The Trial of John Brown
Jefferson County Courthouse
— Prelude to War —
One of the most famous trials in American history was held in this building in 1859, when John Brown and his followers faced charges of treason against Virginia, inciting slaves to rebel, and murder. Judge Richard Parker presided.
The trial began on October 25, a week after the raiders were captured, and ended on November 2. Those tried then and later included Brown, John Cook, John Copeland, Shields Green, Edwin Coppic, Albert Hazlett, and Aaron Stevens. Col. Lewis W. Washington, kidnapped by Brown's men from his home, Beallair, and held hostage, was a principal witness for the prosecution. The jury convicted Brown in forty-five minutes. Brown addressed the court, saying, "If it is deemed necessary that I should forfeit my life for the furtherance of the ends of justice, and mingle my blood further with the blood of my children and with the blood of millions in this slave country whose rights are disregarded by wicked, cruel, and unjust enactments, I submit; so let it be done!" He and his men were hanged nearby on December 2 and December 16, 1859, and March 16, 1860.
On October 18, 1863, Confederate Gen. John D. Imboden attacked Union Col. Benjamin Simpson's Charles Town garrison. Simpson and his infantry took shelter in the courthouse, which Imboden shelled after his surrender demand was refused. The garrison fled, was
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[Text in yellow box reads] The first courthouse here, a two-story building with a cupola but no columns, was completed in 1803. The present Greek Revival-style courthouse replaced it in 1836. The courtroom was on the ground floor, and the judge and court officials sat on an elevated platform behind a railing. The county seat moved to Shepherdstown in 1865 because of wartime damage to the courthouse. It returned to Charles Town in 1872 after the building was repaired. The walls were heightened, a broad cornice was added below the roofline, the bell tower was enlarged, and the clock was added. A new courtroom was created on the second floor. In 1922, leaders of the United Mine Workers were tried here for treason against West Virginia for the coal miners' war (Battle of Blair Mountain). Union leader Bill Blizzard and several others were acquitted. Trials for treason against two states thus were held in this courthouse.
Erected by West Virginia Civil War Trails.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • Disasters •
Location. 39° 17.357′ N, 77° 51.594′ W. Marker is in Charles Town, West Virginia, in Jefferson County. Marker is at the intersection of George Street (West Virginia Route 115) and Washington Street (West Virginia Route 51), on the right when traveling north on George Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 East Washington Street, Charles Town WV 25414, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Jefferson County World War II Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Jefferson County Courthouse (a few steps from this marker); John Yates (a few steps from this marker); Explore the Washington Heritage Trail / Afoot in Historic Charles Town (a few steps from this marker); Charles Washington's Town (a few steps from this marker); Two Treason Trials (a few steps from this marker); Colonel Charles Washington (a few steps from this marker); New Central Restaurant (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Charles Town.
Also see . . .
1. The Trial of John Brown, 1859
2. Witnesses and Testimony at the Trial of John Brown. (Submitted on May 15, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
3. Life, Trial and Execution of Captain John Brown; 1859. (Submitted on May 15, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
4. The Time Trial of John Brown (Smithsonian Lesson Plan). (Submitted on May 15, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Credits. This page was last revised on April 5, 2021. It was originally submitted on May 15, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 627 times since then and 24 times this year. Last updated on April 5, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 15, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 3. submitted on April 5, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
