New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-02-03
Trial of stephens.

~fpoeliueh.ro rredioo Judse Parker being engaged
IN holding the regular Town Court IN Hampshire
County.
The Grand jury Of which r. v Shirley is Fore
mao was sworn.
s Iud, d. yered his charge and in referring to the
F,rar's Ferry invasion ssd Ii known 10 you, and
4 now part Of the his,oy ofthe country, that on the
NIGHT of the 10th of October lstt past, band OF
traitors, murdeers and mceOdiaries stealthy made
5escent on the soil of Virgins in the county of Jefer
son, and wantonly murdered several of our citizens
and people, with the design to iocits our slaves
10 revolt, and to subveTt our Government Some OF
these desperadoes aud others, the dupes of designing
towards were CAPTURED tried and punished, accord
ing % their deserts.
But there are soue engaged or supposed TO have
been engaged in this fo,sy have no. a. yet been
appreheDoed, and others who ere believed TO have
been actively engaged IL this tragedy but who
are not yet known g The PnolS, " WI WI
70 inquire who guilty of pollntng our soil ana
attempting to dsbonoT the sovereignty OF Virginia
deem II unnecessary Tor ne 20 ~ and
good sense which has distinguished your predecessors
In their nqusions, and which bave met with rue aP'
probation Of the good and patriotic ami honorable cit
zeDs Of our cOnm,p country. 80 conduct your ia,
1uiries that the bright esc0tcbeon OF our beloved
State shall Tot he dmmed by passcn, prejudice, o,
zrOundese SUSPICION and ALTO let them he conducted
without fear, favor, affection, that yOu may eleU
the truth the whole ruth, and nothing but the truth
The jury then returned to their room, and the wit
nesses in the Of the Commonwealth agt Aaron d.
STEPHENS were sent up .
before the Jury retired Mr.. Harding District.At-
torney made an address them, aud AFTER an absence
Of an hour they returned with bill aganst Stephens
charging him with MURDER and treason and consPrlhs
with slaves 10 create rebellion
The Eitnesses il The of the Commonwealth agt.
Hazett were then sent up, and an Indictment oil the
chrae er was shortly after"ard returned against
The work of impanDeling the Jury in the case of
STEPHENS was postponed until tomorrow, III order 10
allow counsel time to examine the indictment against
Stepbens aud Ha.lett viii be defended by Mr.. SEN
mott The Common wealth is represented by Andrew
Hunter.
extent the military force here. The only addition
that has been made il q ,mpany of 20 cavalry from
M fear il entertained Of an attempt at rescue.
CHARIEsTowS, Thursday, Feb. 2-p. 10.
The Court opened At 10 O'Clock this morning, Jadge
John keJney presiding. -.
Mr.. Stevens brought IN by the ldIer ano mis-
guard, in seeming perfect health.
Mr. Sepnott suggested 70 the Commonwealth the
prOprety Of announcing whether would eiect 20 NY
or all FOR conviction. He also raa letter from Pres
ident Buchanan 10 reply TO inquiries 10 regard TO the
trial. lie thought the Common ~ealth ha5 acted IN
bad faith toward the prisoner 10 removing the case to
the Federal Court and then recedug from that de-
termination, and thought the Indictment should be
quashed He sppesled TO the mercy OF the C)qrt-ior
oDer 70 annton for trial.
proposition o' removal, and had strongly protested
against j; throughout the trial Tie was al first willing
90 turn lem all to the Federal authorities; but
after the State decided to try them he opposed TO
AIRY change of trial. He did not consider that Gov
Wiee had an hory 70 make the change.
Mr., Hunter ctnouuced a. utterly untrue the as
eertion of Mr.. SennOt, that Stevens forced to
plead a. the late term OF the Court
, MIR. SeIDott disclamed any Intention 70 reiiect on
epy one and epoke elOquently OF the State OF virginia
bouipg bis tongue N Rht wi'her before be Mould
spesk IN any but of praise OF that D ate When
~ offer was made 10 send Stevens To Stanton he
tbcu0bt be should better accept the OFFER for 1t was
matter of life and death and be might share the fate oil
Judge Kenney after stating bis understan 1ng q
the motion of Mr. SenOOtt, said there was nothing W
show that Virginia ever made legal surrender OF the
prisoner He xoud ply no attention 10 political lnto-
enees ard the prisoner shOu have IA lar triai as
ANY Southern man conld have. tie could ooiy look
spOn as appeal Of the counsel foe the defense TO
the State 10 transfer the case, and would have TO re-
iect the appeal.
Mr. Harding moved AolIe proseqai on the old in
detIDens, the prisoner would haze TO be tired Oh
the indictments brought 10 yesterday.
Mr.. Sennott req nestled tue Common wealth TO select
one count in II Indictment order render the case
less IMPLICATED, and IN justice to the prisoner
Mr.. Hunter replied, quoting number OF authorities
u chow the legality of The taken and declining
70 recede from any count il the Indictment deeming
them all necessary
Mr. Harding objected TO the motion Of Mr.. Sennott
10 select one Indictment sind argued that the counts
we're OF the same degree, rs all we're punishable by
DEATH Each as an indictment in itself, and ali were
Necessary to render the free from embarrassment
He auoied a number Of authorities 70 show the cor
Eectpess of b position.
Judge KenDey said that il conceding there was
no reOinder in the IL is insisted that this IA calcu-
lated 70 embaras the prisoner ID big defence, but be
could not how il could embarrass him by oinder
Of all the COuIts Toe object TO give the prisoner
All the chances in his favor; but still the Common
wealth bad the right To maintain tina, the prisoner u
regarded as innocent until he IL proved guilty. he
therefore rejected tine motion Of the counsel for select
ing one Court
Mr. sennoit stated that he would present his
oeptions TO the ruling Of the Jadge az the proper
time
The argument Of The counsel occupied more than
two hoafs aud Stevens not called upon to plead
TO The Indictment til after u o'clock.
TIE read ny of the indictment occupied ten minutes
and during that time the prisoner stood up IN an erect
manner, not moving q muscle. he answered. the
charge II an uIfalterjng voice.
The impanne ng OF the J0ry then commenced, and
the usual number Of twenty -four was exh 4used with
ont jury being secIred. Additional talesmen were
summoped bat at the hour Of adjournment Is O'CLOCK
the panel wss Dot complete.
Before the Court adjourned Mr.. Hunter SAID ne nsd
lust been handed papers from Gov Letcher Informing
MN Of the arrest Of brother Of COpplc III Iowa.
Judge ksnney gave orders TOR another ''rAnu jury
VIII CD will meet tomorrow at 10 O'Clock.
Stevens made his appearance IN Court IL new suit
and seemed il good spirits. The room was ero~dso
TIE case will Occupy several days HazleU was dis-
charged until Monday, The Jury for he case have
been summoned from Frederick County. II wa I'm
possible 70 get them here.
The Ohio Senat0rship.
CoLUMBUs, Ohio. Thursday, Feb. Z, 1901
II 4 aiaofad lforfad