San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1885-12-03
JOHN BROWN AND CAPTAIN COOK.
Senator Voorhees, "reminiscences OF the
Harper's Ferry Trials. A Most
Remarkable Narrative.


Remarkable Narrative.
had long desired for literary purpos
writes George Alfred Townsend to the Gil
cinnati Enquirer, to obtain from Senat,
Daniel w. Voorhees, his "reminiscences
the trial of John Brown, where he was col
sci for Captain John e. Cook, and made
Cooks behalf one of the most remarknb
speeches in causes oelebres of history. Nj
Voorhees, is 30 much employed in his publ
avocations that II was with % much diff
Guilty as reluctance that he, obliged me
night or two ago with this most interestin
story. have undertaken to jot it down fc
myself, but perhaps when have finished i
II may be better preserved in print. thin
there can be no impropriety in the publicf
ton If so conclude.
Beginning slowly and with reflection. Nj
voorhees, spoke to me, somewhat as follows
though can not exactly give his words:
Il have refrained from talking on the sui
ject of my employment in the Harper
Ferry trials of twenty five years ago. Som
things connected with me there l probabl
can not speak of now. think, however
that you have had some bias established il
your mind to the prejudice of my client
Captain Cook, as one of John Browne
band, and it is due to the memory of tha
poor boy that l should tell you that m,
defense of him was not his defense tina
he had no part in it ; that I, in the effort Il
save his life, chose my own course, consult
Ing nobody but his brother-in law, Cover
nor Ashbel Willard, of Indiana, who was I
Democrat, like myself. Cook WAS as deter
mined q follower of John Brown as any one
in the band. believe he was rs brave a
man az any of those invaders. His nervo
was as good as his courage, He had q
gentle, affectionate nature, and in our
attempt to save his life the inference might
properly be drawn that he put US upon
that line OF defense. Such was not the case.
We were Democrats and he was on aboli-
zionist. We made the only effort to save
his life in our power, and that was by
representing him as having been under the
influence of powerful mind like John
Browns.
II was appointed by President Buchanan
United States attorney for the State Of Indi-
ana Judge Black, the Attorney General,
made out my appointment At the time
of the Brown raid was perhaps thirty-one
years old. The news of the invasion at
Harper's Ferry came to Indiana and of
course excited the Democrats and most of
the people at large rs being q terrible thing
without any apparent context or connection.
The feeling was very high. The United
States had n suit at the timo, affecting some
bank property, and had to represent the
My opponent was lawyer
named Judah. The case was tried at
the oldest town in Indiana and
one of the oldest in the West. 1t was tho
old territorial capital. I had just finished my
speech, some four days after the arrest of
Brown, when, rs / was about to take my
seat, observed n marshal making signal
1t me. He took me outside of the court
md put into my hands an unsealed letter.
at said something like the following:
we have reason to believe that the John
E. Cook, who has just been captured in
Pennsylvania, and is one of Browns men,
s Mrs. Wizards brother. Carrie and Kate
ear that he is their brother. We appeal to
,ou to defend him. This letter was signed
Ashbel p. Willard Tread the letter, and
TRANCE thrill went through me, partly in
that such On extraordinary per-
orlnance of Browns raid could come home
0 q democratic official family. was then
rying to get position as young lawyer,
nd saw at once that to defend one of
,rown's men would probably break me
own at the threshold of my career, rs yet.
had acquired no means to sustain myself.
tut made up ms mind at the moment
nat if this connection really existed should
0 to the defense of Governor Wizards
walked back into the
ourt stepped up to the bench, and put
le letter before the generous Irish Judge. {
@ road it through, and looked up at me s
ith astonishment. Said I: Judge, shall {
}. How am L going to get rid of the case?' |
lou are right said the Judge, in his strong !
ish brogue. 4 know you will CO. He /
He'd up the opposite counsellor, Mr.. v
idah, who demurred little to putting off 7
% case. They asked me how long would [
absent. / told them had not the least il
ea. viii thirty days be enough? said b
o Judge. I said did not know, but b
ought the case ought to be put off for n
sty days. Mr.. Judah shrugged his shoul- y
RS. But the Judge said emphatically: 1 Il
a going to adjourn this case for sixty days, fl
necessary The case was adjourned l b
en- teegraphed my wife to pack my trunk Il
4. bring it to the train, which was going N
I'm Vincennes to my own town of Terre Al
sute. did not explain to her She met a,
} and in few hurried words l told her W
1t Governor Willard had asked my aid &C
d must give it. The tram went on to
dianapols and the news had been received q,
src that the Governor had applied to me. bl
10 United States Marshal MIR. Robinson, ra
good mas as ever lived, had made up vi
mind that Governor Willard had no w,
siness to employ me in such cause. He II,
* me TO his room at the hotel and spoke Il,
rerely against the policy of Democrats m
ynging in the defense of these marauders. do
le Governor, Willard said he may have /. :
5 brother-in-law in John Browns band, m
he must take his chance with the other m,
,peradoes. These men have attacked not nm
" Virginia, but the United Stares, and ~
;ed rebellion III our midst / listened M,
him quietly, but said when he had riA
shell: Robinson, / am going all the hi
1e.' He then walked the floor and spoke an
more fercely. Just a. be had finished SO,
door opened aud in walked Governor hi
lard. Said he: Voorhees,, did you get NJ
letter, and will you gog Yes, Willard, ma
! /, when do You startF We leave ruf
e at s o'clock for Hhrper's Ferry said he
Robinson walked oui Of the room" dis
& this point / iuterpo-ed a question 70 thr
ator voorhees, "Hsd Gosernor VII {.
ever met this brother-in-lAv, Cox sai,
Yes. I think he had: but not for some CO..
-. lie tod me thai when information Vi
X that the Young mn hsd teen born IN con
dan. Coma. Mrs. Wflari and her sister o.,
E h.d concluded that be must be theIr res
deg broth1r. 'VOor.s said be, re ion
sghf ron woali 20. Bad - Es bOT's ard
has been, I AN gai1g b staud b. him- srs
brother then ~ortirued= " trarelsd thsa
railroad di-c-t for Hz-per's Fsry. and ls-
vent 20 fat thai Te nrrIFe1 thars dlr- I'D
the lav. uhEe C1ok hImssE tad o1ly Iasr
} tsken th-ourh H1pers Fery % %
r,ssfogn the sac nf-rllng ne ns1 - for
,-ouztt bv oouvsyzBol. uhils re cane %