The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1859-10-31
The Insurrecsion at Harpers
Ferry.


y ~ s y
CaAnknsfoN, ", Oct. 81.
The storm 81 Lass evening prevented the
tkAnsmission 81 the iatsr report Of Vie pro.
seedlings 81 the Court, The Court refused
to postpone the trial and the afternoon was
occupied in obtaining jury. Brown oeou-
pied a cot on which ha was carried into the
court room. The trial win be resumed this
morning 1hs1 oounssl for Blown ID expect
ed from Ohio.
Brown was brought into court this morn
ing, being abls to walk, but imme diately laid
down on Ais cot. Hs looks considerably bet
ter. Msssrs. Harding and Hunter represent
the Commonwealth, md Botts and Greer, Che
prisoner. -
Mr.. Bolts read the following dispatch, re.
ceived this mprniBg;
AKRON, O., Ooh 26.
To @. J. Faulsxsr and l.. Bolts:
John Brown, leader nf the insurrection at
Harper's Ferry, and, several Of his family,
have rssided ia this county for many yesrs.
Insanity il hersditary Ia that family. His
mothers sister died with II, and daughter
OF that sister has been two years 10 Luna.
tic AsylGm. "A son and daughter OF HE
mothers brother have been confined in the
Lunatac Assylum, and another SON OF that
brother ID now insane and under close re-
straint. These facts can be proved By Wit
nesos residing hare, who will doubtless at-
tend tho trial il desired. .eatg8 sf
"A. III. LEWIS.
The telegraph operator II Akron, VIM. g.
Allen, adds TO the above despatch that A .H.
Lewis is rGsidsut OF Akron, and his state.
ments are entitled to implicit credit.
Mr.. Bolts said that on receiving tho above
dispatch he went to the jail with HE ssso ciats
MIR. GreoD, and read it to Brown, and be
was desirsdl BY the father TO say that in his
fathsrss family there has been any inssnity
Ut ait ond his mothers side thsre hEd bssn
repeated instances Of it, which Was Also evi-
dent in hia first asd second son by that wife.
Some portions OF the statement IN tho dis
patch he ksows TO bs correct; Of the other
portions he 10 ignorant. He does not know
whether his mothers sister died in the Luz
natic Tsylnn, but be does bellows that
daughter OF that sister has been two ysare
ia an asylum, and thinks that son and daugh.
tor of his snothef's brother hxvU been con
fined in IN asylum, but hs Was not aware
that another SON Of brother il insane and in
close con6nsmsns.
Brsxu siso desires his souBsel 10 cav that
he does not put in any plea Of insanty, and
il be has ever been ct Oil insane hs vas to
tally unoonscious oft, yet hs adds that thoss
who are most insane generally suppose that
they have moro reason and sanity than those
around them. For himself he disdains 10
put in that plea, and seeks no immunity OF
that kind. The movement 10 made totally
without his appreciation or concurrence, and
Vas unknown to him until the rscsipt OF the
above dispatch. Brown here raised himself
up on bio bed and said
81 will Add, Il the court will allow ma,
that look upon it ns q miserable artifioe
and prstsxt OF those who expect 70 take i
different course ID regard to me, il they took
any al all, and / view it with contempt moro
than otherwise. As / remarked TO Mr..
Green, insane persons, 90 far q my sxps-
risnse goes, have but very little ability abil-
ity TO Judge Of their own sanity, and II am
insane of course should think knew more
than all the rest Of theworld, but do not
think 30. An perfectly unconscious Of in
sanity, and regret, 30 far % am capable,
any attempt to interfere in my behalf on that
score.'
Mr.. Bolts stated That he was further in
structed BY Brown, that rejecting thi plea
entirely, and seeking no delay for that rea-
son, he does repeat TO the court his request
made Yesterday that time be given for the
arrival, Of foreign counsel, which he has now
reason 10 expect.
Yesterday afternoon . dispatch was re-
oeivcd from Cleveland, signed Dan'l Tildeu,
asking Of Brown whether it would be Of any
use for counsel to leave last night. To this
dispatch an answer was returned that the
Jury would be sworn this morning, and
Brown desired the counsel to coma at onee.
! The telegraph operator stated that this dis
patch would be sent. Of 1t once in advance
OF the dispatches sent by the reporters, and
be had learned this morning that IL was sent
before the storm that last night interrupted
communication 90 that the counsel might
reach here BY IL or O'Clock tonight.
The course taken by Brown this morning
makes il evident that he sought no postpone
ment for tho purpose of delay, ~ hs rejects
the plea of insanity, still in his opinion he
can have fairer trial il the defonss we're
conducted by his own counsel, than II be
were defended by the counsel at present
here.
The N. Y. Herald publishes series Of let
ters Of Col. Forbes, the author Of the instruc-
tion books for guerrilla warfare, found ct
Browns house, to various Republicans, prin-
cpaily to F. B. Sanborn, Secretary OF Mas
sachusetts Emigrant Aid Society, and Or. s.
go a4o"O3 " Dv0sOn. Ou0 AesS0t, addressed
70 the latter, dated May, 1858, Il prsfssed by
TO Messrs. SAnborn, LAWfsnO4 b %. Uop-
les will be sent to Gov. Chase, Who found
many, and Gov. Fletcher, Who contributed
arms, and to others intsrsstsd. GO Quickly az
possible" The lsttsr gives the plans OF For.
bes and Brown for An insurrsstion. Forbes,
plan, with carefully selActed colorsd and
WhttA n - AA>f -
ern frontier Of virginia and Maryland esps-
ciAlly, series Of stampedes Of slaves, each
one Of which operations would carry Oh, ia
ono night, and from the same place, some
twenty to fifty slaves; this to be- effected onoe
or twice = month, and eventually once OF
twice week along non-contiguons parts OF
the line, il possible without conflict, ONLY re-
sorting 70 force If attacked. Slave women
acCust om0d to 60ld lnhor rnuld IA raa.lv y.