Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-11-12

youth and was regarded by his family and
friends rs kind hearted and generous; after
that saw nothing Of him for two years, when
he met with him in Philadelp hia where he
was engaged in Congress Hall: he returned u
his family after an absence ofthree years, and
engaged in the store of his brother-inlaw,
Mr.. Crowley; he remained there a short
time. after which he went into the law office
of Mr.. StcarnS. in 1854: witness had not
seen him since that time, until he saw him
in prison here; Cook had been absent for
some time, when brother went to Kansas
in search Of him, but did not succeed; when
witness saw the name of Cook mentioned in
connection with the lIarpcr's Ferry inva.
sion. he did not know whether il was his
brotherin-law or not, but determined 10
make Il visit here and ascertain; when he ar
rived he met with senator Mason. who was
Il friend of his who accompanied him 10 the
Jail: when lie entered Cook commenced y
conversation, detailing his connection with
the affair; witness then told him that he had
better not make any statement in regard TO
the affair then, for the witness would be
called on to testify before the court; witness
told the prisoner that he had better make u
confession, stating all he knew about the
matter; he thought it would be the best
thin. for himself, and il was due 10 the fam
lily; Cook conceded with him, and hence the
confession; witness again repeated that the
prisoner was considered kind hearted and
honest BY all who knew him.
The testimony for the defence was here
announced rs having been closed and the
prosecuting attorney, Harding, proposed the
case be submitted to the jury without argu-
ment.
Mr.. Hunter stated that he was perfectly
willing 50 far Is he was concerned, to hand
the case over 10 the jury without argument,
but he was free TO say that he would never
agree if he was counsel for defence in q
murder ease. To submit IT without argument.
Mr.. Green. one of the counsel Tor the de-
fence, announced that the case would be ar
gucd. Is that was the wish Of the prisoner
{. b. Harding, Commonwealth Attorney,
then opened the case and spoke for more
than al hour. His style was neither chaste
nor becoming, and his Sneering aluson to
the foreign counsel for the defence and the
presence of Cook 5 friends, was not endorsed
By the large and intelligent crowd in atten-
dance His declaration that he had march
ed to the scene of conflict (which was made
in braggadocio style elected a smile from
the crowd. His method Of passing sentence
on the prisoner before the jury had acted on
the ease. was regarded rs rather an innoya-
ton on old and established usages.
Hon. ID. W. Voorhees, United States Dis
trict Attorney tor the State Of Indiana, fol-
lowed Mr. Harding, and spoke for an hour
and half Mr.. Y. is Il young man, not over
80, and is one OF the most prominent men IN
Indiana. Ills appeal Oh this occasion was
one Of the most powerful ever made in the
Circuit Court of this county. lie stated IN
the outset of his remarks that he did not
appear here for the purpose OF placing any
obstacle in the way Of q ust and impartial
administration of the law, but he had come
to plead mercy He felt that he had a right
u come before this jury and plead for the
prisoner at the bar. He came from one of
the four great Northwestern States which
Virginia had coded 10 the General Govern
mcnt, and he did not consider himself a
stranger to them. HIS reference to the pre-
,encr Of Governor Willard, and the gloom the
affair had east over his hOu >chOld was touch
ing, aad produced II profound silence. Few
eyes were left dry, and men who had not
wept for years were compelled to wipe the
tear from their eyes The prisoner wept bit
terly, as also did Governor Willard. The
picture of mercy, rs drawn by the eloquent
gentleman, was both truthful and beautiful
The boon they asked was but poor one at
best Indeed, if he was obliged to choose
between death and u life in prison, he would
oh. Is,,t fl,nra
something inicScribably horrible in the glib
bet. He did not think that any jury could
look On the face Of that blue-eyed, fair hair
cd boy, and say he was equally guilty with
Brown III this great crime against this Com
monweath of Virginia. II he was any Judge
OF the human character, n traced in the ex.
preston and cuuntenancc, he would say that
this maynard boy is no murderer At heart
lie was incapable of the act. lie had met
Brown in Kansas, and listening to tlattcring
reports, had in an evil hour joined in the AZ
fair which would blast him forever even
though his life he spared. He thought the
jury could be Just to the Commonwealth. and
vet show mercy To the prisoner, by recon-
mcuI,n. him to til. favorable consideration
nf the Executive. Grant this boon, and you
will not regret it, but Will rather bless the
day when you performed your duty, and yet
showed mercy.
The speaker WAS listened to throughout his
address with the most profound attention,
and the eifectpn the crowd was We Y great
Men who had gone into the courtroom,
strongly preJuliced against Cook, now ia
vored the communication of the prisoner.
Mr.. Bolts then closed for tire defence, and
made an able argument, stating that he was
not paid for his services, nor would he con-
sent to receive pay lie regarded it as his
duty to appear and defend to the best of his
ability the prisoner AT the bar Mr.. Green
did not speak in the ease, nor did Mr. Nc
Donald, the Attorney General Of Indiana,
who was engaged in the case.
The ease was now closed with an argu-
mcut for the prosecution by Andrew Hunter,
esq, whp-tatc1 in the outset Of his remarks
that n the commonwealth had failed to es-
tablish the charge OF treason, he would aban-
don that, ths first count in the Indictment. Mr.
H. spoke only for about three quarters Of an
hour, but with power. Whilst he admired
the effort Of the counsel for the defence. and
sympathized with the distressed friends Of
the prisoner, his duty. a. prosecutor IN this
case, rendered it necessary that he should
deal with the prisoner az the bar without
reference 10 anything like sympathy. He
closed by charging the jury that If they had
reasonable doubt Of the innocence Of the
prisoner. II was their duty to give him the
benefit Of it. aud charged them. Is sworn ad
ruiniStrp,Drs of thr Law that they b, not in