Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1913-02-27
THE JOHN BROWN RAID
some CLIPPINGS FROM OUR
OLD FILES OF 1859.
$3.50
Thursday, November 8. 1859.

j Thursday, November 8, 1859.
| Trial of the Harpers Ferry Insurgents.
Continued from last week.
+ Mr.. Chiffon said their client desired
that they should argue his case. 1t
was impossible for him to do now,
and he could not allow himself to make
an attempt at argument on case
about which he knew SO little. If he
were to get up at all it would only be
for the unworthy purpose of wasting
time. He had no such design, but hav-
ing undertaken this mans cause he
very much desired to comply with his
wishes. He would be the last man in
the world to subject the jurors to in
convenience unnecessarily; but al
though the prisoner may have been to
blame, may have acted foolishly, n ay
have had an improper purpose in so
doing. still he could not gee that he
should therefore be forced to have his
case submitted withour argument. In
a trial for life and death we should not
be precipitate,
The court here consulted with the
jurors, who expressed themselves very
anxious to GET home. His honor said
that he was DESTROYS of trying this case
precisely as he would try any other,
without any reference at all to outside
feeling,
Mr.. Hoyt remarked that he was
physically incapable of speaking to-
night, even if fully prepared He
worked very hard last night to get the
law points until he fell unconscious
from his chair from exhaustion and
fatigue. For the last five days and
nights he had only slept ten hours. and
it seemed to him that justice to the
prisoner demanded the alIo vance of a
little time in case 80 extraordinary
in all its aspects as this.
The court suggested that we might
have the opening argument for the
prosecution tonight at any RATE,
Mr.. Harding would not like to open
the argument now unless the case was
to be finished tonight. He was will
ing, however, to submit the case to
the jury without single word, be-
lievng that they would do the prisoner
( Justice The prosecution had been met,
not only on the threshold, but at each
and every step, with distractions to
the progress of the case. II the case
was not to be closed tonight he would
like to ask the same indulgence given
to tho other side, that he might collect
the notes of evidence he had taken,
The cautt inquired what length of
time defense would require for argu-
menu on Monday morning. de could
then decide whether to grant the re-
quest or not.
After consultation MIR. Chiffon stated
there would be only two speeches by
himself and Mr.. Griswold, not occupy
lug moae than two and a half hours in
all.
Mr. Hunter again entered an earn
est protest against delay.
The court replied, then you can go
on yourselves.
Mr.. Harding then commenced the
opening argument for the Common
wealth, and spoke only for about forty
minutes. He reviewed the testimony
as elected during the examination,
and dWelt for sometime on the absurd
ity of the claim or expectation, of the
prisoner that he should have been
treated according to tire rules of hon
orable warfare. He seemed to Lave
lost sight of the fact that he was in
command of band of murderers and
thieves, and had forfeited all title to
protection of any kind.
Thr court adjourned at 5 O'Clock to
meet again at 10 O'Clock on Monday
morning, when Mr.. Chiffon will deliver
the opening speech for the prisoner.
The tria was brought TO conclu-
sion on Monday, the jury returning a
verdict of guilty on all the counts of
the Indictment, charging Treason, In
surrection. and Murder..A= motion
for arrest of judgement was made by
Browns counsel and argued on Tues
daa. On Wednesday evening the Judge
gave his opinion not sustaining the ap
pIicstion for the arrest of judgement.
and proceeded to pronounce sentence
of Death,
On Tuesday, Edwin Coppee was
brought to trial. Messrs. Girls void
and Hoyt for prisoner. Harding and
Hunter for Commonwealth. The fol-
lowing persons comprise the
Jury.-Joseph E. Bell, Grandson T.
Licklider, VIM. A. Marshall, VIM P.
Henson, James v. Moore. John Snyder,
John Criswell, Peter Bowers, Daniel
Hefaebower, Rein Shugart, S. L.
Minghini, VIM. P. yesterday.
On Wed6esdaythe jury brought in .
vereict of guilty in the first degree on
all the counts.