Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1922-10-12
STORY OF JOHN BROWN.
CONTINUED from Page IL

quarter at the time was taken. (He
was badly wounded.) i do not ask
Tor quarter now. do not ask to
have my life spared. II you seek my
blood you may have it at any mo-
ment without the mockery of q trial.
have no counsel. II we are to be
forced into q mere form OF trial-a
trial for execution-you might spare
yourselves that trouble. I am ready
for my fate. I beg no insult, nothing
but that which conscience gives or
cowardice drives you to practice. /
again ask to be excused the mockery
OF trial. Then John Brown sat
down. His auditors were amazed
and thrilled. They even respected
the daring old man.
when the second days court OPEN
ed an attorney for Brown informed
the court that he had received tele-
gram from an akron, Ohio. man who
declared that there was good deal
Of insanity in Browns family, and he
desired to investigate the statement.
"While the defense counsel was
making the plea, John Brown inter-
rupted him. The old man struggled.
forward, his eyes blazing with wrath
and his voice shaking with emotion.
In unmistakable language he repudi-
.ated his attorneys plea and denied
there was any insanity in his fathers
family, though some OF his mothers
people had been mentally afflicted.
The court ruled that there was no
Testimony supporting the evidence
and the insanity end would be disre.
garded and the trialproceed.
Several witnesses described how
the armed band came across the
bridge at midnight and took possess
sion OF the United States arsenal at
Harper's Ferry. They described in
detail the stirring events of October
16, II and 1S.
THE raiders took POSSESSION of one
OF the nearby plantations and made
the slaves and plantation owner all
prisoners Of war. The night express
train was held up on the bridge and
the porter shot. Men were shot down
on the street, witnesses said, and the
mayor killed. Militia companies were
hastily summoned from Martinsburg,
SEepherdstown and Charles Town.
FINALLY the remnants of the.
Brown party barricaded thmselves I'm
the municipal fire engine house of
Harper's Ferry. 1t was later known
an John Browns Fort There they
were surrounded by troops and es-
cape shut off. Efforts to negotiate
We're futile. Flag OF truce bearers
from Browns barricade were shot
down >or captured. On the night of
the second day after he entered the
town company of marines from
Washington arrived. They were un-
der the command OF Col Robert E.
Lee and Lieut.. J. e. b. Stuart, who
h.ter became the two great generals
OF the Confederacy.
Brown refused to surrender and
the next morning the fort was car
ried by storm. brown and his sur
Siving companions were captured
Brown was badly wounded in sew
eral places. So were some of his
companions. Among the towns citi-
zens who were taken prisoner by
Brown was Col. Lewis W. Washing
ton. granddaughter of George Wash
ington.
The casualties of John Browns
Harper's Ferry raid were IL. killed,
10 wounded and one escaped Two
OF Browns sons were killed. or the
attackers five were killed and nine
wounded.
ION the sixth day Of the trial ar
gument was begun; the court deliv-
cred its charge, and the jury retired.
Soon q verdict OF guilty was re-
turned There was no demonstration
In the court room. The next day
Brown was brought into court for
sentence. He was. asked II he had
anything to say why sentence should
not be imposed. His reply to the
court was another landmark in this
country's history He said:
have. may 1t please the court,
few words to say. In the first place
\ deny everything but what I have
already admitted--the design on my
part to free the slaves. That was all
] Intended. Now, II 1t Is necessary
that forfeit my life for the further
ance OF the ends OF justice and min
Sic my blood with the millions of
slaves In this slave country whose
rights are disregarded by wicked,
cruel and unjust enactments. I sub
NIT; let It be done! Let me say one
word further. feel entirely satis-
fled with the treatment have re-
ceived on my trial. Considering all,
the circumstances. It has been more
gensrous than expected. But feel
no consciousness Of guilt NoW !