Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1859-12-22
FROM the Baltimore Su,
Execution of Green mud Cour,, "u

From the Baltimore Sun
Execution of Green and CoupInnd
At halfpast 10 o'clock, Gen. 1aiaferro vitl :,
staff, numbering about twenty-five officers haying us
orders to prepare the two negro prisoners Shia gwen
and John COPELAND, for execution took their 6een
to join the main body of the troops on the field T
military then formed hollow square around tho iH lne
the open Wagon containing the collins of ba J and
drew up in front of the door, with carriage r.
Sheriff Cambel and his deputies. convey
The crowd OF citizens and strangers was varr 49,
at leas five times numerous the occss o.ed',
Browns execution most of whom were aIraad n OF
field, whilst others waited to see the prisoners e
The religious ceremonies in the cell of the prisone
very impressive, and were conducted by Rev Mr. %ie
Presbyterian and Rev. Beverly Waugh of tho NJ ILL.,
Church. NJ H.
At quarter before IL o'clock the prisoners ooo..
panied by the sheriff and Rev. Mr. North anoo "oV9ul
the Jail door, and with their pinoned mnyoI aI
" forward towards the vehicle in waiting for tbor
They seemed dOwncast and wore none of that col
cheerful spirit evinced by Brown under similar c; "u
stances. They were helped into the wagon, and ,a
their seats on the coffin without looking the rgbt on
left. The escort now commenced to move and tI
wagon closely thanked on either side by a comnl
OF riflemen, marching double-fle, III lock sttp F"'
At seven minutes before eleven O'Clock the nrocoosi
entered the field, occupied by the military and the i
oners took shudderiug glance towards the galnws
erected the rising ground in its centre Ia two m
us more the wagon stopped at the foot Of the gaIIow
and whilst the prisoners were alghting the compani
forming the escort moved off to the positions ASSUMED
them on the field. GU
The prisoners mounted tie scafo!d with firm stems
and were Immediately joined by Sheriff CampbrIl and
Rev. Mr.. North After brief PRAYER bv the car%r
man the caps were drawn the heads of tie prisoners
and the ropes affixed around their necks Durno the
few moments they thus stood, Copeland remained Quiet
but Green was engaged in earnest prayer up to the
moment the trap was drawn and they were launched
into eternity.
Green died very easy, his neck being broken by the
fall ard the motion of the body very slight Cope
land seemed to suffer very much, and his body wr6ed
IN violent contortons for several minutes.
They were accompanied on the gaows by Revs
Messrs. Waugh, North and Lehr, to WHOM they bid an
afectonate farewell and expressed the hope of meeting
them in heaven.
The bodies placed in the poplar collins provided
for them and carried back to the jail They will be IN
TERED tomorrow on the spot where the galows stands
though there is party of medical students here from
nchester, who will doubtless not allow them to remain
/ there long.
Inc negroes did not say much in regard to their fate
and devoted all their time to prayer. COPELAND would
have spoken on the scaffod had he been permitted.
EXECUTION OF COOK AND ccpp1E
The bodies of the two negro prisoners having been
brought back to the Jail at about quarter to twelve
O'clock notice given to Cook and Coppe that the
time was approaching, only one hour being allowed
them The military movements, similar to those the
more collins standing at the door at hall past twelve
O'Clock. The same military escort in readiness
whilst the closing religious ceremonies progressing
In the cell OF the prisoners Since the failure OF ter
attempt to escape, last night their assumed cOmposue
and apparent resignation had given Nav and they nor
looked at the reality OF their fate with full conviction
OF Its awful certainty. They reserved and rather
quiet but joined with fervor in the religious ceremonies
conducted by Messrs North, Lehr and Waugh
When called upon by the sheriff, they stood calm and
IfSI1In tlI7 vxhj1
bidding farewell to the guards of the JAIL moved through
the corridor to the door, and were helped into the wagon
and took their seats their collins. Their appearance
was rather of hopeless despair than of resignation and
they seemed to take but little notice of anything as the
procession slowly moved to the field of death
A blue cloth lalma thrown over the shoulders of
COpple, and dark one the shoulders Of Cook
Before leaving his cell Coppe gave old souch hat to
Quaker gentleman from Ohio, stating that the dark
one about to be put on him present from Gov.
Willard
During these proceedings Coppie was struggling to
hide his feelings and Cook striving to be calm and
collected The Quaker gentleman remarked 1t is hard
to de- to which COppe responded" 1t is the parting
from friends and not the dread of death that moves US
On the way down stairs they allowed to proceed
to the cell OF Stevens and Hazett, and bid them fare
well. They shook hands cordially, and Cook said to
Stevens, :" My friend, good Bye Stevens replied,
Good bye! cheer up give my love to my friends in
the other world" CoppIe then made remark to Size.
vens which was not overheard, to which he replied
" Never mind" Both then shook hands with Hazett,
and babe him good bye but did not call him by name,
or show any personal recognition Of each other
Emerging from the Jail, Cook recognized several gen
temen, and bowed politely to them.
On approaching the scafold Cook shook hands with
large number of persons and bowed politely to Mayor
Green. When he put his foot on the trap he glanced
up at the hook which the moose was hung.
The wagon reached the scaffod at thirteen minutes
before one O'Clock, and the prisoners assembled with
frmness that was scarcely surpassed by that of Capt
Brown.
On the gallows they shook hands and bid each other
good bye after the caps drawn Cook said stop
minute, where is Edwins hand" Cook said God bless
you and Coppc said in loud tone, be quick as pos,
sibe." Copies geneel appearance the subject Of
general remark The calm and collected manner OF both
was very remarkable
A bref prayer was offered up by one of the clergy
men, the rope adjusted, the cap drawn and both were
launched into eternity in seven minutes after they as
cended the galows. They both exhibited the most M
1nching tFmness, saying nothing except bidding IaTe
well to the ministers and the sheriff After the rope
was adjusted, Cook exclaimed" Be quck-as quick
as possible, which was also repeated by COpplc.
Alter hanging about thirty minutes both bodies were
cut down and placed in the black walnut collins prepared
for them. That of Cook was placed in poplar box
labelled and directed follows " Ashbell r Willard
and Robert Cowley, 104 lliam street, New 0rk
care OF Adams Express. Coppe's body was placed IL
u similar box, to be forwarded to his mother, IN Iowa
Cook would have spoken from the scafod 1t permlttel
On their way to the scaf I'D the only remarks made o
Cook and Coppe in relation to the attempt to e.
cape They made an ap 'logy for any reflection na'
might attach to them through their conduct.
One of the ministers who attended on the prisoners
informs me that neither Cook COppie ever made any
direct profession of religion. Coppe was OF Quaker
descent and Cook Congr gationalist in sentiment
Both however, seemed h' peul and the minister ez
hortation the scaOld as put their trust IN me
,edeeming blood of Christ. he prayer of the Rev