The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-03-11
JOHN BROWN AND CAPTAIN
COOK.
"Reminiscences OF the Harper's Ferry
Trials.
The Daring Young Wanderer Who Ordered
His own Ioffin-His Appearance
In Jail.

John Brown, where he was consel for Cap
tain John E. Cook, and made in Cooks be-
half one Of the most remarkable speeches in
causes celebTes of history. Mr.. VOORHEES, is
50 much employed In his public avocations
that it was with as much difficulty as rsluc-
lance that he Obliged me night or two ago
with this most interesting story. have IN
dertaken to jot it down for myself, but per-
haps when l have finished il, it may be bet
ter preserved in print. think there can be
no improperly in the publication if 80
conclude.
Beginning slowly and with reflection, Mr..
VOORHEES, spoke to me, somewhat as follows
though can not exactly give his words:
81 have Iefrained from talking on the sub
ject of my employment in the Harpers
Ferry trials of twenty-five years ago. Some
things connected with me there l probably
can not speak Of now. I think, however,
that you have had some bias established in
your mind to the prejudics of my client,
Captain Cook, as one of John Browns band,
and il is 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 l, in the effort to save his
life, chose my own course, consulting nobody
but his brother-in-law, Governor Ashbel
Willard, Of Indiana, who was Democrat,
like myself. Cook was as determined q fol-
lower OF John Brown as any one in the band.
I believe he was as brave a man as any Of
those Invaders His nerve was as good as
his courage. He had gentle, afiectionate
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
ne was an aboIitionist. We made the oniv
enOrt 10 save his life IN eur power. and that
wss by representing him as having been N
der the jnfiueIcs OF a powerful mind ike
John Browns.
Il WIS appointed by President Buchanan
United StkJes attorney for tie State of Indi-
ans. Judge Black, the Attorney General,
made out NY appointments. AT the time OF
she Brown raid l was perhaps Ihirty-one
years ord The news of the invasion at Har-
per's Ferry catne 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. The
feeling wss very high. The United States
had a sniJ ~ that time, affecting some bank
property, ana l had to represent the Govern
ment. My opponent was a lawyer named
J0dan. ne case was tried at NinCennes the
Oldest tovn in Indiana and one OF the oldest
IN the Yves IT was the old territorial capital,
had Just finished my speech, some four
days after the arrest OF Brown, when, as /
was about 10 take my seat l observed
marshal making signal at me. He took
me outside of the court and put into my
heDds an unsesied letter
SIT said something like the following:
fWe have reason to believe that the John E.
Cook who has Just been captured in Penn
sylvania, and Is one OF Browns men, Is Mrs.
Wizards brother. Carrie and Kate fear that
ne is their brother We appeal TO you 10 de-
fend him. This letter was signed 'Ashbel
P Willard l read the letter, and strange
thrill went through me, partly incredulous
that such an extraordinary performance of
Browns raid could come home to 8 demo-
cratic official family. i was then trying to
get position as young lawyer, aud l 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. Butt
made up my mind at the moment that If
this connection really existed | should 90 10
the defense OF Governor WIZARDS brother.
dn-law. walked back into the
court, stepped up to the bench
and put the letter before the generous Irish
Judge. He read it through, and looked up
at me with astOnishment. Said L: Judge,
shall 20. How am going to get rid OF the
casep 'You are right said the Judge in
his strong Irish brouge. L know you will
60 He called up the opposite counsellor,
Mr.. Judah, who demurred little to putting
of the case. They asked me how long
would be absent. told them had not the
least idea. Will thirty days De enoughP
said the Judge. said did not know, but 1
thought the case ought to be put off for sixty
days. Mr. judah shrugged his shoulders
But the Judge said emphatically: i am
going to adjourn this case for sixty DAVIS if
necessary The case was adjourned Ithen
telegTsphed my wife to pack my trunk and
bring il 10 the train, which was going from
NincenDes to my own town of Tsrre daute.
did not explain to her. She met me and
ns few hurried words told her that Gov
srnor Willard had asked my aid and L 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
man az ever lived, had made up his mind
that Governor Willard had no business to
employ me in such cause. He took me to
his room at the hotel and spoke severely
against the policy of Democrats engaging in
the defense of these marauders. The Gov.
eFnor, Willard said he. may have this
brother-in-law in John Browns band, but he
must take his chance with the other despera-
does. These men have attacked not only
Virginia but the United States and raised
rebellion in our midst l listened to him
quietly, but said when he had finished:
Robinson, am going all the same He
then walked the floor and spoke yet more
iercely. Just as he had finished the door
opened and in walked Governor Willard.
Said he: VOORHEES,, did you get my letter,
and will you go2 Yes, Willard said l.
when do you start@ We leave mere at
o'clock for Harper's Ferry said he. Robin
inson walked out of the room"
At this point l interposed question to
Senator Voorhees,: Had Governor Willard
ever met this brother-in-law, Cooke
"Yes think he had; hut not for some
years. He told me that when information
came that the young man had been born in
Haddam. Conn.,, Mrs. Willard and her sister
Kate had concluded that he must be their
missing brother. Voorhees, said be, we
thought you would go. Bad as the boys act
has been, 1 am going to stand by him"
The brother then continued: I'VE travelled
by railroad direct for Harper's Ferry. and
we went 60 fast that We arrived there during
tie day, while Cox hims5H had only been
taken through Harper's Ferry to Charles
own the same morning. He had 10 be
brought By conveyance, while we came by
steam. He had therefore been in Charles
town jail only few hours When we got
pat Of the cars at Harper's Ferry 50 soon az
Ter this memorsble raid, tho people of the
VILLAGE still euenieioua of efranCara lo0kad