The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-11-03
LATEST NEWS.
TELEGRAMS.
The Harper's Ferry Foray
TRIAL OF COPPEE.
Sentence Of Death Passed On Captain Brown.
His Speech to the Court.
Sentcnce Of Death Passed on Captain Brown.
His Speech to the Court.

CHARLESTOwN, Nov. 2.-Messrs. Russell and Sen
net reached here to-day to act as counsel for the
! prisoners
Capt. Cook was brought before the Magistrates
Court to-day but waived an examination and was
committed for trial.
! Coppee's trial resumed, but no witnesses were
called for the defence.
| Mr.. Harding opened for the Commonwealth and
! Messrs. HOyt and Griswod followed for the defen-
| dant when Mr.. Hunter closed for the presecuti on
! The speeches OF all were marked by ability Mr.
GriswOd asked for several instructions to the iurv
which were all granted by the Court when the Jury
! retired.
! Capt. Brown was then brought in and the Court
! House was immediately thrOnged. The Court gave
! its decision on the motion for an arrest of iudu
| ment, overruling the objections made. In regard
tn the objection that treason cannot be committed
against the State, the Court ruled that wherever
allegiance Is due, treason may be committed. Most
| OF the States have passed laws against treason
The objection as to the form of the verdict render
! ed. the Court also regarded insufficient
The Clerk now asked the prisoner if he had any,
thing to say why sentence should iot be pronounced
against him.
Brown stood up, and in a clear distinct voice
said ~ have may it please the Court a few,
words to say. In the first place, denv everything
but "hat have all along admitted, of a design on
my part totree the slaves. | intended certainly
to have made a clean thing of that matter as did
last winter, when | went into Missouri and thora
took slaves without the swapping of gun on either
sIde-moved them through the country, and finally
left them in Canada designed to have done the
same thing again on larger scale That was all
l intended. | never did intend murder or treason
or the destruction of property or to irclte slaves
to rebellion, or to make insurrecton.
81 have another objection-and that is it is un-
Just that should suffer such penalty. Had l in
terlered IN the manner which admit, and which |
admit has been fairly proved, (for | admire the
truthtulneSs and candor of the greater portion of
the witnesses who testified in this case had so
into ,rll,r l.l,n Al.
intelligent, the sO-called great or in behalf of anv
OF their friends, either father or mother brother
or sister, wife children, or any of that class and
suffered and sacrificed what have in this inter
ference, it would have been all right and every
man in this Court would have deemed it an act
worthy of reward rather than punishment
''Ihis Court acknowledged too, as | suppose, the
validity OF the law of God. | see book kissed
here which | suppose to be the Bible or at least
the New Testament. That teaches me that ali
things .whatever would men should do to me- |
should do so to them 1t teaches me further to
remember them that are in bonds as bound with
them" L endeaYored to act up to these instruc-
tlonS. say am yet too young to understand that
God Is any respectOr of persons. | believe that to
have interfeTed as | have done, and as have nj.
ways freely admitted have done in behalf of
ms desplsed poor was no wrong-but right. Now,
II 1t Is deemed necessary that | should forfeit
my life for the furtherance of the ends of
justice, and minge my blood further with the
blood of my children, and with the blood of the
regarded by wicked, cruel and unjust enactments
| submit. SO let it be done! Let me say one word
further. feel entirely satisfied with the treatment
have received on my trial. Considering all the
circumstances, 1t has been more generous than
expected but | feel no consciousness of guilt |
have stated from the first what was my intentions
and what was not. | never had anv design against
the life OF any person, any disposition to com
nit treason, excite the slaves to rebel or make
any general insurrectOn. never encouraged any
man to do so, but always discouraged anv idea of
that kind. Let me say aso in regard to the state
ment made by some Of those connected with me-
fear 1t has been stated by some of them that |
have induced them to Join me. But the con-
trary is true. | do not say this to ipiure
them, but as regretting their weakness There is
not one of them hut joined me of his own accord
and the greater part, at their own expense. A
number of them | never saw and never had word
OF conversation with, till the day they came to me-
and that was for the purpose have stated. Now
| have dOne"
While Brown speaking, perfect quiet pre-
vailed. When he had finished, the Court proceeded
to pronounce sentence.
After some preliminary remarks, in which the
Judge said that no reasonable doubt could exist as
to the prisoners guilt, the Court sentenced him
''to be hung in public, Friday, the 2nd of De-
cember."
and the only demonstration made was a clapping of
hands by one man in the crowd. who is not a resi-
dent OF Jefferson county This indecorum was
promptly suppressed, and much regret was ex-
pressed by citizens at its occurrence
Alter being out an hour, the jury came in with
verdict that Coppee guilty on all the counts in
the indictment. His counsel Immediately gave no.
nce nce OF motion for an arrest of Judgment, as in
Browns case
he oI;