The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1914-08-21

Who Presided at the Trial OF the Hero
Of Harper's Ferry, Tells Thrilling
story-HaIe and Hearty at Seventy
six Years Of Age.
Alliance, O.-One Of the most highly
esteemed colored men in this city Is
Presley Dunwood. whose life story Is
a most interesting bit Of information.
His memory Is intimately linked with
the daring dash of John Brown Of
Harpers Ferry, which gave the tocsin
of the bloody civil war. Presley Dun
wood was the servant Of Judge Rich
ard Parker, the noted jurist. who pre-
sided at the trial of John Brown.
In giving brief bits Of information
concerning his early career Mr.. Dun
wood says:
~ was born in Clark county. Va, In
1888 and taken from my mother when
one year old. At the age Of seven !
was hired out in 1852 being with q
man named Isaac Gantz. In 1854 !
was hired to Henry Hose Of Perrys-
vile, Va. In 1855 l was with John
Shumetz and in 1867 was hired
with man named Henry Hess In Lou
doun county, Va. In 1857 there was
a division of the men in some way, and
fell to the ownership Of Judge Rich
ard Parker of Winchester. Judge
Parker had judicial charge Of the
courts Of both Jefferson and Frederick
counties.
"John Brown with his handful! Of
men came to the neighborhood Of Har-
pers Ferry on Sunday, Oct. 16. 1850,
and on Monday morning at 1 o'clock
made his charge and by morning gain
ed possession Of the arsenal. There
was fighting with much excitement up
TO 3 o'clock. when company Of Wash
ington marines came up and captured
Brown and his men. Brown had with
him but eighteen men.
II believe he expected many more,
but was betrayed. They did not show
up rs promised or anticipated. Hay.
ward Shepherd was the first man to
be shot in that day of turmoil. He
was the toll keeper Of the Maryland
bridge, as 1t was called. Brown and
his men coming up to Harpers Ferry
from the Maryland side. Shepherd
would not give up the keys to the
bridge to Brown and his men. and he
was shot.
"The trial of Brown and the men
captured with him was held at Charles
town, in Jefferson county. had
charge Of Judge Parker's carriage and
drove him to and from the courthouse
to his home every day during the
trial. I often saw John Brown during
this time, but did not hear any Of the
evidence in the trial, as colored peo-
pie were not allowed in the courthouse.
We were given to understand that
Brown and his men had attacked the
government. l was told the life Of the
Judge was threatened, but I never saw
any trouble while driving to and from
the courthouse. The trial Of Brown
alone lasted a period of three weeks
and the trial Of those with him about
three weeks more-six weeks In all.
'The men were condemned to death,
and Brown was the first to be hanged.
Seven men in all were hanged, the
hanging having taken place on Dec. 2,
1859. John Browns wife came and
eceived his body. Parker was not in
sympathy with the south in the mat.
ter Of slavery. but had to do his duty
as Judge.
"FOllowing the hanging of Brown
and his men, slaves were sold rapidly.
many owners realizing the probabili-
ties the future held in store. After the
election Of Lincoln as president there
was no sale for slaves at all.
AT the beginning Of the war I was
pressed into the Confederate army and
was with that army In the first battle
Of Bull Run. Following q big fight
about Winchester, was captured by
company Of the Forty-sixth Pennsyl-
vania volunteers under command of
Captain Benjamin w. Morgan, and
from that time on was in the Union
army, however, not an enlisted man.
l was In the battle at Cedar Mountain,
the second Bull Run fight, and saw
much Of the fight at Antietam.
AFTER the war | accompanied Cap
tain Morgan to Pittsburgh and worked
for him for several years. he being en-
gagged In business there conducting a
confectionery store. In 1868, knowing
where my mother was. ] brought her
to Pittsburgh and was with her and
cared for her until her death In 1901.
A hnI xxh ofvnn 20 nrth