Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1859-12-17
Executions at CharIestoWn, VA.

WIS, oSCuPlSu. sDy Tue troops, anu ut seven
minutes of II O'clock the procession made
its appearance: at IL o'clock it arrived ut
the scatfold. The prisoners were in u wa
gon accompanied by the sheriff ana iailor.
They mounted the scaflold with firm
Step;the caps were placed over their heads
by the sheriff and after appropriate prayer
by the Rev. Mr. North, of the Presbyterian
Church, they were launched Into eternity.
| Before the rope was cut, Green was heard
to offer up Il fervent prayer. Copeland
was not heard to pray.
| Green's neck was broken and he died
without struggle. Copeland writhed in
violent contortions for several minutes
The prisoners babe farewell, while on the
scatfold to the ministers Messrs. Waugh.
North and Lerk, expressing ~ hope to meet
in heaven. The drop fell at IL minutes
after IL o'clock. The bodies will be pla-
ced in the Jail for interment Tomorrow
| On the receipt of the news of the at
tempted escape of Cook and Coppic. Gov.
Wise telegraphed to Gen. Taliaiterro to
take possession of the Jail, which was ac-
cordingly done.
CHAnLEsTowS, Va, Dec. l6.-We have
had an exciting, time during the past "a
hours which has just passed. with the cx-
ecution of the four prisoners.
! Throughout the day, yesterday, there
was great influx of strangers and citizens
of the country, who were hocking in to
witness the last net of the Harper's Ferry
tragedy. The latter came thus early ap-
pretending that they might be detained at
the outposts, as was the case on the day of
Browns execution. The vigilance excr-
clsed ut the railroad depot on the arrival of
train was not so stringent as on the oc-
caslou of the execution of Brown, and but
little difficulty was experienced in getting
in town.
Shortly after the arrival of the train in
the afternoon grand military dress pa
rndc of all the companies in attendance,
took place. The troops went through
their cvolutions with great skill and were
reviewed by Gen. Talialfcrro who was on
spirited charger.
The prisoners were visited yesterday af-
teTnoon by the Revs. Nassau, Dutton and
North, of the Presbyterian church and
Rev. Beverly Waugh, of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. The services in the
cells were of an interesting and solemn
character, and were participated in by all
the condemned, though it is now evident
from subsequent events, that Cook and
Coppic at least, were playing possum, us
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 of resignation, they
| gave an unqualified assent to the cOnYic-
ton of religious truth. Each expressed
hope of salvation in the world to come
Cook and Coppic were the loudest in their
professions of q change of heart and in
the hope of divine forgiveness. They fully
admitted their guilt and acknowledged
their doom as just one, and that in the
main, they have been treated with the ut
most kindness by all, though they thought
that some of the witnesses were rather
harshin their testimony
Rev. Mr.. North was present ut an inter-
view between Coppic and Mr.. Butler, a
Quaker gentleman from Ohio, who raised
| the prisoner. He described tho interview
as an affecting one, and speaks highly of
Mr.. Buffers Christian department and adj
vice to the prisoner. Mr.. Butler says that
Coppic was trusty but very wilful boy.
An uncle of Coppic's, of the same name,
from Ohio, his fathers brother, also visit
ed him yesterday, the interview lasting for
| over an hour.
All apprchensions of an intended rescue
had long since been banished, and nothing
was thought of but the approaching exc
cution. So firmly had this conviction set
tied in the public mind, that military duty
was voted Il bore, and the finale of the
|
ed.
Atqu0rter past o'clock last evening the
whole town was thrown into connection by
tho report of rifle under the Jail walls,
followed by several other shots from the
vicinity of the guard house, in close
proximity to the Jail. The military was
called to arms, and the excitement was
intense beyond anything that has yet
occurred during our ever memorable era
of military occupation. In few minutes
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. Ru-
mors of every description were atloat, and
is was one time thought that the prisoners
had ovcrpowcred their guards and made
their escape, and then that an attack had
been made on the Jail by parties attempt
ing to rescue the prisoners.
The Shenandoah mountains are within
ten minutes run of the Jail wall and had
Cook reached them, with his thorough
knowledge of the mountains, his arrest
would have been difficult especially as but
few of the military could have followed
him during the night.
The bodies of the negroes, after being
cut down, were placed in poplar collins
and carried back to the Jail. They will be
| lHIeTEeu to-nOTFoW on inc spot Wncrc the
gallows stands, though there is party of
medical students here from Winchester,
who will doubtless not allow them to re-
main there long.
EXECUTION OF COOK AND corp1c.
The bodies of the two negro prisoners
having been brought back~to the Jail at
about /" quarter to IL O'Clock, this after
noon notice was given to Cook and Coppic
that their time was approaching, only one
hour more being allowed them. The mill
tary movements, similar to those at the
first execution, were repeated and wagon
I with two more collins was standing ut the
door of the Jail. At half past II the same
4 military escort was in readiness.