Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1859-12-23
EXECUTION OF
COOK COPPIE, GREEN 81 COPELAND.


ATTEMPTED ESCAPE OF COOK AND coPp1E.
CHAmEsrowS, Va. Dec. l6-An was quiet until
eight o'clock last evening" when the town was thrown
into commotion by the report Of rife under me ail
WALL followed by several other shots from the vicinity Of
the guard house, In close proximity TO the ail The
military were called to arms, and the excitement was in.
lense-oeyoud anything that has yet occurred In few
rumors Of every description aAoa and IL was dan
gerous for citizen ~ to ascertain the cause n
me excitement This morning the community was carly
"sp the anxiety to obtain true version Of the exciting
events Of last night causing the streets TO be hronged al
an carly hour.
PARTICULARS or THE ATTEMPTED Escape
The sentinel stationed near the jail reported that at
quarter past eight O'Clock he observed on the ia
wall He challenged him. and receiving no answer fred
at nm. Another head also seen above the wall
but he reueaed as soon the first had been fired
az lhe nAu on the top OF the wall seemed first dc
tormnod a. jump down, but the sentinel declared his in
tenion Of npaing him his bayonct and he then re-
treated into the Jail yard with Coppie and both rave
themselves up without further resistance Cook afcr-
wards remarked that II be could have got over and
throttlel the guard he would have made his escane The
Shenandoah mountains within ten minutes run Of
the jail WALL and had he reached them with his thorough
knowledge Of the mountains his arrest would have been
difficult especially but few Of the military could have
fol owed him during the night
They had succeeded after weeks labor whenever
alone and at night, when the bed clothing nuaed the
euud Of the saw, which they had made ont OF an old
Barlow knife in cutting through their iron hacklcs sn
that they could pry them off any moment they should
have their other work completed They also r,adc !,
sort Of chise out OF old bed screw with which they
succeeded opportunity would offer la removing th,
plaster from The wall, and then brick after brick until
space sufficient for them TO pass through opened
the removal of the outer brick The part N tho cell i'm
Wheh ihcy slept and the bed being pushed against the
wall completely hid their work from view The bricks
he} TOOK out were concealed in the drum Of stove and
the dirt and plaster removed in the course Of their work
was placed between the bed clothing. They acknovl-
edge that they had been work for whole week in
making the aperture in the wall.
Their cell being on the first floor the aperture was not
more man hve iee above me pavement Of the yard aud
quite easy. Here, however, was a smooth brick wall
about fifteen feet high to scale This difficulty however
was soon overcome with the MD Of the tmbcrs Of the
seahold on which Capt Brown was hung and which was
intended also for their execution. The, placed
these against the wall, and succeeded in reaching
the top, from which they could have easily droppcd Ia
the other side had not The VIGILANCE Of he scntine nm
I duty 50 quickly checked their movements
lhey were arrested IN the jail yard by General Italia
Zero and the officer Of the day. who rushed 10 the a The
moment the alarm was given. Gen. Talafero. imme-
diatey telegraphed to GOV. WISE informing him of the
rus4tea attempt OF the prisoners He, Ia his answer.
directed thn he military should Immediately take pos.
session o the interior Of the jail and guard the
until they were executed. sheriff Campbell and Cant
Of the prisoners especially as they had resisted an
interference Of the military with the interior Of the Jail
The prisoners we're shrewd and cunning fellows win
out any accompces in their undertaking Their friends
who were still here fearful that they might be
pected Of knowledge Of their attempt The general
opinion is that If they had waited till midnight OF later
they might have reached the mountains but Is presuu-
ed they fearful Of being watched during the
or desired TO have as much possible Of the darkness
TO gain good distance before daylight would allow
general pursuit
EXECUTION or oRBEN AND COPELAND.
Az hapast ten, Green and Copeland were prepared to
~ l, AZ ,s VI 'As'u,loh inc crowd was very great,
/ Row; ,,i 40 numerous aS on the occasion OF
A. a ons,,or III n a., t.
i,i door gS - ~, BsoheIs appeared at me
c" arms plnohed. lhey were helped into the wagon,
~ n, mn sJs's on 'her coihns without scarcely
/ A, -, -; ~ ~, W ~ t'lt'
,h sS 1 oeloIe eleven the procession entered
~ sL, hu Ilo prisoners cast shudderng glance al
-, rs, so ~ IN Wo minutes more, the wagon stopped
eailo,vS MIN az sso"s, ne prisoners mounted the
ropes axed around hey pecs Sasr h Sio and the
his neck being broken by the fall and the motion Of M.
UUuS was Ssd very sSSt GSpSGnd seemed to suffer
several minutes O' "'''''' !" violent 'on'oions for