South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-05-07

cutting attorney in this county. writ
ing IN a local newspa per. says in
part:
During the early summer OF 1853
q party Of strangers arrived near
Harpers Ferry. then a part OF Vir.
slnia. With them was an old man
Of venerable appearance. who called
himself Isaac smith They repre-
sented themselves rs prospecting for
minerals and took long and frequent
ram bles over various parts OF the
Blue Ridge mountains near by. After
few E-eeks they removed to what
is known as the Kennedy Farm,
about Ave miles from Harpers
Ferry. on the Maryland side of the
Potomac river and established head
quarters. They were amiable people
and soon made a number Of friends.
In the meantime a large quantity OF
arms and ammunition was struggled
in 10 them.
Excitement Prevailed.
Twenty men descended upon
Harper's Ferry on the night OF sun
I day, oct Is. 1852 They shot men
I in the streets and took possession OF
I the town. Some OF the townspeop
we're made prisoners The greatest
excitement prevailed in the town
I Nobody seemed 10 know what il was
/ all about Later one of the attack
| ers declared they had come TO free
4 the Virginia slaves They said they
had the means to accomplish this
plan.
News OF the attack on Harpers
( Ferry was flashed throughout the
nation. The Virginia militia came
and Gov. Wise Of Virginia took per
sonal charge. After a three-day fight
the little army was captured. It's
/ leader was recognized as John
Brown.
7 Brown and his followers were
[ taken 10 Charles Town, where the
grand jury was in session. Virginia
and what is nov West Virginia were
then one state.
: The Old Virginia law required FIVE
days lapse between the preliminary
I examination and the submission OF
the case 70 the grand jury.
"A whole nation was wrought UP
/ to the tensest pitch during those five
days Of suspense. 1t was rumored
| everywhere. particularly in Virginia
and through the south. that John
Browns little army OF 20 men was
4 but the forerunner Of a mighty army
from the north 70 come down and
free the slaves and that a powerful
/ secret orga nization was planning re-
volt by riot and murder and the
\ Brown gang was to be released from
jail.
Rumors Travelled Fast
These rumors grew; they trav-
eled fast. 1t was argued that John
Brown would not have dlred at
/ tempt such bold thing as the cap
ture Of Harpers Ferry unless he
knew he had ample backing.
"On oct. 20 the preliminary hear
ing opened. with the courthouse
heavily guarded by militia troops
/ Everywhere the town was TANNED
with strangers. There was a little
army of newspapermen.
Brown, it is believed. fully real
/ lied what was to come. The court.
/ house was across the street from the
Jail Brown was marched out from
the front door Of the jail. grim and
determined. A double file of soldiers
guarded him. He presented 4 re-
markable picture.
Whether he was legally right OF
not. he believed his cause just. He
was six feet tall. stoop -shouldered
, old. bareheaded and wore a long
shaggy gray beard But his piercing
/. old eyes showed no signs of fear
He had faith i'm God and his cause
His condition is described as feeble
and bystandeTs gaped in silence as
he moved slowly along, manacled.
The courtroom was jammed with
five or six hundred people Eight
Justices of the peace conducted the
preliminary hearing. They consti-
tuted the court of first resort; upon
their say so would depend whether
John Brown, avowed abolitionist
should be set free with his com
rades or whether they should be
held for the grand jury.
Charles Harding was the distric
attorney. Gov. Wise of Virginia ap.
pointed Andrew Hunter as assistant
prosecutor. Hunter was grea
lawyer. a wonderful pleader and q
man of imposing appearance.
Pros. Harding demanded to know
whether the prisoners We're repre-.
wish the court 10 assign counsel
Then came one Of the grea'
dramatic episodes OF American lega
history
"Old. shaggy-ha red. John Brown
feeble and stopped apparently ready
to totter upon the floor. did not like
sented by counsel or whether they
the tone i'm which the question was
asked. He might be old, he Nigh
be feeble. but he was a man wIthal
And the haggard old man slowly and
feebly arose from his chair. His
Isteely eyes swept the breathles!
lcrowd with scorn as he exclaimed:
'Virginians! ] did not ask fol
lquarter at the time I was taken. che
was badly wounded.) 1 do not ask
for quarter now. I do not ask tC
have my life spared If YOU seek my
blood YOU may have it at any mo
lr3ent without the mockery OF a trial
II have no counsel II we are 70 bt
forced into a mere form of trial-a
trial for eNecutiOn-yOu might spare
yourselves that trouble ! am ready
for my fate. I beg no insult nothing
but that which conscience gives on
n cowa rdice drives YOU to practice
Iagain ask TO be excused the mOckery
of a trial.
Then John Brown sat down. He
i'm that short speech not only ad
dressed the court but he flung
challenge az the pride of old Nir.
ginia.
Auditors Amazed.
His auditors were thrilled and