The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1859-12-17

n hope of salvation in the world to come.
Cook and Coppie were the loadest in
their professions of change Of heart, and
in the hope of Divine forgiveness. They
freely acknowledged their guilt and that
their doom was just one, and that in the
main they have been treated wirh the
utmost kindness by all, though they
thought that some Of the witnesses were
rather harsh in their testimony The min
listers said they thought they had discovered
a favorable change in the condition of Cooks
mind since his interview with his sister, Up
to that time his calmnes5 and bravery
were regarded as proceeding from a lack
Of feeling, but on leaving him yesterday
afternoon they reported that he had been
led to seek forgiveness.
In his protestatiOns of religious couvlc-
ton and hopes of forgiveness-all OF which
was undoubtedly to hoodwink their pro-
iect of escape. Cook has been visited
throughout his Imprisonment by the Rev.
n. Green North, at the request Of the pris-
oner, as also by Cows. Wise and Willard.
The Rev. Mr.. North was present at an IN
terview between Coppic and Mr.. Butler,
Quaker gentleman from Ohio, who raised
the prisoner. He described the interview
rs an affecting one, and speaks highly OF
Mr.. Buffers Christian department and adj
vice to the prisoner.
Mr.. Butler says Copplc was trusty but
very wiltul boy.
An uncle of CoppIc from Ohio, his faith
er's brother, also visited him yesterday, the
interview lasting over an hour. He seemed in
much distress at the sad fate which awaits his
relative. This was the condition of the town,
the prisoner and the military up to o'clock
last evening. All appearances of an in
tended rescue had long since vanished, and
nothing was thought of but the approach
ing execution. So firmly had this cOnvic-
ton settled on the public mind, that militia
ry duty was voted bore, and the finale of
the tragedy was regarded as at last ap-
preached.
At quarter past o'clock, last evening,
the town was thrown into commotion by
the report of a rifle under the Jail WALL fol-
lowed by several other shots from the vicin-
ity of the guard-house, in close proximity
to the Jail. The military was called to
arms.
After the fruitless attempt to escape last
night, their assumed composure and appa-
parent resignation had given way todespair,
and they now looked at their fate with the
full conviction Of its awful certainty. They
were reserved and rather quiet, but joined
with fcrvor in the religious ccremoni q
CO. 'ucted by Revs. North and Waugh
Wien called upon by the Sheriff, they
stood calm and quietly whilst their arms
were being pinioned; and after bidding
farewell 20 the guards, were helped into the
wagons aud took seats on their Collins
Their appearance was rather that of hopeless
despair than Of resignation, and they seemed
10 take no notice OF anything as the process
sion slowly moved to the field Of DEATH
The wagon reached the scaIold at > minutes
before one o'clock, and the prisoners ascend
ed the scailold with n determined frmncss
scarcely surpassed by that Of Capt Brown.
A brief prayer was then Offered un by one
of the clergymes, the ropes were adjusted,
The caps drawn over their heads, and both
were launched into eternity in seven minutes
sitter they asccrdcd the gaIlows.
They both exhibited most unhinching firm
ness, saying nothing, with the exception OF
bidding farewell to jhe ministers and Shcr-
! H. After the rope was adjusted about
| possible, which was also repeated 10y Coppic.
| After hanging about 80 minutes, both bod
| les were taken down and placed in black
| walnut collins. Cooks coffin was placed in
! q poplar box, and labeled and directed rs
/ follows:
"Ashbcl P. Willard and Robert Crowley,
1O4 William street, care OF Adams Express,
| New York"
| The coffin Of. Coppic was placed in SINH
lar box, to lie forwarded to his mother in
Iowa.