Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1859-10-28
LATE NEWS.
TUE LATE INSURRECTION.
Proceedings in CharlestOWn.

CuARLEsrowN, Va, Oct. 26. - Circuit
Court, Judge Parker. The Court met at
10 o'clock. The Grand Jury were called
and retired to resume the examination Of
witnesses. The court took recess to await
their return.
Mr.. Johnson, U. S. Marshall for the North
ern District Of Ohio. arrived this morning.
He visited the prisoners and identified
Copeland as a fugitive from jastice, from
Ohio. His object, it is supposed, lie to ferret
out testimony duplicating other parties.
TIE excitement is unabated. The crowd
from the surrounding country is We. y large
An event regarded as proving the faithful
ness OF their slaves is, no fears are enter
tAined of them, but military guard is kept
up for fear Of an attempt to sescue the pris
oners. Tho CONSERVATION among the slaves
is caused by fear OF being seized like those
of Col Washington, ard they firmly believe
the object of the prisoners was to carry
them South and sell them. Not single
slave has yet been implicated as even gym
pathising with the insurrectionists Those
carried off have all been retaken and re-
turned to their masters.
Charles 3. Harding, assisted by Andrew
Hunter. represent the Commonwealth G.
J. Faulkner and Lawson Botts are counsel
for the prisoners. True bill read against
each prisoner. First, for conspiring with
negroes 10 produce an insurrection second,
| for treason to the Commonwealth, and
third, for mu der.
Before the reading Of the bill Of indct-
ment, Hunter called the attention of the
Court to the necessity of appointing addi-
tional counsel for the prisoners stating that
one of the counrel, Faulkner, who had been
appointed by the County Court, considered
his duty in that capacity ended, and he had
left. The prisoners, therefore. had no 9th.
er counsel than Bolts. and if the Court was
about to assign them any other counsel, it
m ght be proper to do so now.
Mr.. Bolts said the prisoners retained him
and desired to have Mr. Green aesist him; if
the Court would accede to that manage.
ment it would be very agreeable to him
personally.
The Court requested Mr.. Green to act as
assistant counsel for the prisoners, and he
consented to do so
| Brown arose and said:
| II do not intend to detain the Court but
merely wish to say, rs have been promised
a fair trial, that arm not now IN circnm>
stances that enable me to attend a trial
owing to the state of my health. have
severe injury in my back, or rather
kidney, which enfeebe es me very much
only ask for very short delay OF my trial.
and think may be able to listen to it,
merely ask this, as the saying is. that the
devil may have his dues, no more. wish
to say, further, that my hearing is impaired
and rendered indistinct in consequence OF
wounds have about my head. cannot
hear distinctly. could not hear what the
Court said this morning; l would like to
hear what is said on my trial, and am now
better than expected, so that under the
circumstances a very short time IS all that
would :.sk. ! do not presume to ask more
than very ehort delay, 60 that may in
some degree recover and be able at least to
hear my trial, and hear what questions are
asked of the citizens, and what their an
swers are. Ifthat could be allowed me, l
should be very much obliged"
! Mr. Hunter said the request was prema.
ture. The arrangement could be made, and
this question could then be considered.
| The Court ordered the indictment to be
read, 90 that the prisoners could plead
guilty or not guilty, and would then consid
er Browns request.
| The prisoners were compelled to stand
during their arraignmeni. Brown also
standing Brown stood up with difficulty,
and Stevens was held upright by two bail
iffs. Porte Csayon was present and took
sketches of the prisoners thus arraigned.
The reading Of the indictment occupied
twenty minutes. The prisoners each re
eponded to the usual question, mot guilty.
and desired to be tried separately.
Mr.. Faulkner-the State elects to try
Joho Brown.
The Court-His condition must be en-
quired into.
Mr. Botts-I am instructed to say BY
Brown that he is mentally and physically
unable to proceed with his trial at this
time. He has also heard to-day, that coun>
sci Of his own choice will be here, whom
he will Of &C urse prefer. He asks only for
. delay Of two or three days. 1t seems to
be reasonable request, and hope the
Court viii grant it.
Mr.. Hunter said he did not think It the
duty Of the prosecutor for the Common.
wealth. or for one occupying that position.
to oppose anything that justice required.
nor TO object to anything that involved .
simple consideration of humanity, where it
could be properly allowed; yet. in regard
l
John Brown one. two or three days. they
deemed it their duty that the Court, before
determining the matter. shonld be put in
possession Of facts and circumstances judi>
cially. that they we're aware OF in the line
of their duties % pros& cutorA
Mr. Harding concurred in the objections
Mr.. Hunter on the ground of danger in de-
lay also. because Brown was the leader Of
the insurrectiop, and his trial ought to be
proceeded with ON account of the advan-
tage thereby aecruing on the trial Of the
others
Mr.. Greene remarked that he had erjoy ed
no opportunity for cousuliing with the pris
oner or preparing a defence The letters
for Northern counsel had been sent of, but
sufficient time had not been afforded to re-
ceive auswsrs-under the circumstances he
thought short delay desirable. Mr. Bolts
added that 1t present the excitement vas 20
great - psrhsps to deter Northern counsel
0n 10D|n6, IN 2oH t10t n unfil001n