The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1901-04-04
SLAVE DAYS RECALLED.
Edson's Story of John Brown, Jr.-
Was Present When tho Son of the
Noted Abolttiontst Defied Arrest.

Was Present When tho Son of tn
Noted AboIitionist Defied Arrest.
OF all the stories in the history OF
the century just closed that OF john
/ Brown, of Osawatomis, will possibly
seem one of the most wildly improbable
to the student of history in the century
which has just opened.
/ The centennial anniversary of his
| birth fell on the 9th of last May; the
| forty-frst anniversary of his death oc-
Cured on the I'd of last December.
But ''the moving why he did il" is 4
question that never has been answered
and never will be, because no consensus
of opinion about it has ever been
reached, and now time enough has
elapsed TO make this picturesque old
man direct descendant Of one of the
pilgrims of the Mayhower, seam like a
dream, or, II a reality, a being whose
pursuits We're all visionary and cratic.
But here before me lies the indubita-
BILE proof that John Brown was gi9en to
practical pursuits. as other men, and
had q bank account also, which was not
in the least visionary; and here also is
the name written by his own hand flf-
ty-one years ago 1T Is q bank check
drawn by him and duly punched show
ing that it was honored.
1t is dated "Cabotville, 22d Dec,
1S49," and directs the Cashier of the
Cabot Bank" to PAY Alexander Uhe
extra ! quoteD Donna-(here the punch
clips the rest of the name) Four Hun
dred & Three Dollars 94-1O0." The
words cor Bearer that follow the
name are crossed out. Signed John
Brown" There is no Endorsement upon
the back, the words Certificate of De-
post" written on it's face showing that
the check had merely transferred the
above sum of money from John Browns
account with the bank to the credit of
Mr.. Alexander Donna making this
otherwise usual proceeding unnecessa-
ny.
All except the words and figures of the
printed check blank Is in the same
cramped chirography.
At one end of the paper is the i'm
print, surrounded by an ornamental
border, of u c. Stoever, Printer, Chic
opee"-the usual free advertising of the
printer, without a thought Of thus
gaining for his name little second
hand Immortality.
Chicopee is the present name Of the
aforesaid Cabotville, in the state Of
Massa chusetts, and 1t was at the Ames
foundry of that place that the magnifl-
cent bronze doors of the main eastern
of the capitol building were
east. This bank check is undoubtedly
genuine, as it was obtained from
,ashier of the Cabot bank
Being shown this check, Mr.. John JOY,
Edison, of this city, told me a story
anent those exciting times. He was
hen boy of about thirteen years OF
age, and lived In Ashtabula county, Q.
John Brown was in the Charlestown
prison, awaiting his execution for an
aggregation of crimes, according to the
ierdlct of the court, sufficient to have !
hanged dozen men, and 1t seemed to
he authorities Of the day that this poor
I'D enthusiast and quartette of others
hardly satisfied the demands Of justice,
20 they were securing the country for |
,thers and tracking them to their hid
ng places.
An aunt of Mr. Edison desiring to Wis !
t Ashtabula town, little John was de-
ignated as her escort, and they started
n the afternoon of a day late in No |
-ember along the country road leading ,
nto the town, part Of which highway |
vas new and full of Instructions. I
they did not time their trip with ref
renee to the roughness of the way, and |
o their slow progress caused nightfall /
o overtake them still some distance 1
rom the town. Then happened q fur
her calamity. for striking in the dark
ess one of the numerous Instructions,
he carriage was so Jared that 1t /
roke down.
What to do / did not know" said Mr..
Idson, 'for 1t had not been the custom
f those using conveyances drawn by
orse-power to carry a kit Of tools
long; that is solely a bicycle wrinkle,
o | had no means of repairing the We
icle
Finally I concluded to do a little re-
if perchance some dwell
1g might be near, and leaving my
unit keeping guard over the wreck, /
tarted off up the road, not much more
han bride path. and presently spled
house. almost hidden in the woods
was so dark by this time that I
ould not determine the character of
1e edifice, not not ray Of light APP
cared about the premises. "rhese
,lks go to bed with the chickens, sure
1ough,' thought l. but as I approached
carer, ! discovered by the light CLINT
lg through the creyiceS that the gloom
as all on the outside, and only ,
fused by the solid shutters that COM |
etely fortified the windows. SO i !
nocked on the door for adrnittance.
here was no response, and not a
found escaped from the inside more
ian from d tomb But the cheerful '
immcr from underneath the door and
indows encouraged me- and ] knocked t
gain and again, keeping it MP until f
1ally scarcely perceptble crack of !
lie door was opened and voice asked c
no was there.
&c They are not as polite as the folks !
our neighborhood, to keep me out in 7
e cold while they catechise me like /
is / thought. But I told them my t
,me. q
q Who is with your was asked fur s
er. and how are we to know that /
III are telling the truth?' 6