The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1859-11-04
The Harper'S Ferry InSurrCCtlOn
EXAMINATION OF THE PRISONERS.
Old Brown makes n speech.
CnAhIfsrowN. vi. Oet. ab.

CHARLEsrowN, Va. Oct. %.
The preliminary examination Of the
h1-rsf's Ferry prisoners commenced this
mu.ning eoiore the Magistrate Court
Sol Davenpor', presiding, assisted by
Dr. Alexander, }. JsA,ock, ]. +. Smith,
1T, II, Wills, g w, Rlehelvetaer, c. IA.
Lewis and M. w. Bun, At half-pas, lo
O'Clock the sheriff was directed TO briuq
In The prisoners, who were conducted
from the jail under a gnarl Of eighty arm
ed men. A guard was also stationed A.
round the Court House and bayonots are
'bristlinq on all Sides Chas. b. Harding,
Attorney for the county, Is assisted by
Andrew Hunter, Esq, counsel for the
commonwealth. The prisoners were
brought into court, Gen. Brown and II.
Coppee being manaclod together. Brown
seemed weak and haggard with his eyes
swollen from the effects Of the wounds on
his his head. Coppce Is uniniwed. Ste
.vcus seemed less injured than Brown, but
looked hoggOrd and depressed. There
are a number Of wounds on the heads Of
both. John Copeland is a bright mulatto
aged about 20 years; and Green, who Is
about 30, ia dark negro.
Sheriff Campbell read the commitment
Iof the prisoners, charged with treason
and murder. Harding Htate's Attorney,
asked that the court might assign counsel
for the prisoners If they had none. The
court onquircd II tho prisoners had coun-
sci, when Brown addressed the court as
follows:
Brown-I did not ask for any quarter
at the time | was taken. / did not ask
20 have my life spared The Governor
Of the State Of Virginia tondcred me his
assurance that should have a fair trial
and under no circumstance whatever will
! be able 10 attend to a trial. fyou seek
my blood you can have Il at any moment
without the mookery Of a trial. have
had no counsel, have not been able to
advise with ono. know nothing about
) the feelings Of my fellow prisoners, and
, / am utterly unable 10 attend In any way
TO my own defence. Ny memory don't
serve me. My health Is insufficient, al
though improving. There are mitigating
circumstances Il fair trial Is to be al
lowed us, that would urge in our favor;
but il we are 20 be forced with a mere
, form Of a trial TO execution, you might
save yourselves that trouble,
am ready for my fate. | do not ask
trial. beg for no mercy Of trial, no
, insult, nothing but that which conscience
gives or cowardioe would drive you Ia
practice. | ask TO be excused from the
mockery ofA trial. do not know what
the design Of this examination is. dc
/, not know what Is TO bo the benefit of 4
20 the commonwealth. have now littl,
90 ask other than that be not foolshh
insulted as cowRrdly barbRrians insul
those who fall into their power.
The court Hssignod Chas. ]. FNulkne
and lawson Bolts as counsels for th
/ prisoners which, after considerable re
monstrance by Brown as TO the right q
= court to act in this particular, were final
= ly accepted. The court issued percmT
q tory order that the pross should not pub
! lish detailed testimony, as Il would rem
der the getting Of a jury before the circui
court impossible.
=, Lewis Washington stated that about
Il o'olok ON Sunday night, he was asleep
aud was awoke by noise. Heard hi
name called, went down, and was sur
l. rounded by six men. Stevens appeared
ID in command; Cook, Coppee and two ne
D. Igroes, prisoner were along, and anothe
white man whom he afterwards recognlz
ed as Kagia. Washington tn n proceed
% ed to detail I'll the particulars Of his beinl
l. taken as prisoner, with bis negroes, TO th
m armory, and subsequent events up TO at
. tack by Marines and delivery.
= A. NJ. Kittsmiller gave particulars o
hnt Nulr as.I IL al
d subsequently. Had several interview
" with Brown, and. he repeatedly told hin
!. his only object was to free slaves and h
was willing to fight pro-slavery men :
accomplish his object Hewent out wit
J. Stevens with flag Of truce on MondH
afternoon, when he (Stevens) was FIRE
h upon and fell recognize only Brow
aud Stevens; counted 80 men early inth
morning armed with Sharp's rifles.
y Washington, recalled, said that in con
} versaton with Gov. Wise, Brown wa
told he need not answer questions unles
he chose that Brown replied he ha
nothing 10 conceal; had no favors 10 ask
II that he had arms enough for 1000 mer
d and could get enough for 5000 If wanted
p Armstead Ball recognized Green, Ste
. vens and Brown. One OF the insWgent
(Becham) heard him say, shave droppe
y himj" did not see Capt. Brown fire one
h from the engine house. Green fired sey
r eral times; prisoners were never unreal
onably exposed.
John Alstadt, one Of the slave owner
who was brought into the armory wit
y, slaves, detailed the particulars of batter
,e ing down his doors and seizure by six arm
!, cd men. Several other witnesses test
. fed 10 the expressed objects Of the insui
q gents; Unidentified the prisoners, &c,
u summary Of which has already been pub
n- lished.
ia The preliminary examination bein
concluded, the court remanded the prii
y oners for trial before the circuit court
Id There is an evident intention TO hurr
le the final trial through aud execute th
I'd prisoners as soon as possible for fear {
,v attempts being made 20 rescue them.
case Of servile insurrection 80 days is n,
required between the conviction and exl
Is eution as in other capital convictions.
st Circuit Court, Jefferson county, Judg
Richard Parker on the bench. Court Al
sembled at 2 o'clock grand jury culle'
- The Magistrates court reported the n
suit Of the examination Of the case
IN Capt. Brown and other prisoners. Gran
n jury retired and witnesses for the Stat
!. went before them. At O'Clock return
" ed into court and stated they had not fiji
r. ished the examination of witnesses, &c
nd were discharged until 10 o'clock to-mo
yn row morning
"A October goth.
- The expectation that Brown woul
al make a confession has died away. II
er says that he has had rifles leyeled
or him, knives at bis throat, and his life