New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-10-26
Examination of the Iarper's Ferry
COnspiratOrs.

CHARLRsTows, va, Iuesdsy. Oct. -, 1852
Tho preliminary examination Of Bro~n aud other
Harpers Feiry conspirators commenced here to-day,
IN the MAG istIates Court. Col Davenport was the
presiding Justice, and the following magistrates were
associated with bin OF the bsrch: DR.. Ale1 .nder
Jobp J. Lcck John +. Smith, Thos. ii. Willis, George
w. Eichelberger, Charles II. Lewis. add Moses w.
Burr.
At 10Y o'clock the Sheriff was directed 10 bring in
the prisoners who conducted from the sl under
. guard Ct 80 armed men.
A guard was also stationed around the Court. Tae
Court-House was brs.pg With bayonets on all sides
Charles B. Harding, esq acted as Attorney for the
County, ssfis.ed by Andrew Hunter Counsel for the
Comm onwesltb. The prisoners brought in
Brown and Edwin Coppie manacled together.
Brown seemed week and haggsrd, With eyes swollen
from wounds on the head. Coppe 10 narjuceo.
Sephers seemed less injured than BrowO, but looked
hsggsrd and depressed. Both have q number of
wounds on the head.
john COPELAND is bright mulatto, about % years o
age, and Green q dark negro, aged about 80. Sheriff
Campbell read the commitment of the prisoners, who
were charged with treason and murder.
NJ Harding, the Attorney for the State, asked that
the Court might assign counsel for the prisoners if
they had zone.
The Court then inquired if the prisoners had counsel
when Brown addressed the Court as follows:
81 did Dot ask for any quarter al the tins wss
token. did not AJAX to have my life spared. Tae
Governor of the STATE Of Virgins rendered me his
assurance that / should have far trial; and, under
no cirounstances -bstever, will be able TO have
fair tisl. If you Geek my boot, You can have it q.
any moment, without this mockeJy OF trial. have
had no counsel have cot been able to advise With
any one know nothing about the feelings Of my
fellow prisoners, and srn utterly unable TO a;enf 10
any way TO my own defense My memory doa't serve
me- by health is inefficient, although improving.
at,,ur matt nj mr.
In our favor If q fair tiAl ia 10 be allowed us. But
il we are to be forced with mere fIru-a trial for
executior-you ght spare yourselves tina, tronole.
1 sm ready for my fac. do not ask a trial. beg
for no mockey Of tria-no iusut-DothDg but that
which conscience gives or cowsrdice would DIVE yoa
to practice ask again 10 Do excnsef fro the mock,
cry Of trial. DO not even know what the special
design of this examination is. 90 lot know wnst is
10 be the benefit Of it 10 the Common wealth. have
now little further to ak, other tbso that may not be
fooishly rsuIted only a. cowrdly bafoa'ianS insult
At the conclusion Of Browns remarks, the Court asr
signed Charles j. Faulkner and Lawson Bolts as coun
eel for the prisoners.
Mr. Fauikper-I wss about 10 remark to the Couit
that, although feel st any time wi'e to discharge
any duty winch the Court can legally claim, aud by
authority Of Law devolve upon INC, am not aware OF
any authority which this Court has citing as al Ex'
aiming Court TO assign counsel for the defense Be-
sides 1t 10 manifest from the remarks just made by one
of the prisoners that be regards tbe appearance Of
counsel pnder euch circumstances not a. bona tide
act but rsther a. mockery. Under these ciIcun'
saIceO DO rot feel disposed to assume the RESPONSE
billy of that position. I have other ress Ms for de-
Citing the position connected with my having been at
the place Of action ADD hearing all the ADMISSIONS OF the
prisoners which reodsr 1t improper and inexped'ent
for me TO act as couDseL II the Court hal authority
to order it pereDptoly should acquiesce, and obey
that authority am not that there is sny such
power vsstsd 10 THE Court but as il is the prisoners
desire vl sec that full justice is done them.
Mr. Bolts said he did feel it to be his day to de-
cline toe appointment Of the Court. He prepared
TO do lis beet to defend the Prisoners And be hoped the
Court would assign some experienced assistant In case
Mr.. Fsukuer persisted in bis dec'instion.
MIR. Harding sddressed Brown, aud asked him if be
was wiling to accept Messrs. Faulkner AID Bolts as
his couoseL
Mr. Blown repled: wish 70 say that | have sent
for counsel. did apply, through the advice of some
persons here, to come persons Whose names do NOT
recoect TO act as council for me- and have seIt
for other counsel, who have sd no possible opooru
nifty to see I wish for counsel it sD to have a
trial; but IL 10 have nothing but the mockefy of
trial, as have said, do not care anything about
counsel is unnecessary to trouble any gentle nan
with that cuy.
Mr. Hnding-You are to have a fair trial.
Mr.. BrOwD-There were certain men-l think Mr.
Bolts one Of them-who declined actiOg as counsel
but sm not positive about il. / csunot remember
whether he was one, because have heard so many
names am a stranger here; do not know the dis
poeton or character of the gentlemen named hsve
applied for counsel Of my own, and doubtless could
have them if am not, as said before, TO be hurried
TO execution before they can reach me- Bot If that Is
the disposition that is to be made OF me, all this
trouble and expense can be saved.
MI. Hardipg-The gu stion liz do you desire the aid
of Meesrs- Faulkner aud Bolts as your counsel
Please to answer yes or moi
Mr.. Browu-I cannot regard this as examination,
urder any circumstsn ,es. l would prefer tina; they
should exercise their pleasure. fes as If 1t was
matter Of very little account to If they mad de-
signed to assist me as counsel should have wan.ed
an opport aDi'y to consult the ct my leisure.
MIR Hsrdibg-Steveus, are you willing those gentle
men she uld act as your coupsell
Mr.. SteveDs-t am willing tina. gentleman shall
tpoiniirg TO MIR. Bolts.
MIR. Hs,dpg-Do you object to MIR. Faulkner
Mr.. 5 evens-Nc. AN willing 70 take bJth.
MIR. Hsrdog addressed each of the other prisoner,
separately and each stated his willingness TO be de-
fer ded by the counsel psued.
Tie Court issued per.mp tory order that the press
should rot pubdsh detailed testimony, as il would
resder toe getting of jury before the Circuit Court
impossible
Lewis Washington stsied-At about o'clock on
Sunday night last he asleep, aud was awOke by
a none; heard his name called; went doTn add Wa.
surrouI ded by six men Stevens appeared to be 10
command; Cook, Crpple, AID two negro prisoners
were sopg, and another white msn, whom ne atser-
ward recognized rs Ksgi Mr.. Washington then pro-
ceeded 10 detail all the particulars OF hS takug
prisoner with his negroes TO the a'mory and the Sab
sequeDt events up TO the attack by the marines and
his delivery.
A. NJ. Kittniuer gave the particulars of bic being
taken prisoner, and locked up; ne subsequently bad
several interviews With Brown, who always treatet
them with great deal Of respect ana coar,ssS be
desvoreo to ascertain ON Brown what offset he had
in view and be repeate oily told him his only Object
TO free the slaves, and be sllog to fight the Pro-
Slavery men to accomplish that object: one occs-
sion curing the attack said 10 Bowa this is getcg
hot work and if You gill ALLOW me to interfere, |
possibly accommodate matters; he vent out with
Stevens with flag of truce Monday afternoon; he