[ Autograph ] John Brown (1800 -1859 American abolitionist who became obsessed with idea of abolishing slavery by force, massacred five slavery adherents at Pottawatomie, seized the arsenal at HarpersPerry and was hanged for treason. A most intriguing and perhaps historic document, 2pp. 8in x 4in, a manuscript draft that clearly evidences the financial support of Brown by ardent abolitionist Gerrit Smith 1797-1876 , tying funds received by Brown in a circuitous manner to Smith himself. On the recto the document dated June 19, 1857 in Chicago, consists of a manuscript draft reading in part: "...For value received I promise to pay to Gerrit Smith or order Two hundred and fifty dollars on demand with interest for the use of John Brown. [Signed] E. B. Whitman' Beneath in pencil in an unknown hand is written: "June 20 1857 I hand Capt. Brown in exchangefor this my [obligation on the N. Y State Bank] for E250" On the verso in a second unknown hand is written: "E. B. Whitman of Kansas E250". Whitman headed the Free Kansas Committee seeking to retain Kansas as a free state. Beneath, Gerrit Smith has signed [the signature canceled in ink], and writes "Pay to the order of John Brown. Gerrit Smith - but without recourse, or the liabilities of an endorser". Finally, at the bottom, Brown himself writes: "Pay to the order of Gerrit Smith Esqr; without liability on my part as endorser.John Brown'. Obviously, such a convoluted transaction, particularly involving a Kansan ( Whitman) and Smith, strongly suggests a conspiracy of some sort. Only a year earlier, Brown had orchestrated the murders at Pottawatomie, and was at that time training and drilling recruits at his base of operations at Tabor, Iowa and raising funds for his Ill-fated Harpers Ferry raid two years hence. Very good.