Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-12-20

menS, elmifsf 70 tnoee ~ tne mrs. exeouttou, wiz
repeated. and the wagon with two more conn,
was standing At the door At halfpAsttwelve. TIL
same military escort was in readiness, whtst thu
closing religious ceremonies wers pfoeresanE IN
the cell Of the prisoners. Since ~ failure ol
their attempt 70 escape ~ night. tksir assumed
composurs and apparent resignation had given
way. and they now looked at the reality Of their
fate With . fall eonyiction Of is awful certainty;
Tkey were reserved and rather quiet, but joined
with fsrvor in the religious ceremonies conduct
edcy Messfs. North. Lehr, and Waugh. .
When called upon By The Sheriff they stood
calm snd Quietly whilst their arms were being
piaioned; and altar bidding farewell 10 the guards
Of the jail moved through the corridor to the door,
and were helped into the wagon and took their
Their Of hopeless despair. than OF resignation, and
they seemed 10 take iittle notice Of anything IS
the procession slowly moved on 10 the field Of
death.
The wagon reached the sca6old 1t thirteen min.
utes before ono o'clock, and the prisoners ascend
cd with q determined frmness that was scarcely
surpassed by that Of Captain Brown.
c~lergymen, the rope adjusted. the cap drawn, and
both were launched into eternity In seven minutes
after they assembled the scsaold. They both ex-
hibited the most unninching frmness, saying no
thing, with the exception Of bidding farewell TO
the ministers and the sheriff. After the rope was
adjusted Cook exclaimed. BE quick-as quick as
possible" which was also repeated by Coppic.
were taken down and placed in the black walnut
collins prepared for them. That Of Cook was
placed In q poplar box. labeled and directed as
follows" Ashbell p. Willard and Robert Crow.
ley, l04 William street, New York, care Adams
Express" Coppic's body was placed in q similar
box. TO be forwarded to bis mother in Iowa.
Emerging from thu jail, Cook recognized scvo-
raj gentlemen. and bowed politely. to them.
On the gAllows they shook hands and bid each
other goodbye. Ater the caps were drawn Cook
said, Stop . minute, whore 10 Edwin's handf"
Cook said, "God bless you" and Coppio said In q
loud tone. B quick - possible."
Copies genteel appearance was the subject Of
general remark. The calm aud collected manner
Of both was very remarkable.
On approaching the sca6old, Cook shook hands
with . large number Of persons. and bowed polite.
" TO Major Green. When be pat his foot on the
trap he glanced up .. the book in which the moose
was hung.
Cook would have spoken from tho scnfold II
permitted. On their way 10 the scafold tho only
remarks made by Cook and Coppie were in rcla-
tion TO the ATTEMPT TO escape. They made an
apology for any reelection that might attach to
them through their conduct.
One Of the ministers who attended on the priso-
ners informs me that neither Cook or Cippio ever
made any direct profession Of religion. Coppic
was Of Quaker descent, and Cook was Congrega-
tionalist in sentiment. Both, however, seemed
hopeful, and the ministers exhortation to them on
the scsfold was 10 put their trust IN the redeem
ing blood Of Christ. The prayer Of tho Rov. Mr..
North was appropriate, and was the only service
on the scafold.
LATTER OF REGULATION.
The following letter was handed to mt this eve
ming. 1t is written in q beautiful style of pen
manship. and is n curiosity coming from a man
was in q few hours to sufcr death:
CHARLKsrowN, Dec. 10. 1889.
Having been caAed upon to make q fair state
ment in regard 10 the ways and means of our
jail, l have agreed to do so from a sense
Of duty to the Sheriff OF the county, our jailor, and
the jail guard. We do not wish that any one
should be unjustly oensured on our account. The
implements with which we opened q
passage through the wall Of the Jail were a barlow
knife and . screw, which we took out Of the bed.
stead.
The knife was borrowed from ono of the jail
guards TO cut q lemon with. We did not return
i to him. He had no idea Of any intention on
bur part to break out. neither did the sheriff, Jail
plans.
We received no aid from any person or per-
sons whatever. We had, as we supposed, remoy-
ed all the brick but the last tier, several days
ago, but on the evening previous to our break.
ing out, we found our mistake in regard to that
matter.
We had intended 10 60 out on the evening that
my sister and brother-inlaw were here, but |
knew that it would reflect on them, and W post
poned it-but ] urged Coppic to 90 and l would
remain, but he refused. We then conclude cd to
wait.
got a knife blade from Shields Green and with
that made some teeth in the barlow knife. with
which we sawed of our shackles. We had them
all of the night previous to our getting out. Cop
pic went OFT frst aud | followed. We ID n got up
IN the wall, when / was discovered and shot ut.
The guard outside the wall Immediately camc up
o the wall.
We saw there was no chance TO eseape, and as
it was discovered that we had broken Jail, wo
walked in deliberately and gave ourselves up to
the Sheriff, Captain Avis aud the Jail guard
There was no person or persons who aided us in
our escape. This is true. so help us God.
Signed, JouN L. Cook,
EDWIN Copplc.
There viii be about four hundred troops kent
here for several weeks.
AGES OF THE PRISONERS.
John +. Cook was 90 years Of age having been
born in Hoddam Conn, in the year 1880. lie
was about 8 feet q iaehes high, with light hair
and fair complexion.
Edwin Coppic was born in Columbia county o.
hio. and was "a years Of age five feet nine inches
high brown hair and dark complexion. lie had n
stupid look but vas undoubtedly Of good intel.
lcct.
Shields Green Was quite . black negro and
but % years Of age. He was born in Rocheste,
New York lie had rather q good countcnance ant
q sharp Intelligent look.
John Copeland was q bright mulatto with bus
by bead and rather straigt hair. lie was "a year,
Of age, and looking younger than Green.
Stevens and Haslitt will not be tried until tn
May term Of the Conrt.
IL 10 understood there will be . civic guars
kept under arms but that the military force NO,
here will be Immediately dispersed.
The Military are In fne spirits this evening q
the prospects ofan early return 70 their homes
and our ~cisiSens are.reioioingi in that civic authorit
will in future h the ruling power Of our usuall
quiet town.
Yours. &c. II. D. B.