Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1859-12-22
The E,cape and Execution.


sentinels and driven back to prison. They are
now in the custody Of Sheriff Campbell The
prisoners had uouated the Jail wall when they
we're discovered BY the sentinel on the outside
who Immediately gave the alarm and fired upon
them. They had sawed their manacles assun-
der with the blade of Barlow knife which they
had concealed and made into fine saw, 1t is
ascertained from their confessions that they
have been engaged IN preparing for their escape
during the last ten days. They made hole in
the wall near the window. which they conceal
ed with paper, hiding the bricks they removed
under the bed Upon the7alarm being given
thew made no resistance, but surrendered as
soon as they discovered by the shot of the sem
tipeI. that they were detected The event has
produced the utmost excitement here, and all
are on the alert Major Gen. Taliaferro is di-
recting everything in person, and will maintain
an uninterrupted supervision of affairs until af-
ter the execution. We do not apprehend any
further difficulty.
LArEa.-The prisoners say they got the
sbaekles off their feet by saving them with an
old knife, and they forced the bars.
A misunderstanding occurred several days
ago between Gen Taliafero and the jailer, in re-
gard to placing sentinels inside the Jail. The
tailor claimed the right to have his own men,
The General gave way to him, but placed a
guard on the outside which has thus prevented
the escape of the prisoners Cook says he could
have made his escape had hejumped down and
throttled the sentinel.
5CHARLrsrowx, Dec. I6.
We have had an exciting time during the past
| twenty -four hours, which has Just losed with
| the execution of the four prisoners.
Throughout the day and yesterday there
was great influx of strangers and citizens of
the country, who were focking to witness the
last act of the Harpor's Ferry tragedy. The lat
ter came thus, early apprehending that they
might be detained at the outpests, as was the
case the day of Browns execution.
The vigilance exercised at the railroad depot
on the arrival of train was not SO stringent as
on the execution of Brown, and but little diff
Guilty was experienced in getting into the town.
Shortly after the arrival of the train in the af
ternoon, grand military dress parade of all the
companies in attendance took place. The troops
went through their evolutions with great skill
and were reviewed by General Taliaferro, who
was on the ground in full dress, and mounted
on a spirited charger. ~.
The prisoners were visited yesterday after
noon by the Rev. Messrs Nassau Dutton and
North of the Presbyterian Church, and Rev
Beverly Waugh of the Methodist Church.
The services in the cells were of an interest
ing as solemn character; and were participated
in by all the Condemned. though it is now evi
Coppic at least were playing possum. as their
minds must have been fixed on hopes of life and
liberty rather than death and eternity. at the
| time they were making outward protestations
ofresignation. They all gave an unqualified
assent to the conviction of religious truth, and
each expressed hope of salvation in the world
| to come,
Coppic and Cook were the loudest in their
professions of change Of heart, and in the hope
of divine forgiveness they freely admitted their
| guilt and acknowledged their doom as Just
one, and that in the main they have been treat
ed with the utmost kindness by all, though they
thuoght that some Of the witnesses were rather
harsh in their testimony. ii
| The ministers imagined that they had dis
covered decidedly favorable change in the con-
dition of Cooks mind since his interview with
his sisters. Up TO that time his calmness and
bravery were regarded as proceeding from lack
of feeling all ofwhich was undoubtedly intend
ed to hoodwink their project of escape.
| Cook has been visited throughout the impris-
onment by the Rev. G. North at the request of
the prisoner, as also of Gov, Wise and Willard,
Rev. Mr.. North was present at an interview be-
tween Coppic and Mr.. Butler, Quaker gentle
man from Ohio, who raised the prisoner. He
describes it as very affecting one.
An uncle of Codpic, of the same name, from
Ohio, also visited him. He seemed deeply dis
tressed at the sad fate which awaits his rela-
| ton.
All apprehensions of an intended rescue had
long since been banished.
At a quarter past eight o'clock last evening
the whole town was thrown into cornmotion by
the report of rifle under the Jail, followed by
several other shots in the vicinity of the guard
house. The military was called to arms, and
the excitement was intense. The streets and
avenues of the town were in possession of armed
men, and it was with some difficulty that the
cause of all this turmoil could be ascertained.
Rumors OF every description we're afoat. 1t
was at one time thought that the prisoners had
overpowered their guards, and made their es-
cape, and then that an attack had been made on
the Jail by parties attempting toreseue the pris-
oners. g.. fa-g5fpgei - q 7
The bodies of the negroes, after being cut
down, were placed in poplar eoffins and carried
back to the Jail. They will be entered to-mor-
row, on the spot where the gallows stands,
though there is party of medical students here
from Winchester, who will doubtless not allow
them to remain there long.
+ EXECUTION OF Cook AND CoPPIo.@The bodies
of the negro prisoners having been brought
back TO the jail at about quarter to II this FORE
noon, notice was given to Cook and Coppic that
| their time was approaching, only one hour more
/ being allowed them. The military movements,
similar to those at the first execution, were re-
peated, and a wagon with two more collins was
standing at the door of the Jail. At half-past
II O'Clock the same military escort was in readi-
ness. Meantime the closing religious ceremo-
nies were progressing in the cell Since the
failure of Cook and Coppie to escape last night.
their assumed composure and apparent resigna-
ton had given way, and they now looked at the
reality of their fate with the full conviction of its
awful certainty. They were reserved and rath-
er quet. and joined with fervor in, the religious
| ceremonies conducted by the Rev. Messrs. Le-
per, North and Waugh When called upon by
the sheriff they stood. calm and quietly whilst
there arms were being pinioned, and after bid
ding farewell to the guards Of the Jail, were
| helped into the wagon and took seats on the cof-
fins. Their appearance.was rathert that Of hope
less despair than Of resignation. They seemed
to take but little notice of anything, as the pro-
cession moved slowly on to the field of death
The wagon reached the scaffold at 13 minutes
before o'clock, and the prisoners assembled
with a determined firmness, scarcely surpassed
/ by that of Capt. Brown. -u... -. %
! A brief prayer was offered by one of the
clergy, the ropes were adjusted, the caps drawn
over their heads and both were launched into
eternity in seven minutes after they assembled
hegallows. They both exhibited the most un-
| finching frmness saying nothing with the ex-,
ception Of bidding farewell to the ministers and
sheriff, After the rope was adjusted about
Cook'sneck he exclaimed Be quick, as quick
as possible" After hanging 30 minutes both
bodies were taken down and placed in black
walnut coff as enclosed in poplar boxes. That
of Cooks was labelled as follows: "Ashbell P.
Willard and Robt. Cawley, l04 William street,
N. Y, care Adams Express" Goppic is to be
] forwarded TO his mother in Iowa.