Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-11-01

q rInITN. tt>l,lltu AlIhi III 1900
.n,,n;r, hc vas aroused By Benjamin Hobbs
onnornciny that persons were at the arlnory
CARVING off government property. When ne
reached the rates he Was accosted by TWO
armed men and seized rs 4 prisoner. lheE
refused 70 make any explanation until he hau
been taken within the armory yard. stephens
WAS sentry at the gate. and conducted Witness
10 Cant, Brown. who told him the object was
n free the Slrycs. not to make va: on the peo-
plc: that nv person and private property
would tie safe; that his war was against 'Hc
arcurscd system of slavery: that he liaa power
10 do il, and would carry II out; II was 10
chiid'> play he had undertaken. lie thei! gave
me pcrIn;s>ion to return TO my family 10 assure
,hrIn Of my safety and get breakfast: 2""'e'
hack home, and was accompanied by TWO
armed men. who stood At the door; breakfast
moi p,iur ready. went hach, and was nii""c''
In r,turn home again. under escort, ata later
Lo,r. on returning again. Capt. Brown SAID It
WIS his determination TO seize the arms ana
munition, of the government to arm Tue
blacks. to defend themselves against thc'r
masters. Brown also made a proposition TO
himself aud other officers al the arinrrv. l"
deliver into his possession thc munitions
Of war belonging to the government. We
rrnliri liza: they we're already in tG>
,>c..ioo =. We we're. Brown frequently
fo,I rs that OR safety depended on the
,ood conflict If orr citizens. hen the
friu., commenced all felt We were in danger.
and a!mo>, any proposition That was mace was
acrcui-i L. secure oar salci'. brown Shtu Il
tho citizen. were wiliingio risk tie lives 81 the
prisoners 10 capture him they must abide ny
i. Brown made but 81" prop"NtHea-'o :" |"
the canal lock. .iy" up their PRISONERS AM iiSh'
/, Gu, with the military. htday.isIit on IH"H-
,lay morning, wines aP:ea!c" 10 brown }"
the ground "f humanity I" t"e prisoners -
wei, a. the mcu who appeared 50 h1''hu 20 "'''
no, u persist in syl!llug mu.s hi"pd. brow"
replied that he was wcii aware VIVA! ~ WIS
about. and knew the Consequences; that nc Was
already proclaimed an outlaw, and three th"n'
sand iiv, hundred dollars waS on MS htaH.
With regard to the killing .! Bcckham. one oil
Browns party lad fired N that direction se'e
raj times. demonstrated witnhm when level
linz ms rifle "A; an old man named rrle>> iha'
he ~, NO. = cornbatant, and hc dc>l>tcd, after.
wards .aw him ire. heard him say, II dropped
him" When we heard that Hcckiiarm was
dead The man who fired asked who he was:
Wc ,oil him lac Wa an old au,i respectable e.
iiy,r-,uaror Of lhr t"wn-Hnd The man VIZ"
fired expressed himself A. very -orf?. This
man was afcrward, Killed AZ the charge o! the
marines. Capt. Brow" made active prcpara'
tons for resisting the marines. lie WAS always
in ARMS, bu; / do no, think saw him lire.
The other portions Of Nr. Balls testimony
WAS merely in ,nrrobo:atr"n ii NJ. Washing
ton.
Uro.s.cxamincl Icy lir. Gyccn.-We, =. phi
sor.'>, agreed to such tcrai> ci cagl'ulatio"~as
our citizens we're willing t. accept. y propo-
-! was ~r;::rn 81 S!r. HaH:a:iirid, dictated ~
Rrowa. pr-s HDl kuo% whether Brown : sol"
ani Stephens were rounded while they 90
con,am,d the ci;iHyu, with {. :iag Of truce
bid not know thai ANY oi them were Grown >
sons Until witness heard Brow! say. there
lies ore OF u.y >oE: dead. and here / another
dying.
Brown frequently remarked that tie citizens
were acting with i~inpuiity ~ pcr>lSiing IN
firm: on tneir own citizens. lie maintained
4 different position nj! thc time. i'ro"n r.
Ieatcilv az: hc would iujGrr no one. Only III
,rif.,.c.cncr. tuppcr frequently urged rs /"
seek ;,,accs or safety. bat Brown did not. lie
arrcarcl 10 desire - - take care OF ourselves,
and At the time Of the charge OF the marines.
told a. We must equally occupy the post O!
a.,a.c. with themselves. There wcTr three or
!u.g Slaves IN iAc cnciuc-hou~c. The" had
spears. bat al seemed badly scared. Mr.. wash
]ing;ou Phil was ordered by Brown 20 cut 4
poyt hole through the brick sail. lie continued
until 4 brisk fire commenced outside. when hc
SAID .It> Getting TOO hot FOR Phil, and he
s]luattcd. Brown then ,oDn up the tools ana
finished ;hc hole.
JOAN Allstad, >worn.-Un Monday morning,
about three O'Clock, WAS aroused ircri sleep;
asked who Was M the door, and :nr reply wa.
"Gct ~. quick. OK wr wi! burn 70" ny
Asked what they intended to ~d"-thcy SAL,
free the country oI slavery. Told r"c they
were going to take mc to Harper Ferry. J
dressed myscll, and when | GOT 70 the door,
they had al! my blacks. seven III .lm!her We
were Ill pat into q WAGON. Negroes were then
armed with pixies. We went to the Armory
vard. where was put in charge .! one OF
Brown, PARTY: afterwards. We were ordered
into the watch house. sgw Colonel Wash
ingtnn there.
Brown cane and Spoh" t. Us about our get
tin. two urgroc, to take our place, AMI then lie
wou.d release ~. Nothing further was sad
about that. Browns nile was cooked al! the
time. Tn. vc.rucS were placed in the watch
housc with spears in their hands. but the >lI"eS
showed no disposition 20 use them. Witness
was afterwards transferred 10 the cnginc-hou>c.
Scycral heroes were there. saw Phi max
;ng port holes. BY Browns order. The other
-. Voc ioiI,, no,b;u- and lgi Dropped
,Gcr sno,. SOME Of ,hc;H were asleep nearly
ali the time. Laughter. When tn" NaIl''cS
,na,f. fhr a.,,uIr. I;ronns rarty took a pos.
,;co L.b,nJ tho c,,r;u,. and aimed a; the door.
r,ov, yyas in front suua;tin.. lie fired at
49,, Sf.r%a .,j ,m,, o,,,rinr i tha, he Killed
,%., W'r;nc
T. r., -. Groc, bid no, SEQ ony others shoot;
.,,;.i "t.,r rrrt,;riy hy what shot the marine
,.a. ,.,,ol H.. ,,,b, hqy.. been Killed hy
.So,. .irS.i hcc,r, ;he door was broken open
Wo. mmch ronfnscI and excited at the time