Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1860-02-16
rsIaL or nAxLkTr.

Tee trial OF Haxlstt vas ceosluded on
Friday lsst He vas ably defended By
Msssrs. GREEs and 3srTs, vhe svsilsd a. en-
selves Of every poist 10 the advantage Of
The prisoner. Msssrs HrsrEs and HARD
mo for snnouwss.,h. On Saturday
Morning The Jury brousI, sv.riis, Of gsil.
~. o. Monday, Judge KESsrr pss.sd
ssstesss. whss sshsa BY sbs Clerk if they
had ssyiAios 70 ssy Why sss,ssss should
noe b paced sPos them, Stevens said -
The issiiessy given 10 sssinst ne here, vss
very uhuuthtuI some VI "a. I viii oaly point out
iAst ~h,eh thesglt as msl,sisasIy given, that
nh"S "tilI the cons OF D. aud bum tns
damned 1o~n." Ia 10 Iesdisss for the - teuy
INA. 70 ise.s Who uss ne. bu, to ,sos, wbo A.
not Know me viii cay this 10 positively aud AL
soloiely false, before God and mao
MY counsel Mr.. ssssorr dc ell q mao could
DO Tor me. Tor which am rtry thankipI. have
sesn neaied very f,ndly BY the odicsr, - ho have
lad me 10 charge ssd also the phy,icians hodre.s
Cd my voands Tor ~hich en- very thapktul AID
a. have shown metey 10 these 10 q me to an .,
der me, whs did murder my Bfoihtfs aud Out.
rsSed mr. S,"eo. most etu,aily. csn but ask m.r.
ey. Bat whatever mr. tate nav be, I shall me-,
wiii'nsy, without one unkiad N ought vr feel.
ing.
HsEelsu spoke a. follows: ~ have. f..
votds TO SAY. l am ineoeeat Of the charge ON
which have been eonvietse. I deBy ever hay.
ing committed msftsr, OF ever having eontsm.
plated murder. OF even haviag associated Win
any one With such Intent ons. sOIas OF .hs oil.
nesses have s-otn TO things which I d-ay and
which were positively tslSe For iusia.iee IN re-.
erehee TO ny bsard; have never 10 my lie, uuiiI
nv i'Dpf'>onneht 10 jail allowed nv btafd ~ 20
ncrc thsa three weess without shaving snc an
ss'inony therefore IS 70 The l-nstn Of ny beard !,
iAise Ass'n' hr. Copeissc testified that "a.
suing on stool ~hen he entered TIL cell a. Car
lisS thsi deny; vas siitios gu a blauk,t bac 4
aesinsi the wsii, srt another man va. On ID,
STOOL CopelAad also ss.d there we're oaiy iwo ", n
IN the cell; this 10 fslsr, Ihefs vsT, fosr mar
White nsa IN the cell With me sId we com pr s,c
all the white prison>u IN the jail Othsrs Of IN,
viinsr,s made faise statements, but I forgive
them ait. have teen treated Kindly since nv
eUnhi.ement- mach bet e. han had eIrrcted-
and must say think be Ter Ct virginia Ivrh
also 10 return nv thsass TO The counsel xho have
so adv defended me they have done more in
nv behalf thsn Nouhsrn eoibssi could D ..ibIy
have doae repeat en- inno,eui OF murcsr
bats prepared To meet ny fate"
After lIAzlstt had concluded, Judge
kenney then pronounced 10 an i'm p,o,sivs
and feeling IN manner, the fJ!lowing sentence
Aaron u. Stevens you have leen indicted and
tired by jury u the country and after l,inr de-
i'Lded With Ivsl aud ability by counsel Of your
country you have been found guilty of advising
and consFtring With slaves % rebel and make in.
surT"ctoni aud for oonspidng with John brown
and others 10 rrtel and make insurrccton
And YOU, Albert HAxiett have also been inaict-
ed by a jury % the country and found guilty Of
muEicr ia the frst degree in wilfullv Deliberate
~, teloniously and " n,alcr afurvthought killing
and numbering George W. Turner Fountain Beck
ham and Others, and you have also hecn defended
by counsel Of this courty assigned Ia YOU at your re-
quest by the Court with ability s-laoui equallrl
aud with a real and attention 10 every point in
your case, whether 81 Law or fact hat could not
have been surpassed had they hsv nd,it n1ing cti-
zen OF their own county.
You have been prosecuted sfth great a. iIity by
the counsel rePTesehhnE the Gaas.non ,ai'l,. and
With an Interest the magnitude al IA, cirr..,s L.
quired, yet In manner The n.osl iasttiocs could
not except to.
The painful duty Is doTolved upon me to an
nounoe thus publicly the penalty the Law a,hxes
To the crimes whereof you found guilty.
When look on your comparative youth your
gentcel appearance, and consider the mental ngo-
MES you must have endured during those pro-
tractcd trials, cannot help pitying you: and could
wish, II the honor and dignity of Virginia the So
curity Of her citizens and their property would au-
thorize u that the law imposed les penalty than
death
The crimes in which YOU participated and which
were 50 tragical in their incipient STEPS If car
ried 10 the eXitn; contemplated by YOU aud your
accornplccs aud associates IN arms for horror and
fra,ernL per6dy would have had no parallel in
modern ciNilization since the Massacre Oi st. Bar
tbolomcws eve.
But will rot attempt Ia harrow your Erlinrs
| by rehearsal Of The scenes ST Harpcrs Ferry In
October last this Is now apart Of the history ofour
\ common country; and will hope for ycars 10
come constitute rs darkest page.
prefer diverting your attention TO your awful
situation. For declare % you that believe YOU
ought not 10 indulge In any hopes ofpirdon or com
mutation OF your punishment, or of the suspension
IA Ifaf.fs 4
proceedings Of the Court or in is opinions and
there u none, think and 10 urge you u devote
the few dayF remaining to you in preparing To
| meet that Judge before whom you and J. soui
| jurors and counsel must al appear 10 render
/ an account Of the deehs done IN the body
You who have been raised in ;iis Christian
world must have learned that there is gracious
Retecmer, who invites all, even the greatest crimi-
mails To believe on him, 10 repent Of their crimes
ana Partakc Of the blessings Of his Htoning blood
II yOn realize your awful position and
I call ON the ministers Uf our holy religion
] they will chccrfnllv, gladly wait YOU they will
Instruct you "a the way that leads TO life eyeriast
ing. They will FRAY with YOU and FOR YOU thry
Will accompany you 60 the edge 81 the grave and
] commend you to the great Captain Of our salvA-
/ ton, in whom II you oouids and on him rciy. by
I his rod and siaf he will conduct YOU safely
through the dark valley Of the shadow Of death "
He then seDtenepl ssoh Of them 10 b
busg on Friday, tho 10th day Of March
next, b,tWsen ibs bours VI 10 o'clock, A. "
and 2 o'clock, L. NJ
Immediately after passing ssotenes, tb,
Court temADScd The prisoners to jail.
IL will b. seen that Stevens alludss TO BIZ
brothers being .lIugh.srsd aud sisters out
ragged. Woprssumo be has references 10 tb
I Kansas matters
We think !, due 10 justice IS we'll a. bu
nISity, that Stevens aud llssst should !,
kept hereafter ia diGs rsBt apartments.
LETCHER RIFLEMgS.