Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1901-03-27

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Now, HAYWOOD Shepherd WAS a free
negro. vet he was the first TO be
killed. by John Blown. John Browns
purpose was to free the negro, vet
the first Tnan TO fall or To he killed
was free negro, and this, too, nv
John Browns men. This one Incl
lent should not be forgotten. and I
would like for those who are now
attempting to immortalize him to
answer this question. HAYWOOD
Shepard was the first man that was
killed, and he was free negro. /
knew the man well. aud was we'll ac
qnaiuted with his mistress. from
whom he bought his freedom. The
above are facts that few care to tack
le. particularly those who wish 10
immOrtalize Brown. No. the time
had not come for the slaves to be-
ser free. 1t was question that had
10 hr settled hy the nation, aud il
was settled when General Lee sur.
rendered. az the McLane House. o.
the 9TH day of April. 1865. Now.
will GO back tp the trial. As I said
before, the trial commenced on the
25th dav of October. 1859. aud lasted
five DAYS We were confined SIX day,
ON account of SUNDAYS Intervening.
On sunday We were marched 10 the
old Preshvte~luu church TO hear old
Parson Dutton preach. but did not
think about his sermon very long.
You can easily guess what was up-
prrmost ia nv mind When court
convened. on Monday morning. John
Brown arose and protested against
the trial proceeding. He declared
that he had no counsel. This was
not true, for the court had assigned
him the ahlest counsel at hand, but
he would not accept it; so the first
day was passed in sparring. The
Judge decided though. that the trial
should proceed. and that night a
lawyer by the name of Hoyt from
Boston. came, but he did not amount
to much.
The next day lawyer arrived
from Ohio. His name was Griswell.
The third day of the trial, Hon.
Samuel Chiffon, formerly of Warren
ton, Va. hut at that time living in
Washington, arrived to aid the de
fence. MIR. Chiffon was one of the
foremost LAWYERS in the country at
that time. 1t will thus be readily
seen that with this array of cOun-
sci, John Brown could not plead
lack of counsel. No trial was ever
conducted more in accordance with
the law and with greater fairness.
Brown refused TO be tried first and
alone. This was granted. No jury
was ever guarded more carefully.
At night We were locked up in tn
top room of the tavern with two
sheriffS-fourteen in all-in a room
not more than fifteen feet square
There had Ceen heavy rains, and the
brick walls were covered with mold
and very damp, but we stood it. ]
do not think any ones death was
FASTENED on account of these un-
healthy quarters. They all lived tC
Il good age. | am the Youngest, and
my health is good. Mr.. j. w. Boy
er and myself are the only surviving
members. Often | have seen article.
written stating that the John Brown
jury all met premature deaths. Thes,
writers were certainlywrongly inform
ed. can Faithfully say that none
died under 81, and one lived to b,
93 years old. know of SIX (includ
ing myself that passed the age o.
20.
The following interesting docu
ment is copy of the proceedings il
the case. made from the records il
Charlestown, Jefferson county, w
Va. On the records il is marked
'Exhibi A and reads:
Monday, Oct. 81. 1859.