The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-11-11
Rirlmonn Qispatrb.
MORNING. -. nov, Il. 1sse
THE CHARLEsTowN TRIALS.
The Case of Ceek-.Appearancee Of IN Pris.
oner--Thc Jury-.A new Prisoner.
Browns Property, SC.
The followingis is the latest intelligence which
we have from Harper's Ferry:

CHARLKsTowN, Nov. 6.
The attendance at Court to-day was large
/ drawn by the announcement that the ease ol
| capt. Cook would be taken up. Besides a
| large attendance from the county of Jefier.
| son. quite humber OF persons were presen,
! from the adjoining counties aud abroad
| AL haif-past nine o'clsek The prisoner was
brought into Court, by the jaiior and couple
| OF deputies, accompanied by Gov. Willard and
| Mr.. Crowley, brothers-n-aw. The appear
| ance of the prisoner is rather prepossessing-
! lie is about t~enty-six years of age has light
hair aud 4 remarkably fair comuiexi,,n and
| were II not for the fact that he is quite round.
! shouldered. would be Considered handsome
| tie was dressed in a neat manner and his
bearing showed him to be n an If in telligence
He occupied seat near the centre of the bar
| Gov. Willard having a seat on his right, and
| Mr.. Crowley on his left His counsels, Attor-
| ney General Mcdonald, District Attorney
| Norhees. of Indiana, and Messrs. Bolts and
| Green, were seated in front aud communicated
! with him constantly the entire day.
/ Before the clerk commenced the reading of
| the indictment, Air. Green stated that the
| prisoner would not plead to the indictment
| until after counsel had been heard as they
| wished 10 en,er demurrer gainst the find
| ing of the Grana Jury on the first count {.
| which referred to the act of treason
The clerk then proceeded TO read the indct-
| ment which niied some seven pages of closely
| written foolscap, the prisoner standing erect
without the bending of a muscle, during the
| entire reading.
Mr.. Bolts tnen commenced the argument for
| the prisoner against the first count of the in
| dictment, which he claimed was not worded
/ according to the requirements of the common
| law practice. He quo.ed a large number
| OF authorities TO prove the correctness of his
position. Inc question was further argued
] by Messrs Hunter and Harding for the prose-
| cntion, and Mr.. Green for the defence The
! arguments consumed almost the entire morn
ing session, and was finally decided by the
Judge TO the effect that the Indictment was
correct according to the statutary provisions
| OF the Virginia code. An adjournment was
| then made for dinner.
On the re-assembling of the Court the pro-
cess OF empanneling jury was begun. The
same questions propounded to the jury in the
case of Brown were put TO the jury, and but
| little difficulty was experienced in the selec-
| ton, as but few had expressed an opinion
| which would prevent their giving the prison
| er fair and impartial trial. In a short time
| the following were announ ed as the jury Sc
| iected Charles L. Butler. Charles Hewett,
| Joseph Hout, Lorenzo Achinson, Thomas
! Chaplin, john Snyder, Henry Selby. Nm. NJ.
| Lemon Jacob s Sheetz, Martin Swimley,
| George Shovel, and Michael 5. Hunsncker.-
The jury Is composed mainly OF farmers, and
| is possessed OF a fair share of intelligence.
After the jury had been sworn. the prisoner
/ was directed 10 stand up. and the Indictment
| was again read, and the question propounGed
| by the clerk, guilty or not guilty. The prison.
| eF res p0uded not guilty as 10 The first count,
| charging him with treason, and guilty as TO
| the second and third counts in the indictment, /,
| charging him witt conSplrlng with slaves 10
rebel and murder.
Mr. Green, for the defence, then arose and
stated the ground on which the prisoner plead
not guilty 10 the first count. The prisoner ad-
mited the fact OF conspiring with slaves to rebel
which was punishable with dea Tn or imprison-
rnent for life. Mr.. Green spoke for some time
and was listened TO with much attention.
MIR. Hunter followed. and stated he held in
his hand a confession writer by John X. Cook,
which he proceeded to read. The confession
covers some twenty-five pages of manuscript.
aud is written in a smooth style. Nothing new
is elected, excepting the fact that he i'm plca les
Fred Douglass and Dr. Howe with the affair
The confession will not be published in the
papers, as il Will be prin ted in pamphlet form
and sold for the benefit of Mr.. Samuel g..
Young of this town, who was severely wound
ed in front of the Armory gate whilstassisting
in the attack on the insurgents. The reading
OF the confession was listened to with much at
tention by crowded courtroom, and the
comments on ii were various.
A great effort will be made by the defence to
save the prisoner from hanging, and fears are
entertained by many that The effort VIII be
successful. The outside feeling against the
accused is very great.
The New York Tribune has a long letter
from Charlestown correspondent, some parat
graphs of which we extract:
ABOUT BROWN.
Certain northern papers convey the impress
sion OF very general belief in John Browns
safety from execution. They assume that, for
political or other reasons, Gov. Wise will be
induced TO show clemency to this condemned
man. Such ideas are here received with in
dignation. / certainly do not see any ground
for hope in Browns case. 1t is evident that
any attempt to remove him alive from this
town would fail. The people say that a regi-
head could not accomplish it. You, at dis
tance, can hardly form an impression OF the
rage for vengeance which Is felt by -he citizens
OF this place.
Browns own ideas on the subject are char
acterstic. lie TRANQUILITY says: Il do not
know that ought to encourage any attempt
to save my life l am not sure that it would
not be better Tor me To die at TINS time. am
not incapable of error, and 1 may be wrong;
but think that perhaps my objects would be
nearer fuifiilment il l should die must give
il some thought There is no nsineerity
about this, you may be sure. Brown does not
value his life; or, at least, is wholly unmoyed
at the prospect of losing it. He was never
more firm than at this moment. The only
| compunctions he expresses are in relation to
his management at Harper's Ferry, by which
| lie lost not only himself, but sacrificed his as
| socfates He sometimes says that if he had
purs ued his original plan OF immed late escape
TO the mountains, he could never have been ta-
| ken, for he and his men had studied the vicni-
| ty thoroughly, and knew il a hundred times
better than any of the inhabitants. 1t was, he
| says, his weakness in yielding to the entrea-
Ties of the prisoners, ana delaying his depar-
ture that ruined him. at was the first time" ;"
are his words, "that l ever lost command of
| myself, and now l am punished for it.''
The reason Brown has given for asking his
wife to remain away is also characteristic He
knows il will cause great suffering, and will
possibly, shatter his composure in Il manner
which he is resolved against, lest his captors
should esteem IL an evidence OF regret for what
he has done.
Nothing seems to give Brown greater annoy
ance than hearing OF those threatening anony
nous letters that are continually sent 10 Gov
Wise and the authorities of Charles town con-
cerning his fate. He protests alainSt them,
and feels unwilling 10 believe that they pro-
ceed from his own friends
NEW PRISONER.
Haziitt, of Pennsylvania, was yesterday
captured in Carlisle Pa, and was at midnight
brought into Charleston You would have
thought by the uproar that new invasion
was at hand-guards running hither and
thither. hotels assaiied with merciiess batter
iags and altogether a hideous state OF things.
Hazli;t has nothing to say, having been IN
structed by counsel to answer no questions,
and give no iniimation of his an tecetentsi and
the other prisoners seem oppressed by an ab-
soIute ineapabiiity To recognize HIM, although
called upon 10 identify. This prisoner Is, III
appearance the most reckless and determined
OF all that have been brought here.
BROWNS PROPERTY.
Mr. Sennott who has been formally lntrnst-
ed with Browns interests intends To look up
all of his properly that can be collected to-
gether for the benefit of his family. Of the
Sharp. rifles, twenty only are certain to be
recovered tie rest having been carried OF by
various persons. These twenty are in the pos
session OF the jailor, who is anxious 10 have
their value made good TO Brown. Fhe tents,
axes. pixies, &c. will probably be sold as soon
as possible / am sorry 10 say tht Mr.
Browns little property was seriously dimih-
ished by MIR Griswold, the lawyer from Ohio.
who received S250 from his client for defending
him.