How the actions of Governor Wise and the State of Virginia in the case of John Brown can easily be justified. After months of planning, John Brown and his twenty-one "soldiers"; marched into the strategically located town of Harpers Ferry with the goal of starting a slave revolt that would lead to the abolition of the institution of slavery. Within a few hours Brown and his followers took several hostages and took control of the armory, arsenal, and engine room. The following days were characterized by skirmishes with the townspeople and the arrival of the United States Marines. After a brief confrontation the Marines easily captured Brown and his few surviving followers. On October 27, John Brown's trail began. Just five days later the trial concluded quickly, with the jury finding Brown guilty on all charges. Two days later Brown was sentenced to death. His execution took place exactly one month later, on December 2. Clearly, Governor Wise and the state of Virginia acted justly and fairly when they tried John Brown and executed him for his actions at Harpers Ferry. John Brown was born on May 9, 1800 in Torrington, Connecticut. When he was about five years old, his father moved the family to Hudson, Ohio. There, John was filled with the strong anti-slavery sentiment that was present in that area. This, combined with personal observations about the mistreatment of blacks and the influence of Calvinism, set John Brown on his crusade to abolish slavery. While still living in Hudson he married Dianthe Lusk and began raising a large family. To support his family he worked as a farmer, tanner and surveyor. In 1849, John Brown moved with his second wife Mary Ann Day and their seven children to the North Island. He intended to help free blacks living in Garrit Smith's colony, nicknamed "Timbucto," adapt to the hardships of farming in the Adirondacks. After realizing the impossibility of this task, John left and followed the abolitionist movement to Kansas where five of his sons were already stationed. Here in Kansas, Brown continually struggled to become financially secure, but earned “a reputation as a fierce opponent of slavery”; (John Brown's Raid). This reputation was greatly enhanced when Brown and his sons led a brutal mission against the pro-slavery population, which resulted in the mutilation and murder of five innocent pro-slavery settlers. After remaining in Kansas for a while longer, Brown returned to the North where he gave numerous speeches and fundraising meetings based on the abolition of slavery..