The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1859-11-22
HARPER's FERRY 1NsURREcF1oE.
Close of tie Trials-iSentence Of Cook, Coppte,
Copeland and Green.

10 q close AFTER SeSSlOu three HechS, hHiCu HdS
occupied exclusively in the trial of the Harper's
i Ferry consprators. The term will long be remem-
bered as the most interesting ever held here, five
men having been tried and found guilty of the
highest crimes known to our laws.
The convicts, Cook, Coppie, Copeland and Green
were brought out to receive the sentence of Judge
!. Parker The court room was crowded, and the
tanxietv to get another view of the prisoners was
great They were brought into court by the dep
utes and placed in the bar, in range Of chairs
facing the Judge. Near Cook was seated Gov.
Willard aad Mr. Crowley, both of whom seemed
bending beneath the weight of sorrow this affair
has cast ever them and their families.
Remarks Of the Prisoners-The prisoners were
then directed to stand up and asked if they had
anything to say Why sentence should not be passed
upon then. Cook aud Coppie then proceeded to
deliver short addresses, the former being somewhat
vchemen in his manner Of speaking, whilst the
latter made firm impression by his great and col
lective style of delivery. Both protested their ig
norancc of the attack on Harpers Ferry, until the
Sabbath before the night of the attack, when they
were called on to to obey the orders Of their
commander Brown. Coppie stated that he knew
he should be punished tor his foolhardy attempt,
but he thought it should have been lighter than
had been adjudgcd. The negroes declined saying
anything.
Sentence Of the Prisoners.-Judge Parker then
proceeded to deliver the sentence the prisoners,
which was received by them with great frmness.
The sentence was that John f.. Cook, Edwin Cop
pic, Shields Green and John Copeland: Your tri
ais, OH which we have been so long employed, have
at length ended, and all that remains to be done to
complete these judicial proceedings, is to pronounce
and record the jud gmeRts which by law must fol-
low upon the crimes for which you have been tried,
and Of which you have been found guilty.
These crimes have all grown out of a mad inroad
upon this State, made with the predetermined pur-
pose to raise in midst the standard of servile
nsurrection In the execution Of this purpose, in
the darkness of Sabbath night, you seized upon a
portion of our territory, captured several of our
best citizens-holding them as hostages of war
til your party was itself overcome by forcc-armed
such of our slaves you could seize upon with
deadly weapons, which they were to against
their owners, whom you denounced to them as their
oppressors; and, in your efforts to push your bold
and unholy scheme through to a successful issue,
YOU have taken human life in no fewer than five
instances. The evidence most abundantly proved
that all these things had been done, and by the
force of that evidence jury after jury has felt itself
compelled to bring in its verdict Of guilty against
each one of you.
Happily for the peace of our whole land, you OBJ
tanned no support from that quarter whence you so
confidently expected it, Not slave united him
self to your party but he could get with
out the range of your rifles, or as night gave him
opportunity, made his escape from men who had
come to give him freedom, and hurried to place
himself once more beneath the care and protection
Of his owner
When we reflect upon all the mischief and ruin, |
the dark and fearful crimes, which must have at
tended even your partial success-mcn everywhere
should be thankful that you were so soon and so
easily overpowered.
For these offences the law demands the penalty |
Of death, and imposes upon me tie duty of pro-
nouncing the sentence. 1t is the most painful duty
| have ever been called on to perform.
In spite of your offences against our laws, can
not but deeply feel for you, and sncerel Y, most |
sincerely, do / sympathize with those friends and
relations, whose lives are bound up in yours, and
whose hearts will be so wrung when they shall |
hear of the sad fate which has overtaken you, the
objects of their warmest and hottest affections. |
For them all do sorrow; whilst due regard for
safety may not permit to forgive the offences
of which you have been guilty, | hope that they
will turn for consolation, and you for pardon, to
that good Being, who in his wrath remembereth |
mercy. Make then your peace with Him for you
must soon be uShered into His presence there to be
dealt with rs His justice and His mercy may ordain
10 conclude this sad duty, | announce that the !
sentence Of the law is, that you, and each Of
you, John E. Cooke, Edwin Coppie Shields Green
and John Copeland, be hanged by the neck until
you he dead-and that execution OF this Judgment |
be made and done by the Sheriff of this county, |
Friday, the sixteenth day of December next,
upon you, Shields Green and John Copeland, be- !
tween the hours of ght in the forenoon and twelve
noon, of that day-and upon you, John f. Cooke |
and Edwin Coppie, between the hours of twelve |
(ncon) and five of the same day. And the Court |
being Of the opinion that the execution of this SEN
tcnce should be in public, it is further ordered that
this judgment be enforced and executed not in the
Jail yard, but at such public place convenient |
thereto rs the said Sheriff may appont-and may
God have mercy upon the soul Of each of you
During the delivery of the sentence the utmost
silence was observed, and the solemnity was very
marked. A large number of the spectators wept !
also did the Judge.
The prisoners remandea to Jail, there to
await the execution of this Judgment.
Miscellaneous MutfcrS.-Iti is supposed that Gov
Wise will respite Brown, who is sentenced to
be hung on the I'd of December, until the day fixed
for the other executions so that the excitement at
tending the affair may all be gone through with on
the same day.
Governor Willard, Attorney General Mcdonald,
Mr. Verhces and Mr. G. Crowley, left for Washing
ton city, and it is supposed will also visit Rich
mOnd, for the purpose Of consulting with Governor
Wise. The feeling here now in favor of Cooke is
very great, and a communication of punishment to
Imprisonment, would give great satisfaction to a
large majority of the thinking portion of the COM
munity.
There was considerable excitement in town yes
terday morning, in consequence of the burning of
fhn ,,PTI