The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-11-02


CUIATHON of any Paper pdblished In
the County of Portage, renders IL Q most
aSaysaaa,ageHiais adv aa1seisins aa nSsiness men VIII
take notice. = Z
The Harpsr's Ferry Emsuts.
The prisoaers were taken before the exam
inine court on Tuesday. the 25th inst
Gen. Brown bore himself, as will be seen by
what follows. with cool, nnblenching heroism.
However unfortunate his condition. or mis-
guided bis project Of invasion. bis heroic and
calm enduranee can but excite admiratiop.-
For a ''crnzy man" he exhibits most astonish
ing degree Of intelligent, cool self possession.
At half past ten o'clock 10 the forenoon of
Tuesday. the 25th iust. John Brown and the
other prsouers, were conducted from the Jail
to the Court House. under a guard Of dghty
armed men Brown and e. Coppee being
maracled together, the former wounded.
weak and haggard. and bis eyes swollen from
the effect Of the wound on his head. Besides
this armed guard ofeighty, guard was also
stationed around the Court House, and bayo-
nets we're glistening on all sides.
SO Was there ever greater exhibition Of
cowardly fear than this
Sheriff Campbell read the commitment of
the prisoners charged with treason and murder.
81 Harding, States Attorney. asked that the
Court might assign Counsel for the prisoners
if they had none. -, -7
Counsel when Brown addressed the Court as
follows: o7 l Hf
Browu-->I did not ask for any quarter at
the time ! was taken. i did not ask TO have
my life spared. The Governor of the State
af:Virginia volunteered me his assurance that
j should have fair trial; bot under no cir
cumstances whatever shall be able to attend
a trial. If you seek my blood you can have
it without the mockery of trial. ! have no
counsel have not been able to advise with
one know nothing about the feelings OF my
fellow prisoners, and am utterly unable to
attend to my own defense in any wsy My
memory don't serve me. and my health is in
sufficient, although improving. .,.-a.-s
There are mitigating circumstances if q
fair trial is to be allowed us. that would urge
in our favor, but if we are to be forced with a
mere form of trial to osexecution, you might
spare-y yourselves that trouble. lam ready for
my fate. -,
Il do not ask for trial. I beg for no
moekery Of trial, no insult, nothing but that
which conscience gives or cowardice would
drive you to practice. ] ask to be excused
from the mockery Of trial. do not know
what the design of this examination is. do
not know what is to be the benefit Of it to the
commonwealth. - ssaiss, iu l7s'
/ have now little to ask further than that l
be not foolishly ipsulted, as the cowardly bar
"a L.. Il I'll 20 Al -
The Court assigned Chas. J. Faulkner and
Lawson Bolts as counsel for the prisoner.
After consulting the prisoners Mr.. Faulkner
addressed the couIt. He stated that he de-
MED the right of this Court to assign counsel
for the prisoners, and that he could not under
any circumstances enter upon defense Of those
prisoners on such short notice, az indeed it
would be mockery of Justice. sT, iffro.se5
Mr.. Bolts said he did not feel it his dnty to
decline the appointment Of the Court
Mr.. Harding addressed Brown and asked
him If he was willing to accept Messrs Faulk
ner and Bolts as counsel. Brown replied, Il
wish to say that ! have sent for counsel
I did apply through the advice of some per-
sons here, to some persons whose names do
not now recollect, to act as counsel for me,
and who have had no possible chance to see
me; wish for counsel if / am to have q trial,
but-if am only to have nothing bat mockery
of a trial, as ] said, do not care anything
about counsel it is unnecessary to trouble
any gentlemen with that duty. ~ -a'
Harding-Y on are to have fair trial. ~
Brown-There were certain men, / think
Mr.. Bntts was one of them, who declined act
iEg as counsel. but 1 am not positive about it;
I1cannot remember whether he was one be
cause have heard so many names !; / am o
stranger here and don't know the disposition
or character of the gentlemen named /; have
applied for sounsei of my own ard doubtless
can have them If am not hurried to execu.
tion before they can reach here, but If that is
the disposition that is to be made of me, all
this trouble and expense can be saved.
Harding-the question is do you desire the
aid of Messrs. Fanlkner and Bolts as your
counsel; answer yes or no. .zs
Brown-l cannot regard this as an examin
alton under any circumstances Iswould pre-
fer that they should exercise their own pleas
ure. feel as il il was q matter OF very little
account to me ; if they had designed to assist
me as counsel / should have wanted an oppor
tuDity to consult them at my leisure. 10 slEge
Harding-Stevens are you willing those
gentlemen should act as your counsel
Stevens--I am willing that gentleman should
Pointing to Bolts
Harding-Do you object 10 Faulkner 7
Stevens-No, am willing to take both.
Harding addressed each prisoner separately
and each stated bis willingness TO be defended
by counsel named. @ a q
The Court Issued premptory orders that the
press should not publish detailed testimony aa
il would render. getting of Jury before Circuit
Court impossible. 80. s,.... !; f...-
The preliminary examination beirg con
cluded, the Court remanded the prisoners fol
trial before the Circuit Court. essI aol ;
The examination to-day (Oct. 25. is merely
to see whether the charges are of sufficient
Importance to go before the grand jury to
morrow. The jury will report bill of indict
ment and the case will be Immediately called
up for trial. There is an evident intention to
hurry the trial through and execnte the priso
ners as soon as possible for fear of attempts
being made to rescne them. In cases of ser
vile insurrectioD, 80 davs is not required be
tween the conviction and execution as in 9th
er capital conviction. .,st t.....,.4 81
Circuit Court, Jefferson Co. Judge Parker
on the bench. Court assembled at two o'clock
Jury called. Magistrates Court reported re
suit of examining the case of Brown and othel
prisoners. Grand Jury retired and witnesses
for the State were examined before them al
o'clock returned into Court and stated the,
had not finished examining witnesses and were
discharged until 10 o'clock to morrow morn
ing, when the trial will commence beyond
doubt. t......-s,a = s,..t.-...t
Capt Browns object in refusing counsel il
that If he has counsel he will not be Above
to speak himself and Southern Counsel wi
not be willing TO express bis views. 3sas >
The reason given for hurrying the trial is
that the people of the whole country are KEEP
in acontinual state Of excitement, and larg
forces are required to prevent attempts at re