The weekly Anglo-African., 1860-02-11
TRIAL OF STEVENS.
METAMORA.

CHARLEsrowS, Va, Thursday, Feb. /, 1850
The town is thronged to-day to witness
the proceedings of the trial of Stevens, one
of the Harper's Ferry conspirators.
At II o'clock the Court opened, Judge
John Kenny, of Rockingham, presiding,
Judge Parker being engaged in holding
the regular Town Court in Hampshire
County.
The Grand Jury, of which R. V. Shir-
ley is Foreman, was sworn.
The Judge delivered his charge, and in
referring to the Harper's Ferry invasion,
said: 1t is known to you, and is now a
part of the history of the country, that on
the night of the 10th of October last past,
band of traitors, murderers, and incen-
diaries, stealthily made a descent on the
soil of Virginia, in the county of Jefferson,
and wantonly murdered several of our cit
izens and friends, with the design to incte
our slaves to revolt, and to subvert our
Government. Some of these desperadoes
and others, the dupes of designing towards,
were captured, tried and punished accord
ing to their deserts.
But there are some engaged or supposed
to have been engaged in this foray who
have not as yet been apprehended, and
others who are believed to have been ac-
lively engaged in this tragedy, but who
are not yet known to the public. 1t will be
your duty and I believe your pleasure also
to inquire who are guilty of polluting our
soil and attempting to dishonor the sover-
eighty of Virginia. Ideem it unnecessary
for me to recommend to you to conduct
your inquiries with that coolness, Justice
and good sense which has distinguished
your predecessors in their inquisitions, and
which have met with the appreciation of
the good and patriotic and honorable citi-
zenS Of our common country. So conduct
your inquiries that the bright escutcheon
of our beloved State shall not be dimmed
by passion, prejudice, or groundless sus-
picion, and also let them be conducted
without fear, favor, or affection, that you
may elicit the truth, the whole truth, and
nothing but the truth
The jury then returned to their room,
and the witnesses in the case of the Com
monwealth agt Aaron D. Stevens were
sent up.
Before the jury retired, Mr. Harding,
District-Attorney, made an address to them,
and after an absence of an hour they re-
turned with bill against Stevens, charging
him with murder and treason, and conspir-
ing with the slaves to create rebellion
The witnesses in the case of the Com
monwealth agt. Hazlett were then sent up,
and an Indictment of the same character
was tshortly afterward returned against
him.
THURSDAY, Feb. 2-P. NJ.
The Court opened at 10 o'clock this
morning, Judge John Kenny presiding
Mr.. Stevens was brought in by the jail
er and his guard, in seeming perfect health
Upon the opening of the Court, Mr. SEN
mott inquired whether the Commonwealth
would elect to try on all or on one of the
counts of the Indictment: and after referr-
ing to the yacillating course of the Com
monwealth, which he characterized as uu-
fair, he suggested that the indictment
should be quaShed. He urged that the
prisoner should be sent to Staunton for trial
After colloquy between Messrs Harding
and Hunter, counsel orthe Commonwealth
Mr.. Sennot and Judge Kenny, relative to
the transfer of the case to the Federal au-
thorities and back again, Mr.. Harding
moved nolle proSequi on the old indict
ment, SO as to proceed on the new one
Mr.. Sennott moved that the Commonwealth
elect one count to try the prisoner on. AT
ter some dicussion, the Judge ruled against
the motion, and Mr.. Sennott announced
his intention to take exception.
SATURDAY, Feb. 4, 1860.
The trial was concluded today. Nc
new evidence was adduced The speech
es of counsel were mostly of a political
character, discussing the present position
of the questions between the North and
South.
The Commonwealth made proposition
to submit the case without argument, but
the counsel for the defense wished to be
heard for his client.
Mr. Harding made the opening argu.
ment. He denounced as falsehood and
libel that assertion of John Brown, that he
was to receive aid from the laboring classes
at Harper's Ferry. He claimed that they
were true to the G Constitution and the State
and referred to their action in putting dowr
the invasion. He concluded with an ear
nest appeal to the jury to vindicate the Law
and charged that the prisoner was blood
thirsty villain and wretch and worse than
Brown.
! Mr.. Sennott, for the defense, made an
able and eloquent speech, going into the