The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-10-31

oxs~oase orbesrsnoe towards hin prisoners and the CHI.
zens, be would not object
Mr. GRxr counsel for defence contended that they had
right to infer that Brown had been made aware Of IT, as
was already proved that communications passed be-
tween him and the citizens several times AFTER the killing
Judge PARKER decided that the whole transactions of
that day constituted part Of the 0ae and might be
inquired into
HENRY HUNTER callcd--Examined by counsel for de-
fence
Q. Did you witness tho death Of this man Thonpsons
A. witnessed the death Of one whose name have
informed Thompson.
Q. The one who was prisoner A. Yos, sir.
g. Well SIR, what were the circumstances attending w
A. Do you wish my own connection with It, or SIMPLY
description OF the crcumstanccs-shal mention tho
Mr. ANDREW HuS1xR-Every bit OF it, Henry; state all
WUNns-rherc was a prisoner confined in tho parlor
OF tn hotel and after Mr. Beckhams death he shot
down by number VI US there belonging 70 this sharp
shooting band.
fore proceeding further hoS he was connected with Mr.
BeckhamS
WrNnx-he my grand uncle and my special
friend-a loved above all others; after he was
killed Mr.. Chambers and myself moved forward
hotel for the prpcse OF taking this prisoner aud
hanging him; joined by number Of other per
sons, who chcered us ON in that work. went up into
his room, where he was bound with the undoubtod and
undisgused purpose al taking his life; at the door We
stopped by persons guarding the door, who
straed with u.s. and the excitement great that per-
burst the where he was and found
several around hu,, but they offered only feeble
lance; brought guns down to his head repeated
ly-myse and another personi0r the purpose OF shoot
ing him, in the room there young lady there, the
sister of Mr.. Fouke. the hotel keeper who in this
lap his face with her arms and shielded
him with he person whenever we brought our guns u
bear; she SAID u For Cots sake wait and let the
law take its conrse my associate shouted 10 xii! him;
'tIet us shed his blood his words; all around
were shouting "Nr Becsham's life worth tep thou
of those vile abo,ionlsts; cool abodt it, and
Deliberate my gun pushed up by some one who
seized the barrel and then moved to the back part Of
the room, stll with purpose unchanged but with view
to divert attention from ia order 20 get opportuni
N at some moment when the crowd should be less dense,
to shoot him; after moments thought, il occurred 10
me that that rot the proper place to XIII him;
we then proposed 10 take hun out and hang him;
some person Of band then opened way TO him, and
first pushing Miss Fouke aside, sng him out Of DOORS
gave HIM push, and many others did the same;
then showed hr along the Platform anu down TO the tres
Tie Work Oh the oFHse DC oeggins ior us NE all the
time, very pteously ~ FIRST, by the bye before we
took him ont q; he asked the question what he
came here for BE- said their only purpose free the
saves-thai be here 10 free the de- then
he begged g non't take my e--a prisoner; but put
the gun To ltm, and h sad, Sou may Kill me- but IL
will be revonged there eighty thousand persons
TO carry this work. that was his last expression.
we bore hun out on the bridge with the purpose then of
hanging him; we had no rope, and none could b. found
II was moment % wild excitement; two OF raised
guns-whch was first do not know-and pulled the
trigger before he had reached the ground suppose
five six Shots haa been fired int his body he fell
the railroad track his back down the earth and his
face up W.T. then went back for the purpose 0 getting
other one (step4ens), but be sick wounded aud
persons around hn and persuaded Thorn myself to let
him alone; saia " Don't let us operate Oh him, but 90
around and get mlre; did this act with pur
pose thinking right and Unsuitable under the circuIn
stances, and red and excited by the cowardy savage
manner in which Mr.. Beckhagn Is life had been taken
Mr.. ANDREW HuSgRR-s that al gentlemen
Mr.. BoTTs-Yes, sir.
Mr.. ASpKFw HusrEs ITO The winess) stand aside
THE HARPER'S FERRY CAMPAIGN.
OFFICIAL REPORTS OF THE COMMANDING OFFICERS OF
THE VIRGINIA MILITIA TO GOVERNOR WISE, WITH
THE LETTERS WHICH PASSED BETWEEN ITEM AND
OLD BROWN.
H1RrER's FERRY, Oct. IS, 1859
HENRY A. WISE Governor oi Virginia
SR-Your order, per telegraph dated Richmond, Va,
the nth instant. calling list chap
ter Goth, Of the Code the that the arsenal and
government property Harper Ferry possession
Of band rioters NO, received till about II O'Clock
A NJ. to-day, in Consequence Of the Geographic posts
round about here having been cut down by auaclous
band OF insurgents and robbers.
On the morning OF the 18th inst received information
at Charlosown that band Of abolonsts from the North
had taken possession OF the arsenal and workshops OF the
government located here that they had killed of
citizens taken others and held them prisoners
that they had in possession large number slaves who
on the night of the l6th inst, orciDy taken from
their masters.
Immediately ordered out the Jefferson Guard and
che citizens Char!esown which order quickly re-
sponded to- and by ten O'Clock A. they were armed
and route for this place We left Charlestown with
about one hundred men aud reaching Halltown (aid
way between Chares,own and Harper's Ferry learn
once despatched to Col l. f. Moore ierck
county, and toihe "Rsmtranck Guards and shepherds
town Troop" TO reinforce Immediately. We reached
Harpers Ferry about half past O'Clock L. NJ and
took our position on Camp Hill We Immediately do
spatched the Jefferson Guards, commanded by Capt
j. W. Rowan and IIeuenants a. 3. Davenport, T. H.
Campbell ana ". B. Gaaher TO cross the Potomac river
about mile west OF the Ferry, an march down
Mary take possession Potomac bridge:
and company of the OF Charestowu vicinity
commanded BY Capt. L. Botts and Lieut. F. Lakeland TO
cross the Winchester and Potomac railroad by way Of
TO af Gait
the OF the arsenal and commanding the
the Armory yard Capt John Avis and r. 3. Washington,
Esq, with handful OF men, ordered to ake POSSES
sion OF the houses commanding the yard OF the Arsenal
all these orders promptly anu successfully
The bridge the Shenandoah and that of the
Baltimore aud Ohio railroad at the West end Of the tres
tie work, and the street leading from the rifle factory,
were guarded by small detachmens Of men.
Between three and four O'Clock r. NJ. the Hamtramck
GUARDS, Shephcrdstnwn Troop and company from Mar
tnsburg, commanded by Capt Aburus, arrived the
ground. The company from Winchester, commanded by
Capt b d. Washington, did not arrive till late IN the
evening.
All the insurgents save those who were killed ara
wounded through the day. retired with their prisoners
into the guard house and engine ROOM inside OF the
gate OF the armory yard which iglniy locked About
three O'Clock T. NJ tie enemy, with the prominent of
their prisoners, concentrated IN The engine leaving
large number Of their prisoners fastened up guard
house At this point, and alter the arrival OF the rein
forcerlepts from Shepherdstown and Mirtusb1rg Col. T.
w. Baylor assumed the command and VIII furnish you
with the details Of what followed
The avowed aad confessed object Of the insurgents
TO free the slaves of the South They had their head
quarters Harper Ferry 200 Sharps rlea, 200
voyers 600 pikes large number Of picks and shsveis
and grea. quantity of ammunition and other things
used in All these taken and in possession
Of the federal government JNo THOS GIBSON,
Conl'dt 18th Regiment
CHARrrsnowy Oct. %, 1859
Hon. BTsRy A. Wis., Governor Of Virginia.
SlR-Havpg received Intelligence from Harper's Ferry
on the morning OF the 18th instant that the abotions,s
mad INVADED our State, taken possession OF the town
government property and Immediately proceeded
% the scene Of action IN passing through Charlesown