New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-11-11
JOHN BROWNS INVASION.
THE CASE OF COOK.
&C Of The n. Y. Tribune.
Cu.RLysTows Va. Nov.

CHaRLEsTows Va. Nov. 3, 1850.
The trial of Cook as far il has proceeded, has
been very sharply contested. The extreme hatred
which the people Of Jefferson County bear this prison.
or far exceeding that felt for any of the rest and the
magnitude Of the preparations for the defense have
combined to excite unusual interest IN the progress
Of bis Gaze. Cook acts under the guidance Of five
oouusel-two, Messrs Bolts and Green, belonging 10
Charlestown, and three to Indiana, including Gov.
willard. The defense has certainly been conducted
with briskness equaing that of Mr. Sennott in the
cases Of Copeland and Green; and the prosecution has
hkewise exerted ts best powers against the eoncen
trated force brought TO bear upon II. The debates to-
day have been very keen and sometimes very
Mr. Bolts has all the while sat cooled together in his
chair, as never before saw any cooled out Of
oircus, watching for opportunities 10 spring upon his
antagonist Al the least sign OF weakness from Mr..
Hunter, he has darted upon him, and striven, with
energy quite refreshing 10 witness in "a Virginia law
yer. to destroy the fabric Of his argument. With
power of resistance that shows him 70 be altogether
the ables of the Charest0wn lawyers, Mr. Hunter has
vigorously repealed these attacks, and IN some cases
turned them TO his own advantage. Mr.. Green how
ever be has found to be a formidable opponent
Mr. Green is one Of the most. extraordinary men 10
look upon / ever saw. He is long, angular, uncouth
and wild in gesture and deficient in all rhetorical gr
ces- His words rush from his mouth scarce half made
up He speaks sentences abreast. His pronunciation
II ludcrousiy unganly; thar" and I" whar are the
least Of his offences His demeanor, altogether is of
unrvaled oddty and yet his power 30 decided that,
while be is upon his legs he carries everything with
him. He il the most remarkable man have seen
here although not impressive in bis bearing Mr..
Andrew Hunter, the prosecuting attorney, who is
man Of real nobility Of presence. Mr. Hunters man.
ner in pleading il nearer like Rufus Choates, in his
quieter moments, than that of any other mans have
ever seen; and his personal appearance is also, in
many respects, very strongly suggestive of Mr.
Cboate.
Neither the acuteness of Cooks counsel, nor the
blunders of Harding, the unfortunate nebriate who
tIammels Mr. Hunter in the business of the prosecu
ton, helped tie defense in any perceptible degree
Points were raised with unceasing rapidly, were
closely discussed, often with some signs Of acrimony
and were swept aside, according to CUSTOM by the
Court This continued throughout the morning. The
"ponts" of the defense were ike Hydra heads. No
sooner disposed of than half dozen others
took its place. But an these avaed nothing, and as
the afternoon advanced, the trial went more smoothly
on its way. TIE spectators had begun to withdraw,
expecting no continuance Of the interest when, sud
denly all attention was arrested by Mr.. Hunters
nouneement that be had a confession rendered by
Cook which he was about to read. The intelligence
spread about, and the Courtroom soon speedily
crowded again. All hoped for a complete and salts
factory revelation, which should elucdae the entire
operations of Brown, from beginning to end, and
which should bring evidence of the completely of those
Northern gentlemen whom the people of Virginia
30 eager to get within their graspbut all were dsap
pointed!
For the confession, which occupied some twenty
large pages of manuscript and not read in less
than half an hour, very little beside record of
some of Cooks experiences in Kansas, Iowa, Ohio,
Canada and elsewhere in which, TO be sure, Brown
was concerned all through, but which, excepting the
latter portions bore very remotely upon me HarPers
Ferry question. The few important points have
sent you by telegraph. The document itself is with
held from the public eye in order that may be issued
in copyrighted pamphlet form for the benefit Of the
man Young, who wounded in the conflict at the
Ferry, and who is now left destitute. 1t il quite a
Virginia notion his turning of public paper to pri-
waite uses But beyond the interest that attaches to
ostepsible fall avowal from one Of Browns party,
his confession has none 1t is thought by the Court
hat Cook has played double game in preparing it
hat he has pretended 10 reveal TO the authorities in
good faith all tina, he is able to, and at the same time
attempted to preserye his fidelity his old master.
This confession will particular end. Unless
an understanding exists to the contrary between Gov.
Wizard and Gov. Wise-whch il suspected by many
Cock will as surely be hung as all the rest.
MORE PRECAUTIONS.
The shadow of uncOnquerable terror still hangs
over the yirginians. Their precautions endless.
What do you think was their last movement They
excluded Mr.. Sennott, Browns authorized counsel,
who bias in charge the disposition of the little property
that remains 10 the condemned man, for the benefit Of
his wife and children, and who Il endeavonng TO ar
range the best methods for collecting ii together from
all private communication with the prisoners. 1t
cured to them that Mr. Sennot light act IA medium
of correspondence between Brown and HE Northern
friends. This would not do at ALL So the Court
appealed to, Mr.. Hunter was appealed TO, and an
order was issued, prohibiting Mr.. Sennotts entrance
TO the JAIL excepting when accompanied by the jaer.
do not know how Mr.. Sennott took this, but know
that he would assuredly have given his opinion upon
the matter open Court just as readily as he gave
upon "the absurd and illogical system of Slavery if
il had not been deemed wisest when he first privately
expressed resentment 10 all obstacles and re-
store him to bis just position counsel. should not
be surprised however if looking over the Virginia
code some provision should be found deprivng a
demned prisoner of the right his legal adviser
The Virginia code is full of just such convenient ar
rangements.
WHAT Is THE CHIyALRY THE SOUTH