The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1859-12-21

Virginia Tragedy 1t is TO be hoped
that Moloch will be appeased for little
time, and somethin else than John
Browns Invasion receive attention,
Cook and Coppie it seems had one
bright clean of lite and libe' " before
their doom was sealed, as will he seen by
the following.
PARTICULARS OF THE ATTEMPTED ESCAPE
The sentinel stationed near tn. Jail re-.
ported that at quarter past eight o'clock
he observed a man on the Jail wall He
challenged him, and receiving no answer
fred at him, Another head was also
seen above the wall, but he retreated as
soon as the first one had been fred at.
The man on the top of the wall seemed at
first determined to jump down, but the
sentinel declared his intentions of impal-
ing him on his bayonet and he then re-
treated into the Jail yard with Coppie,
and both gave themselves up without fur
Their resistance. Cook afterwards remark
ed that if he could have got over and
throttled the guard he would have made
his escape, The Shenandoah mountains
are within ten minutes run of the Jail
wall, and had he reached them, with his
thorough knowledge of the mountains, his
arrest wouldIhave been difficult, especially
as but few of the military could have fol-
lowed him during the night.
They had succeeded, after two weeks
labor whenever alone and at night, when
the bed clothing muftled the sound of the
saw, which they had made out of an old
Barlow knife, in cutting through their
iron shackes so that they could pry them
of at any momeDt they should have their
other work completed. They also made
a sort Of chisel out of an old bed screw,
with which they succeeded, as opportunity
would offer, in removing the plaster from
the wall, and then brick after brick until
space sufficient for them to pass through
was opened to the removal of the outer
brick. The part of the cell in which they
slept, and the bed being pushed against
the wall, completely hid their work from
view. The bricks they 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 acknowledge that they
had been at work for a whole week in
making the aperture in the wall.
Their cell being on the first floor, the
aperture was not more than FIVE feet
above the pavement of the yard, and
when freed of their shackles their access
to the yard was quite easy. Here, how
ever was smooth brick wall about fif-
teen feet high to scale. This difficulty,
however was soon overcome with the aid
of the timbers of the scaffold on which
Capt. Brown was hung, and which was in
tended also for their own execution.
They placed these against the wall, and
soon succeeded in reaching the top, from
which they could have easily dropped to
the other side, had not the vigilance Of
the sentinel on duty so quickly checked
their movements.
They were arrested in the jail yard by
General Taliafero and the officer of the
day, who rushed to the Jail the moment
the alarm was given. Gen. Taliafero i'm
mediately telegraphed to Gov. Wise, in
forming him of the frustrated attempt of
the prisoners. He, in his answer, direc-
ted that the military should Immediately
take possession Of the interior of the jail
and guard the prisoners until they were
executed. Sheriff Campbell and Capt.
Avis are, of course, much chagrined at
this narrow escape of the prisoners, espe-
cially as they had resisted all interfer-
ence Of the military with the interior of
the jail
The prisoners we're shrewd and cunning
fellows, without any accompices in their
undertaking. Their friends who we're
still here were fearful that they might be
suspected of knowledge of their attempt.
The general opinion is that if they had
waited till midnight or later, they might
have reached the mountains, but it is pre-
sumed they we're fearful of being watched
during the night, or desired to have as
much as possible of the darkness to gain
good distance before daylight would al
low general pursuit.
DETAILS OF THE EXECUTION OF GREEN AND
COPELAND.
At nine o'clock the entire military force
in attendance were formed on Main street.
The companies detailed for duty around
the galloxs took up their line of march,
and at half-past nine we're in the positions
assigned them, The companies detailed
for escort duty took up their positions 10
front of the Jail, awaiting orders. At
haif-past ten Green and Copeland were
prepared to 60 to the place of execution,
The crowd was very great, at least Eve
times as numerous as on the occasion Ut
Browns execution. The religious cere.
monies in the cell were very impressive,
and were conducted by Rev Mr., North
and Rev, Mr. Waugh
At quarter before IL the prisoners
appeared at the Jail door, accompanied BY
tho Rev, Mr.. North, and with their ar ms
pinioned, moved slowly forward towards
the vehicle in waiting, They seemed
dowDcast, and wore some of that calm and
collected spirit evinced by Brown. They
were helped into the wagon, and took their
seats on their collins without scarcely
looking to the right or left The escort
moved on, and the wagon was closely
tfanked on either side by company of