No further evidence of the purity of character, eminence and fairness as a lawyer, of Andrew Hunter need be produced. But as regards the fairness of Brown's trial, there is still another witness, whose statement, while not under oath, was made under circumstances of solemnity that far exceeded those surrounding the ordinary witness. As is well known, Brown was convicted. At this result probably no one was less surprised than himself. On the 6th day of the trial he was called to the bar and asked if he had anything to say why sentence should not be pronounced upon him. In a clear and distinct voice he said he had, and denied everything except an intention to free slaves; he intended to have made a clean thing of that matter, as he had done the winter before in Missouri; he designed to do the same thing here on a larger scale; he never intended to commit murder or treason, and thought it unjust that he should suffer such a penalty. He attempted a justification of his efforts, and continuing, said: ‘Let me say one word further. I feel entirely satisfied with the treatment I have received on my trial. Considering all the circumstances, it has been more generous than I expected.’ This is the statement of the person most interested in the trial and its result, notwithstanding he had on two or three occasions during the trial found fault with the ruling of the judge, but never with the conduct of counsel for the prosecution. When the final scene in the courthouse was about to be enacted; standing in the shadow of the gallows, as it were; cut loose from the world; a dead man in all except that he still retained breath and speech, and with that breath and speech which he knew must soon cease he declared: ‘I feel entirely satisfied with the treatment I have received on my trial.’ The testimony of this last and most important witness is commended to the fairness of Dr. Von Holst.
