Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-11-24
Interviews with the Prisoners.

During Monday the visiting military were
all allowed an Opportunity {" see the prison
ers. They were received by Captain Brown
and his fellow prisoners. with much cor
duality, although Brown remarked To one
OF his Interrogators that he objected TO being
made Il mJnkey-show OF. To all questions
he responded very frankly. .juSttying, of
course, his actlon IN the recent inSason.-
Cook was, as usual very gentemanly and
communicative, and spoke frankly to all
lie states that he is prepared to die: that he
would be perfectly willing TO be shot, but
that he has a horror ut being hung, as 1t
IA mode Of punishment 10 which he has always
had great repugnance. Copc and the ne
grucs had but little to say, and seemed per-
fectly resigned to their fate. The prisoner
liazlett did not impress the visiters favorably,
as he is very rough i'll his looks, and has Il
daredevil manner Of deportng himself.
The prisoners were visited by Governor
Wise and staff in the afternoon, and the IN
tervew was long aud interesting. as well rs
full aud frank on both sides. Brown was
still rs determined as ever. iustIfyins his
course. AMI rcgrertng. Il he says, the error
he committed by not letting the train pass
unmole>ted. Cook said he only intended To
assist IN the escape Of runaway slaves, and
thought the punishment allotted by the jury
too severe for the crime. Governor Wise
left them. with an INJUNCTION that they pre-
pare for their DOOM as under no circum-
stances whatever would the arm Of the Exc
cutive be iuterpused in their behalf, which
assurance did not seem To affect them III the
least. Governor Wise has assured many of
Il. I IL I'll,
the sentence of the court and rs an evidence
Of the utter hopclesSness of Executive cicm-
ency, he SAYS that the only man who stood
the least chance If mercy was Edwin Cop
PIC. and that he stood no chance NJ all.
La night, through the courtesy OF Cap
tain Avis, the jailor, | was allowed an inter
view with Old Brown. was kindly received
by him, and in Il few minutes the subject Of
slavery WAS introduced. upon which he
spoke with the greatest pleasure. lie thinks
the Virginians generous people, but ahhurs
the institution of slavery. Says lie made
the blunder in holding the engine house IN
stead of the bridge. Says he could have for
tilted each end Of the bridge with his SMALL
number of men. and would have given our
troops Il good deal Of trouble before they
would have surrendered. For this great
blunder he says he oagM 10 be ha"gsG He
informed me that he had Yesterday sold Il
Sharp's rifle to Mr. Henry Clay Ward, of
Alexandriu. He also says he has II very high
opinion of Gov Wise, his bravery and chival-
rous character. but thinks he would rather
deal with Capt Henry Clay Pate, of Kansas
renown, than the Governor. | then question
ed him in regarl to his opinion on the subject
of amalgamation, when he responded, that al
though he was opposed TO it, he would much
prefer son or daughter Of his to marry an
industrious and honest negro than IN indo-
lent and dishonest white man. He also says
he is perfectly resigned to his fate, and Is
unconscious of having committed any crime.
Gov Wise and his staff will leave this
morning for Richmond lie expresses his
intention To have thousand military here
On the day of the execution, and will issue
u proclamation requesting all good citizens
to remain at their homes on that day. IL Is
presumed that such proclamation will
have very little effect on our excited commu
nifty. Yours, Il. d. Is.