The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-03-08
JOHN BROWN AND CAPTAIN
COOK.
"reminiscences OF the Harper's Ferry
Trials.
The Daring Young wsndsrer who Ordered
HE Own offn- Mis- Appearance
In Jail.
had long desired for literary purpose,
Winter George Alfred Townsend


obtain from Senator Daniel w.
Voorhees, his reminiscences of the trial OF
John Brown, where he was consel for Cap
tain John (. Cook, and made in Cooks be
half one of the most remarkable speeches in
causes celebres of history. Mr.. Voorhees, is
20 much employed in bis public av0cations
that 1t was with as much difficulty as rsluc.
lance that be Obliged me a night or two ago
with this most interesting story. have IN
dertaken to jot II down Tor myself, but per-
haps when have finished IL, 1t may be bet
ter preserved in print. think there can be
no improperly in the publication if 30
conclude.
Beginning slowly and with rejection, Mr..
Vo0rnes spoke to me, somewhat as follows,
though can not exactly give his words:
II have RETAINED from talking on the sub
ject of my employment in the Harper's
Ferry trials of twenty five years ago. Some
can not speak OF now. think, however,
that you have had some bias established in
your mind to the prejudice of my client,
Captain Cook, as one of John Browns band,
and il IL due to the memory of that poor boy
that should tell you that my defense OF
him was not his defense that he had no
part in it; that 1, in the effort to save his
life, chose my own course consulting nobody
but his brother-in-law, Governor Ashbel
VII ard. Of Indiana, who was a Democrat,
like myself. Cook was rs determined fol-
lower Of John Brown as anyone in the band.
j believe he was as brave man as any of
those invaders. His nerve was rs good as
his courage. He had gentle, affectionate
mature, and in our attempt to save his life
the inference might properly be drawn that
he put "a upon that line Of defense. Such
was not the case. We were Democrats and
he was an abolitionist. We made the onlJ
was by repres enting him as having been I'm .
der the jnflue nee OF powerful mind ike
John Browns.
Il was appointed by President Buchanan
United States attorney for tie State of Indi-
ana. Judge Black, the Attorney General,
made out my appointments. At the time of
:he Brown raid / was perhaps thirty-one
years old. The news OF the invasion at Har.
per's Ferry came to Indiana and OF course
excited the Democrats and most of the peo-
pie at large as being terrible thing without
any apparent context or connection. Toe
feeling was very high. The United Sta'es
had suit at that time, affecting some bank
property, ana had to represent the Govern
meDt. My opponent was a lawyer named
Judah. The Gaze was tried at Vino snnes the
Oldest town in Indiana and one of the oldest
In the West. II was the old territorial capital.
had Just finished my speech, some four
days after the arrest of Brown, when, as l
was about to take my seat, | observed a
marshal making Q signal at me. He took
me outside Of the court and put into my
hands an unsealed letter:
1T said something like the following:
We have reason to believe that the John Z.
Cook who has lust been captured in Penn
svlvania, and is one of Browns men, IS Mrs.
Willard's brother. Carrie and Kate fear that
he is their brother. We appeal to you to de
fend him. This letter was signed 'Ashbel
II. Willard / read the letter, and strange
thrill went through me, partly increduious
that such an extraordinary performance oil
Browne raid could come home to q demo
cratic official family. L was then trying to
cat position as young lawyer aud | saw
at once that to defend one of Browns men
would probably break me down at the
threshold Of my career, when, as yet, / had
acquired no means to sustain myself. But
made mp my mind at the moment that IL
THE connection really existed / should 90 to
the defense of Governor Wizards bro.her-
in-law. / walked back into the
corrf, stepped up 70 the bench,
aud put the letter before the generous irish
Judge. He read il through, aud looked u D
~ me with establishment. Said /: Judge,
shall so. How am going to get rid of the
csse? You are right said the Judge, in
his strong Irish brouge. Il know you will
CO. He called up the opposite counsellor, q
Mr.. Judah. who demurreda little to putting
of the case. They asked me how long
would be absent. ! told them had not the
least idea. viii thirty days be enough2
said the Judge. / said did not know, out
thought the case ought to be put off for sixty
days. Mr. Judah shrugged his shoulders.
But the Judge said emphatically: L am
going to adj Gyn this case for sixty days, If
necessary The case was adjourned. then
autographed my wife to pack my trunk and
bring IL TO the train, which was going from
Vincennes to my own town OF Tsrre Haute.
i did not explain to her. She met me aud
in Q few hurried words told her that Gov.
ernor Willard had asked my aid aud must
give It. The train went on to Indianapolis
and the news had been received there that
the Governor had applied to me. The United
States Marshal, Mr.. Robinson, as good q
man rs ever lived. had made up his mind
that Governor Willard had no business to
emplcy me IN such cause. He took me to
against the policy of Democrats engaging in
the defense OF these marauders. The Gov.
ernor, willard said he, may have this
brother-in-lsw in John Browns band, but he
must take mis- chance with the other despera.
does. These men have attacked not only
Virginia, but the United States and raised q
rebellion In our midst listened to him
quietly, but said when he had finished
Robinson, am going all the same He
then walked the floor and spoke vet more
fiercely. Just as be had finished the door
opened and in walked Governor Willard.
Said he: VOORHEES,. did you get my letter,
and will you go?' Yes, willard said /.
when do you start?' We leave here at 3
o'clock for Harper's Ferry said he. Robin.
inson walked ont of the room.n
At this point interposed question to
Senator voorhees,: Had Governor Willard
ever met this brother-in-iaw, Cook?p
"yes. think he had bat not for some
vears. He told me that when information
came that the young man had been born in
Hadlam. Conn.,, Mra. willard and herssster
Kate lad concluded that he must be their
missing brother. Voorhees, said he, we
.fhousht you would 60. Bad a. the boys act
has bean, am going to stand by him."
The brother then continued: I'VE travelled
By railroad direct for Karper's Ferry, and
We went 20 fast that We arrived there during
the day, while Cox himself had only been
taken through Harper's Ferry to Charles.
town the same morning. He had to be
brought by couveyancs, while We came by
steam. He had therefore been In Charles
til 49, hon han -