The weekly Anglo-African. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1859-1861, 1859-10-29

recruit.
The preliminary examination Of tn
prisoners last Wednesday, at Charlestown
commenced in the Magistrates Court
Col. Davenport was the presiding justice
and the following magistrates were associ
ated with him on the bench: DR.. Alexan
der, John j. Lock, John f. Smith, Thos
H. Willis, George w. Eichelberger, Chas
II. Lewis, and Moses w. Burr.
AT 1O1 o'clock the Sheriff was directed
to bring in the prisoners, who were con
Quoted from the Jail under guard Of sc
armed men.
A guard was also stationed around the
Court. Charles B. Harding, ESQ. acted as
Attorney for the County, assisted by An
drew Hunter, Counsel for the Common
wealth. The prisoners were brought in,
Brown and Edwin Coppie manacled togeth-
er.
Brown seemed weak and haggard, with
ewes swollen from wounds on the head.
Goppie is uniniured. Stephens seemed
lcss injured than Brown, but looked bag
gard and depressed. Both have number
Of wounds on the head.
John COPELAND il bright mulatto, about
d. wears Of age, and Green dark negro,
aged about 90. Sheriff Campbell read the
commitment Of the prisoners, who were
charged with treason and murder.
MI. Harding, the Attorney for the State,
asked that the Court might assign counsel
for the prisoners, if they had none.
TIA Conrt then inquired if the prison
ers Lad counsel, when Brown addressed
the Court as follows:
II did not ask for any quarter at the
time was taken. | did not ask to have
nv life spared The Governor Of the
State Of Virginia rendered me his assur
ance that should have fair trial; and,
under no circumstances whatever, will be
able to have fair trial. If you seek my
blood, you can have it at any moment,
without the mockery Of trial. | have
had no counsel. | have not been able to
advise with any one. | know nothing
about the feelings Of my fellow prisoners,
and am utterly unable to attend in any
way to my own defense. My memory
don't serve me. My health is insufficient
although improving. There are mitigating
circumstances that / would urge in our "a
vor, if fair trial is to be allowed US. But
if we are to be forced with mere form
a trial for execution-you might spare
yourselves that trouble. am ready for
my fate. ] do not ask trial beg for
no mockery Of a jury-no insult-nothing
but that which conscience gives, or coward
ice would drive you to practice. | ask
again to be excused from the mocksry Of
trial. / do not even known what the
special design Of this examination is. do
not know what is to be the benefit Of it to
the Commonwealth. I have now little
further to ask, other than that | may not
be foolishly insulted, only as cowardly bar
bariansinsult those who fall into their pow
er"
AT the conclusion Of Browns remarks,
the Court assigned Charles j. Faulkner
and Lawson Bolts as counsel for the priso-
ners.
Mr. Faulkner was about to remark
to the Court that, although feel at any
time willing to discharge any duty which
the Court can legally claim, and by author
ity Of law devolve upon me, | am not
aware Of any authority which this Court
has, sitting as an Examining Court, to as
sign counsel for the defense Besides, it is
manifest from the remarks just made by
one Of the prisoners that he regards the ap-
pearance Of counsel under such circum-
stances not as 6071a fde act, but rather as
mockery. Under these circumstances /
do not feel disposed to assume the respoR-
sibility Of that position, have other rea-
sons for declining the position, connected
with my having been at the place Of action
and hearing all the admissions Of the pris-
oners, which render it improper and mex
pedlent for me to act as counsel. If the
Court had authority to order it peremptori-
ly, ! should acquiesce, and obey that au-
thorlty | am not aware that there is any
such power vested in this Court, but as it
Is the prisoners desire, will see that full
justice is done them.
] lAlr. Bolts said he did not feel it to be his
duty to decline the appointment Of the
Court Heswas prepared to do his best to
defend the prisoners, and he hoped the
Court would assign some experienced as
slstant n case Mr.. Fculkner persisted in his
declination.
Mr.. Harding addressed Brown, and ask
el him if he was willing to accept Messrs
Faulkner and Bolts as his counsel.
Dir. Brown replied: / wish to say that |
have sent for counsel. | did apply, through
the advice Of some persons here, to some
persons whose names do not now recol-
lect, to act as counsel for me; and have
sent for other counsel, who have had nc
possible opportunity to see me. / wish for
counsel, if | am to have trial; but if /
am to have nothing but the mockery sof a
trial, as | have said, | do not care anything
about counsel 1t is unnecessary to trou-
bic any gentleman with that duty.
MI. Huntingdon are to have fair
trial
Mr.. Brown-There were certain men,
I think Mr.. Bolts was one Of them-who
declined acting as counsel; but | am not
positive about it. | cannot remember
whether he was one, because have heard
50 many names. | am stranger here. |
do not know the disposition or character ~