The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1859-12-22
Execution of Cook, Coppic, Green and
COpeland-.Attempted escape of Cook
and COppic.

Execution of Cook, Coppic, Green and
COpeland.-Attempted escape of Cook
and COppic.
CHARLEsTOwN, Dec. 15.-At half
past eight o'clock this evening. two of
the condemned prisoners, Cook and
Coppic, escaped from the Jail and were
fired upon by the sentinel and driven
back to prison. They are now in the
custody of Sheriff Campbell. The
prisoners had mounted the Jail wall
when they were discovered by the SEN
tinel outside, who Immediately gave
the alarm and fired upon them. They
had sawed their manacles asunder with
the blade of barlow knife which they
had concealed and made into fine
saw.
1t is assertained from their comics
sion that they have been engaged in
preparing for their escape the last 10
days. They made hole in the wall
near the window, which they concealed
with paper, hiding the bricks they
removed under the bed. Upon the
alarm being given they made no resist
ance but surrendered as soon as they
discovered by the shot of the sentinel
that they were detected. The event
has produced the utmost excitement
here, and all are on the alert. Maj
Gen. Taliafero is directing everything
in person, and will maintain an unin-
terrupted supervision of affairs until
after the execution. We do not APP
,1rohon1 o,x, forfhor IiGsap1f,,
SECOND DISPATCH.
The prisoners now say that they got
the shackles off their feet by saving
them with an old knife, and then forced
the bars. A misunderstanding oc-
urred several days ago between Gen.
caliafero and the iailer in regard to
to placing sentinels inside the jail
The jailer claiming the right to have
his own men. The Gen. gave way to
him, but placed the guard on the out
side which has thus prevented the es-
cape of the prisoners. Cook says he
could have made his escape had he
jumped down and throteled the senti-
mel.
CHARLEsTowN, Dec. 16.-We have
had an exciting time during the past
twenty -four hours which has just closed
with the execution of the four prison
ers. Throughout the day yesterday
there was great influx of strangers
and citizens of the country, who were
fiocking in to witness the last act OF
the Harper's Ferry tragedy. The lat
ter came thus early, apprehending that
they might be detained at the outposts,
as was the case on the day of Browns
execution. The vigilance exercised at
the Railroad depot on the arrival of a
train was not so stringent as on the oc-
casion OF the execution of Brown, and
but little difficulty was experienced in
getting in town. Shortly after the ar.
rival of the train in the afternoon, a
grand military dress parade Of all the
companies in attendance took place.
The troops went through their evolu-
tons with great skill, and were re-
viewed by Gen. Taliafero, who was on
the ground in full dress, and mounted
on a spirited charger.
The prisoners were visited yesterday
afternoon by the Rev. Messrs. 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 inter.
esting and solemn character, and were
participated in by all the condemned
though it is now evident, from subse-
quent events, that Cook and Coppie
at least were playing possup, as their
: minds must have been fixed on hopes
of life and liberty, rather than deatl
and eternity, at the time they were
making outward potestations of resig-
nation. They all gave an unqualified
assent to the conviction of religious
truths, and hope of salvation in the
world to come.
Cook and Coppic were the loudes
in their professions of change of heart
and in the hope of divine forgiveness.
they freely admitted their guilt, ant
acknowledged their doom was just
and that in the main they have beer
treated with the utmost kindness by
all. They thought that some of the
; witnesses were rather harsh in theil
testimony.
The ministers imagined that they
. had discovered a decidedly favorable
change in the condition of Cooks mine
since his interview with his sisters
Up to that time his calmness and brav
! cry were regarded as proceeding from
lack Of faelinp- Put on leaving hin