The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1859-11-17
Uolitital.

Say We are indebted to the 7Iioga 4g-
ttGtor for the following abstract of the
TriaR and SenteneS ~ Brown.
For The past two weeks he daily news
papers have been filled WIKI the court
proceedings in the case of "Gld Brown >
and the other unfortunate men who rush
cd with him into the jaws of Ieath in the
late invasion Of the State Of Virginia
We propose in this article to give synop-
sm of the leading facts iE the triai, as want
IF space debats us from fdhltshing the
proceedings entire,
On the 25th Of October the pttelimina-
~ examination commenced at Charles
i4Sn, the seat of justice of Jefferson coun-
4, Va. Fight magi$sra we're on the
bench, and by their direction the Sheriff
hrongh the prisoners into Court under Il
guard Of eighty armed nlen---frs times
Tho number Of Browns Invading force
Who were placed as guard around the
court house in order to prevent his c.
cape should he succeed in breaking the
iron manacles which bound him to Cop
pie, the other prisoner Brown seemed
weak and haggard, with his eyes swelled
ftons the effects of the wounds on his
He2d:
Sheriff Campbell read the commitment
of the prisoners. Mr.. Harding, States
Attorney, asked that the Court might as
Sign counsel for prisoners, if they had
none. The Court inquired if the prison
eEs had counsel, wheh' Brown addressed
tke Cert ms fosloss
:" Virginiaus did not ask for any quarter
Rt the time / Was taken. | did not ask to
hare my life spared. The Governor of the
State of Virginia rendered me his assurance
Mat should have fair trial, aud under no
circumstances whatever will be able to at
tend to trial If you seek my blood you can
have it 1t any moment without the moekery
o! trial. lhaye had no counsel Ihavc not
been able 70 advise with one know nothing
about the feelings Of nv fellow prisoners aud
/ am utterly unable 10 attend in aAy va, 70
INV own defence,
Ny memory don't serve me- Nv health is
Insufficient. although improving. There are
mitigating circumstances, If fair trial is to
be allowed u, that would urge in our favor !;
hut if we are to be forced with mere form
of trial, to exetution, you may spare your
selves that trouble. | am ready for nv fate
do not ask trial beg for no mockerY Of
trial, no insult, nothing but that which con-
science sires tr cowardice woi.lG drive yol 10
lfacticS.
" ask not to be excused from Che mockcry
Of trial. do not know what the design of
this examination Is | ds not know what is tt
lie the benefit of il TO the Commonwealth |
hare now little to ask, other than that DC
moi foolishly insultcd, AS cowardly barbarians
insult those who fall into their power
At the conclusion of this speech the
Court assigned Messrs. Faulkner and
Bolts as counsel for the prisoner, the
former Of whom declined, and the lattar
accepted the position. MIR Bots was
assisted by Mr.. Green his partner.
On the 26 of October examinations of
witnesses for the proseo4ttQt! commenced.
During the day brown stated that he had
full confidence in the goodness of God !;
that he was confident that lie would res
cue him from the perils that then sur
rou2dcd him that he had before had RI
fies pointed at him, knives at his throat,
and his life in as great peril as it then
was, but that God had always been at his
side; aud that as he knew He was with
him he feared nothing.
On the 9th Brown was SO unweii as
70 make it necessary for him TO lie down
in bod which was brought into Court
tor that purpose. Mr.. Betts read to the
Court dispatch received from response
Bile parties in Ohio, saying that fye of
Browns immediate relatives were affict-
ed With insanity that this mental disease
was hereditary in :he family. and that
these facts could be proved by witnesses
who would attend the trial if necessary.
On reading the dispatch to Brown he af-
firmcd the truth Of the statement but re-
fused to take any advantage OF this plea,
as be believed himself to be sane. He
desired to meet his fate as man and NOT
as presumed mauiac.
Ga tho 2sth of October, Young man
named Hoyt from Boston arrived at
CharlestoYn as counsel for brown. He
took the necessary ca,t Of admission to
tho bar of Virginia, and asked for time
TO examine the Indictment, the Virginia
Code aud the testimony already taken.
This was denied. The testimony for the
prosecution closed that afternoon, and
docs not differ from the reports already
published. Ten witnesses for tae prose
sution we're examined and the evidence