Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1908-06-26
Seine "Reminiscences OF John Rro,sn
Jury /.

ing members Of the jury that convicted
John Brown, the Harper's Ferry raid
er, continues in excellent health at his
home in Delaplane, Fauquier county,
Virginia. A few days ago lie was in
Washington, and recounted the history
OF the Brown trial The jury which
tried BIswn, aud of which MIR. Martin
is now the only living member was
composed Of John c. Wiltshire, fore
man, George w. Boyer, Ihes. Watson,
u, George w. Tabb, John G. Nc
Clure, Richard Timberiake, Joseph
Myers, Thos. Osborne, Nv. A. Martin,
Isaac Dust, William Rightstine and
J. J Miller.
Only che CT tbs sc jurors afteTward
seived in the Confederate fanny, be-
cause, as MIR. Nartir explained, most
of them were over the age for military
enlistment, while others were mer-
chants who were exempt in the first
years Of the war. Nor did any but one
member Of the jury meet with horri-
bic deaths or "retributive disaster in
after years, as has been widely pub
| lished.
"Issac Dust lived to be nInety-threc
years OF age Mr.. Martin said, sswhiIe
am seventy-seven, and still hale,
hearty and happy. Tabb .Timberlake,
Mcclure and Wiltshire all lived to
| reaeh The caxauty Ave- ,,arL ard fho
remainder lived to pass over slxty-five
years. The statement that has been
made that men Of mature age could
not be procured for the Blown Jury and
that the twelve. jurors were inexperi-
enced | striplings is also false. They
were responsible men anu reputable
citizens of the community in which
the ofleDses were committed. 1t must
be remembered, too, that John Browns
offepses were mot salone. against the
state of Virginia and the Shareholders.
When be seized the government arse
nal at Harpers Ferry he committed a
most unlawful act against the United
States.
John Brown, atthe conclusion of his
trial when the Jury had pronounced
him guilty as indicted, did not call
down the wrath of heaven or utter an
amathema against the twelve men, as
has been saId. He received the verdict
In glum silence. According TO the laws
of Virginia culprit could not be ex.
ecuted until thirty days had elapsed
since his conviction. The authorities
hanged him the Thirteenth day after
sentence had been pronounced against
him. He was executed by himself, the
others being taxed to the gibbet in due
col rse of time after their conviction. /
did not see laEy of the hangingi but
made haste to my home after the trial
The trials and executing were held at
Cbarlesiown, the county seat, seven
miles rom Harper's Ferry. The town
was filled with excited men, and great
caution was taken to prevent violence
to the prisoner, who was roundly de-
nouneed by all.
"The jurymen were kept locked up
in the attic of an old tavern, ane or
Sunday Judge Parker gave the sherfis
who were guarding us permission to
take us to meeting in Presbyterian
church, where we heard old Elder Dut-
ton preach, but he was not allowed to
refer to the trial in his sermon. The
only juror who entered the Confeder-
ate army was g. W. Boyer
Mr.. Martin also related piece of UNI
written history concernipglthe trial.
He said the jury came near being
chung" by the attitude of one Of the
members who could not understand
Judge Parker's' charge that "if the
Jury found from the evidence that John
Brown was guilty they should find
4 him guilty and nothing mere; that if
the evidence showed him to be not
guilty, the jury should so find and
nothing more. One of the jurymea
construed the cou rt's remarks to mean
that there might oe loophole through
which the prisoner might escape
hanging. He wanted him executed.
This was Strengthened out by the
Judge, who informed the juror that
sentence of guilty carried with it the
death penalty. Thissuited the juryman
and he voted with the others for con-
viction. Mr. Martin will be seventy
five years old in July next