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of the whole movement.
No matter whether he was present on the spot, or a mile off, he is equally guilty.
Examination of witnesses.
The examination of witnesses was commenced at the afternoon session.
The conductor of the train was first called, narrated the circumstances of its stoppage on the morning of Monday, October 17, and thus described his interview with
Captain Brown:
I met a man whom I now recognize as Coppic, and asked what they meant.
He replied, “ We don't want to injure you or detain your train.
You could have gone at three o'clock: all we want is to free the negroes.”
I then asked if my train could now start, and went to the guard at the gate, who said, “There is Captain Smith; he can tell you what you want to know.”
I went to the engine house, and the guard called Captain Smith.
The prisoner at the bar came out, and I asked him if he was captain of these men. He replied he was. I asked him if I could cross the bridge, and he peremptorily responded, “ No, sir.”
I then asked him what he meant by stopping my train.
He replied, “ Are you the conductor on that train?”
I told him I was, and he said, “ Why, I sent you word at three o'clock that you could pass.”
I told him that, after being stopped by armed men on the bridge, I would not pass with my train.
He replied, “ My head for it, you will not be hurt; ” and said he was very sorry.
It was not his intention that any blood should be spilled; it was bad management on the part of the men in charge of the bridge.
I then asked him what security I would have that my train would pass safely, and asked him if he would walk over the bridge ahead of my train with me. He called a large, stout man to accompany him, and one of my passengers, Mr. McByrne, asked to accompany me; but Brown ordered him to get into the train, or he would take them all prisoners in five minutes; but it was advice more than in the form of a threat.
Brown accompanied me; both had rifles.
As we crossed the bridge, the three armed men were still in their places.
When we got across, Brown said to me, “ You, doubtless, wonder that a man of my age should be here with a band of armed men; but if you knew my past history, you would not wonder at it so much.”
My train was then through the bridge, and I bade him good morning, jumped on my train, and left him.
He narrated the conversation between
Captain Brown and
Governor Wise, when the
Liberator was confined
