Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-11-15
ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE AND VIRGINIA ADVERTISER
Sentence of the Harper's Ferry Insurgents.


The prisoners were directed TO stand ny
and asked if they had anything to say why
sentence should not be passed upon them.
Cook and Coppic then proceeded to deliver
short addresses, the former being somewhat
vehement in his manner of speaking, whilst
the latter made firm impression by his
great and collective style of delivery. Both
protested their ignorance OF the attack on
Harpers Ferry, until the Sabbath before the
night of the attack, when they were called
on to swear to obey the orders of their com.
mander, Brown. Clppie stated that he
knew he would be punished for his fool
hardy attempt, but he thought it should
have been lighter than had been adjuiged
The negroes declined saying anything.
Judge Parker proceeded To deliver the SEN
tence on the prisoners, which was received
by them with great tirmness. The sentence
was that John +. Cook. Edwin Coppie,
Shields Green, and John Copeland Your
trials, on which we have been So long EN-
ployed, have AT length ended, aud all that
remains to be done 10 complete these udi-
cial proceedings, is to pronounce and record
the judgments which by law must follow
upon the crimes for which you have been
tried, and Of which you have been found
guilty.
These crimes have all grown out of Il mad
inroad upon this State, made with the pre-.
determined purpose to raise in our midst the
standard of servile instruction. In the
execution of this purpose, in the darkness
of Sabbath night, you seized upon por'
ton of our territory, captured several OF ou1
best citizcns-holdlng them rs hostages OF
war until your party was itself overcome by
force-armed such or our slaves as you
could seize upon with deadly weapons,
which they were to use against their own
ers, whom you denounced to them 10 their
oppressors: and, in your efforts to push your
bold and unholy scheme through to a sue
cessful issue, you have taken human life IN
no fewer than five instances. The evidence
most abundantly proved that all these things
have been done, and by the force Of that
evidence, jury after jury has felt itself com
PEELED to bring in its verdict of guilty
against each one IF you.
Happily for the peace Of our whole land
you obtained ~ support from that quarter
whence you so confidently expected it. Not
slave united himself to your party, but, st
soon as he could get without the range Of
your rifles, or as night gave him opportuni-
ty, made his escape from men who had come
to give him freedom, and hurried to place
himself once more beneath the care and pro.
lection of his owner
When we reflect upon all the mischief and
ruin, the dark and fearful crimes, which
must have attended even your partial sue
cess-men everywhere should be thankful
that you were SO soon and so easily over
powered
For these offences the law demands the
penalty of death, and imposes upon me the
duty of pronouncing that sentence. 1t i
the most painful duty have ever been call,
ed on 10 perform.
In spite of your offence against our laws,
cannot but feel deeply for you, and sim
cerely, most sincerely, do sympathize with
those friends ard relations, whose lives are
bound up in yours, and whose hearts will be
SO wrung with grief when they shall hear OF
the sad fate which has overtaken YOU, the
objects of their warmcst and hottest attcc-
tions. For them We all do sorrow: whilst
due regard for our safety may not permit us
to forgive the offence Of which you have
been guilty, hope that they will turn Tor
consolation, and you for pardon, to that
good Being who III His wrath remembereth
mercy Make then your peace with Him
for YOU must soon be ushered into His pres
ence, there to be dealt with rs His justice
and His mercy may ordain
To conclude this sad duty, now announce
that the sentence Of the law IL, that you
and each one of you, John +. Cook, Edwin
Coppie, Shields Green, and John Copeland,
be hanged by the neck until you be dead;
and that execution of this Judgment be
made and done by the Sheriff OF this coun-
ty, on Friday, the sixteenth day Of Deem
Der next, upon you Shields Green and John
Copeland, between the hours OF eight IN the
forenoon and twelve, noon, of that day
and upon YOU John +. Cook and Edwin
Cuppic between the hours Of twelve, noon,
and five in the afternoon of same day
And the court being of opinion that the eX-
ecution of this sentence should be Ill public;
it is further ordered that this judgment be
enforced and executed not in the jail yard,
but at such public place convenient thereto
as the said Sheriff may appolnt-and may
God have mercy upon the soul OF each one
of you.
During the delivery of the sentence the
utmost silence was observed, and the solem-
nifty was very marked. \ large number OF
the spectators wept, As also did the Judge.
The prisoners were remandcd 10 jail, there
to await the execution Of this Judgment.