The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-11-14
LOCAL MATTERS.


ne Seditfon Case-Wesley G. Simmons
iafeiy corporal In the Public Guard. was
~ aMIraigned before the Mayor ON Saturday on
1ne eharge OF making use Of secitious language
assas ~ me is Llght of property in slaves. When
aSAsa :. ne kHeW the nature of the chargs
aeaihst hifn, he replied that he believed it was
ioI utteriEg some expressions Inconsistent
Win tne law. The following is the substance
OF the testimony:
Sergeant James n. Depto, bsin1 srorr A.
posed mat at the time the news of Old Browns
CONVICTION reached here he had a conyersa-
.,on win the accused, who offered to bet IS
,f ha Drown ..sia would not be hung. Asked him
~ ne would not go to see the exec ution. and
q ne fepiied that he would rather 60 on to see
I've such men as illness hung than one such
as oid Brown. Prisoner was a great man for
aFRuihg on religion aud politics The conver.
sa,ioh occurred in the Armory. Did not re-
coliect mat ne ever said a master had no rieh,
To hold property in slaves
ne prisoner here asked witness If he
tiought ne was IN earnest when speaking of
the hanging. Witness replied that he could
not say he thought he was in earnest If he
mad, he would have tried to Kill him with 4
the accused. '
VIM. B. Andrews, sworn.-On the evening
OF the conversation spoken of by Denton
asked the prisoner what was the matter be.
tween himself and the sergeant. lie replied,
nothtng, but We differ in opinion, as usual
ASKED him on wnat subject; and he said on
the SUBJECT OF slavery. Sand he had been down
town that day, and expressed his sentiments
o. II Chalkley
Peter Jackson. sworn.-About the time of
the rumors of insurrection, three years ago.
heard prisoner say he thought every man
should have his freedom Asked him if he
was marched out to suppress insrrrection
Wouid he fire on the insurgents He laughed
ana SAID that was his business. Then told
MIN III we are marched out, and see you
crook your finger will shoot YOU down.
Iiip "a hpaf tn
the armory, Simmons was employed making
cartridges, and witness threatened to report
i ms previous language to the captain. Thought
De ihIght De lesting, and did not report him.
ID. w. Snyder, sworn.-Haye heard prisoner
say he thought the slaves should he freed and
sent away Poor men would then have bet
ter chance he would not have them freed to
remain here and be on equality with his chill
dren.
George w. Malone, sworn-ssimmons on
one occasion cameinto the shop where witness
was told him (Siumons) he had been preach
ing abolition, and should be more cautious: Tor
II the Captain or the Governor got hold OF il
he would be discharged. Said he wished thew
might; he would like 10 see what the Governor
would do--and added, il You had been down
town with me to-day, You would have found
more persons sentertaining my opinions. Never
hedfa hlm express his sentiments on slavery
sergeant Wm. Evans, sworn.--Heard pris-
| oner say he didn't believe one man had the
| right to own another. He asked witness if in
| ease he owned negro, he would sell him il be
ohought be could make moaey by it, Witness
| said he would. Prisoner REPLIED am dome
| with You. In conversation about Harper's
Ferry. he said he wished the negroes could be
| Tree. Asked him if he were 10 20 to uarper'-
| Ferry, would he turn with Brown! he re.
! piled that he thought more of his cath here
| than that.
| This witness was afterwards recalled, anC
| deposed that he had heard Simmons say he be
| heved brown was right; didn't think he ough
| TO be hung. Did not suppose prisoner wa:
| fnrh 4
| talk about such matters in the Arnory.
IN. A. Hopkins, sworn.-Ha,e heard Sim
| mons express some ideas about slavery, tn
| substance OF which was that he was in tavo
| OF freedom. Never heard him say any thin;
| about the right Of I, man TO own n negro.
Several other witnesses, belonging to the Ar
morv. we're examined, but nothing OF impor
| tance was ELECTED.
| q. Ii. ChalkIey was sworn and questioned a
! To a conversation said to have taken place il
| his store, between the prisoner and others, bu
| recoiected nothing OF the circumstance.
| h. =. Ferneyhough remem bered a converse
| tion III the store about Brown. Thought I'll
| prisoner said Brown wouid not be hung. Wa
very busy at the time, and paid little attention
| to the conversation.
The Mayor asked the prisoner if he had an
| testimony TO offer. Thos. Wilson was called
| Prisoner asked if he did not accompany hin
| down town on the last day Of october, and e
| with him wherever he went. Witness reptile
| that he Gid. Prisoner asked il lie heard hin
| make Use OF any language such as had bee
| attributed to him. Witness replied in III
| negative. The prisoner said he had nothin
| further to offer, save a paper which was In III
| hands of the Mayor. addressed To the Cover
| nor. 1t is understood that the accused en-
| deavors to make il appear that his natural dis
| position for argument was made use of b,
| others to draw him into discussions for thei
| own amusement, aud that his excitable TEN
| p"rament led him to utter expressions solei
| for the purpose of maintaining an assumes
| position.
| Tue Mayor remanded the prisoner, but sai
| he would admit him TO bail in she sum of S25
| for his appearance at the Hastings Court.