The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-02-04
Nirhmonn Qispatfh.:
SATURDAY MORNING. ;. FEB. 4, lseo.
Trial Of St. ven. at Chsrl-s,own. Va.

Trial Of ST. ven& at Charlest0wn. Va.
We gave yesterday, by telegraph, Al accom-,
.,f the indictment OF Stevens apd H1asett, the
Hsrrers Ferry conspirators. for murder,
treason aud eonspiriag With slaves to rebel
The following IL synopsis OF the second days
proceedings;
tYAxIEsrowN. Feb 2.--The Court opened
AT 10 o'clock this A. NJ, Judge John Kinney
THE urison~r S.evens was brought in by the
lsiior and guard. lie api cared 10 bs In pcrfec,
health.
Nr. Sennot,. his counsel, suggested to the
Commonwealth The propriety OIL announcing
whether il would elect To try one or all of the
counts or whether they relied upon one or all
;or conviction lie also read u letter from
President buchanan, i'll reply to inquiries
made in regard 10 the trial. lie Thought the
Commonwealth had acted In bad faith to-
wards the prisoner In removing his case 10
determination. and he thought the indie linen t
should he ouas he'd lie appealed 10 the mer-
cy ,t the Court, for II certainly would be an
ac, Of mercy TO send the prisoner TO Staunton
tor trial.
wealth said he had not made the proposition
for the r-mova. of the ctse. and had strongly
protested against 1t throughout the trlai. lie
was at first willing to turn all the prisoners
over to the Feaerai authorities. but after The
State decided - try them, he was opposed to
any change He did not consider Governor
Wise had authority TO make the change, and
the thirg Was done under his protest
Mr.. Hunter went into a detail OF the cir
epmst.nces which led to the change OF the
place Of triaI aud denounced as utterly untrue
he assertion of MIR. Sennott, that Stevens
was forced 10 pirad Al the late term CT the
Court.
MIR. Senuo;t diseIaimrd any intention TO re-
fleet on any one, and spoke eloGuentiy OF the
Safe OF Virginia hoping his tongue might
Wither before he shculd speak IN any but
terms Of praise Of the noble old State az tir-
gina. When the offer was made to SEND Ste
Tens to Stanton he thought as II was mat
ter of life and death. he had better accept The
Offer else he wouid share the fate Of brown.
Jadge Kinney after stating his uDderstand-
ing OF the motion of Mr.. SennoI', stated that
there was nothing TO show that Virginia had
ever made legal ; T. rrender OF the prisoner. He
would pay no attention To political Influences,
and the prisoner should have as fair a trial as
any Southern man cou Id possibly have. He
co ul; only look on il as an appeal OF the coun-
sci for the defence for the State to transfer the
case and he would have 10 reject the appeal.
Mr. Harding moved moHs prosefui on the
old indictment, As the prisoner would be tried
on the indictment brought in yesterday.
Mr. Sennott requested the Comm W ealth
to select one count in the indictment, in order
TO render the case less mrlicated, AID ia JUS
tice 10 the prisoner.
Mr.. Hunter replied, quoting a pumber of
taken, and declining TO recede from any count
III the indie tmpnt. deeming all necessary.
Mr. lia1 ding objected 10 the motion of Mr.
Sennott 10 select one indictment, and argued
hat all the counts We're of the same degree us
al. Were punishable by death, and that each
was an Indictment in Itself, and was necessary
10 render the case free from embarrassment.
He quoted number of authorizes to show
the correctness of his position.
Judge Kinney said he couid not see how il
Il ff
I'll the counts. The object was 10 give the
prisoner all the chances IN his favor, but still
the Commonwealth had the right TO main tain
hat the prisoner was regarded as innocent un-
til proved gully. He therefore rejected the
motion of counsel for selecting one count. MI
Sennott stated that he would present eXcep-
lions TO the ruling OF the Courtat the proper
time.
luis argument OF the counsel occupied more
than two hours, and Stevens was not called
III 10 plead 10 the indictment until after y
o'clock.
The reading OF the indictment occupied ten
minutes, duriig which time he stood up in An
rect !ntpEeT, not moving a muscle, and he
ans werc6 10 the charge, with an uDfalteTing
voice, Not guilty.
TIE eInpaneing of the jury was then COM
neEced, and the whole iwenty-four We're
.Xhau5tea without securing u Jury. Addi-
ioual taIesmen were sammoneti. but at the
lour Of adlournmeu', ) O'clock the jury WAS
lot complete. Before The Court adjourned,
Mr. Hunter SAID he had just been handed a
,arer from Governor Letcer, informing him
hat a brother Of Coppic had been arrested in
oWa.
Judge Kinney gave orders for another
irand Jury, which Will meet Tomorrow, al
q clock.
The prisoner, Stevens. made his appearance
II Court in 4 new suit of clothes. He ap-
,enred in good spirits.
The Courtroom WAS crowded during the
morning. and much interest was manifested
IA the proceedings.
The case Will occupy several days The
witnesses in the case of !iaZlett have been dis
harged till Monday. The jurors for his case
rave been sum Ii oled from Frederick county
IS i, is Impossible to get them here.