail into their power.
The court assigned Chas. J. Faulkner and Lawson
Bolts as counsel for the prisoners. After consulting
with the prisoners Mr. Faulkner addressed the court
and stated that he den:ed the right of this court
assign counsel for prisoners, ana that he could not
enter upon ueIG Use OF lNOSS pflSO0efs on sucn
short notice, as it would indeed be moekery of
justice
Mr. Bolts said he did not feel it his duty to decline
the appointment of the court
Mr. Harding addressed Brown and asked him if
he willing to accept Messrs Faulkner and Bolts
as counsel? Brown replied l wish to say that
have sent for counsel did apply, through the ad-
vice of some persons here, to some persons whose
names do not now recollect, TO act as counsel for
me- and have sent for other counsel who have had
no possible opportunity to see me- wish for coun-
sci if l am to have trial, but if have moth
ing but the mOckery of a trial, said, do not
care anything about counsel 1t is unnecessary to
trouble any gentleman with that duty.
Harrington are to have a fair trial.
Brown-There were certain q think Mr. !
Bolts Of them) who declined acting as cOun-
sci, but not positive about II. Icannot remem-
Der whether he was one, because have heard many
names. / STRANGER here. l do not know the |
disposition character of the gents named have
applied for counsel Of my own, and doubtless could
have them, if | not, as said before, to be hur-
red 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.
Harding-The question is, do you desire the SER |
vices of Messrs Faulkner and Bolts your COUNSEL
Please to answer yes
Brown cannot regard this examination |
under any circumstances. would prefer that they
should exercise their own pleasure. | feel as if it |
matter Of very little account to me. If they
had designed to assist me as counsel should have
Harding-Steyens, you willing that these gents
should act as your counsel?
Stevens-I willing that gent shall, pointing to
Bolts.
Harding-Do you object to Alr Faulkner?
Stevens-No; am willing to take both.
Harding then addressed each of the prisoners |
separately and chstaed their willingness to be de-
Tended by the counsel named
The court issued peremptory order that the |
press should not publish detailed testimony, as it
would render the getting jury before the Circuit
Court impossible.
Lewis Washington stated that about / o'clock on |
Sunday night he asleep and was awakened by |
noise and heard his name called he went down. |
and YVES surrounded by six men Stevens was in |
command Cooke, COppee, and two negroes prison. |
ers, along, and another white man whom he |
recognized as kagie. Washington then proceeded |
to detail all the particulars of his taking, as pri-
soner with his negroes to the armory and the sub
sequent events up the attack by the T. S. Marines
and their delivery.
A. NJ Kittzmiler gave the particulars of his be- |
ing taken prisoner and locked up; he subsequently
had several interviews with Brown, who always |
treated them with great respect and courtesy He |
endeayored to ascertain from Brown what object he
had in view, and he repeatedly told him his only OBJ
iect to free slaves, and willing fight pro-
slavery to accomplish that object. On one oc-
cason during the attack said to Brown This is |
getting to be serious work, and if you will allow me
TO interfere, | can possibly accommodate matters |
he went out with Stevens with flag of truce. On
Monday afternoon he requested Stevens to remain |
whilst he went forward, when he. Stevens was |
fred on and fell He recognized only Brown and /
Stevens; counted twenty-five early in the morn
ing around with Sharpe's rifles. When Stevens was |
lying wounded, he remarked to me, u have been |
cruelty deceived
Washington recalled-Said that in conversation |
with Governor Wise, Brown was told he need not |
answer questions unless he chose, and that Brown
replied, he had nothing to conceal and had 10 favors
to ask that he had arms enough for 1000 men, and
could get enough for 600 men if wanted.
Armistead Ball declared that after his arrest by |
the insurgents he had an interview with Brown who |
stated that he had come for chids play and was /
prepared to carry out his designs; that his object
was not to make war against the people and they /
should not be injured if they remained quiet his |
object being to place U. S. in the hands of the
negroes and proposed TO free all slaves in the vicn
ity. Brown repeatedly said that his whole object |
was TO release the slaves, and asked him if some |
plan could not be arranged for the liberation OF self
and prisoners said could only be released by fur
nishing abebodied slaves iii place of each. recog
nize Stevens Green and Brown. Capt Brown toll /
the prisoners when the charge of United States ma
rnes was about TO be made, that though he did not
intend to injure them himself; that they should |
| equally occupy the post of danger with himself |
that if they were not dear enough TO their fellow
citizens to accept the terms he had proposed secure
their safety, that they must be as bad barbaFians
Coppee on the other hand told himself and friends
to sit behind the engines he did not wish any
| of them injured.
One OF the insurgents. Beckham heard him say |
" | have a draft on him y did not Capt Brown
| fire once from the engine house; do not think |
| that he fired once; Green fred several times the
| prisoners were never unreasOnably exposed.
John Alstadt. one of the slave owners who was
brought into the armory with slaves. detailed the
particulars Of the battering his door ard seizure by
six armed men. At this point he appeared to be
| fainting, and mattrass procured for him, on
| which he laid during the balance of his examina-
toni Mr.. Alstadt resumed that Brown CRED
several times; knows that he him with gun
leveed; saw all the prisoners, except the yellow
man, Copeland
Alexander Kelly detailed the particulars Of a col
lision with the insurgents and exchanging several
| shots.
Mr.. johnson testified to the arrest of Copeland,
| the yellow man, who attempting to escape
across the river. He armed with spear and
rife and ssid he had been placed in charge Of Halls
rifle factory by Capt Brown.
Andrew Kennedy was at the Jail when Copeland
was brought in, and questioned him He said that
he came from the Western Reserve, Ohio that Brown
came there in August and employed him at $40 q
J month,