Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1859-11-18
The Sentence of the Harper's Ferry
Insurgents.


The Sentence of the Harper's Ferry
insurgents.
When the convicts Cook, Coppic,
Copeland and Green, (the two latter col
orcd, were brought out on the 10th inst.
to receive the sentence of Judge Parker,
al the close of Jefferson county Circuit
Court at Charlcstown, Va, they were
asked if they had anything to say why
sentence should not be passed upon them.
Cook and Coppie then proceeded to de-
liver short addresses, the former being
somewhat vehement in his manner of
speaking, and the latter in an impressive
aud collected style of delivery. 1t is
stated that both protested their ignorance
of the attack on Harper's Ferry until the
Sabbath before the night of the attack,
when they were called on to swear to
obey the orders of their commander,
Brown. The negroes declined saying
anything.
SENTENCE OF THE PRISONERS.
Judge Parker then proceeded to de-
liver the sentence on the prisoners, which
was received by them with great firm
ness. The sentence was that John T.
Cook, Edwin Coppio, Shields Green and
John Copeland: Your trials, on which
we have been so long employed have at
length ended, and all that remains to be
done to complete these judicial proceed
ings, 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
mad inroad upon this State, made with
the predetermined purpose to raise in our
midst the standard of a servile nsurrec-
ton. 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 unit!
your party was itself overcome by force
armed such of our slaves as you could
seize upon with deadly weapons, which
they were to use 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 obtained no support from that
quarter whence you so confidently ex-
pected it. Not a slave united himself to
your party, but, so soon as he could get
without the range of your rifles, or as
night gave him opportunity, made his es-
cape from men who had come to give him
freedom, and hurried to place himself
once more beneath the care and protec-
ton of his owner
When we reflect upon all the mischief
and ruin, the dark and fearful crimes,
which must have attended even your par
tial success-mcn everywhere should be
thankful that you were so soon aud so
easily overpowered.
For these offences, the law demands
the penalty of death, and imposes upon
me the duty of pronouncing that sem
tence. 1t is the most painful duty |
have ever been called on to perform.
In spite of your offences against eur
laws, | cannot but feel deeply for you,
and sincerely, most sincerely do | SYM
pathzc with those friends and relations,
whose lives are bounl up in yours, and
whose hearts will be SO wrung with grief
when they shall hear of the fate which
has overtaken you, the objects of their
warmest and hottest affections. For
them we all do sorrow; whilst due re-
gard for our safety may not permit us to
forgive the offences of which you have
been guilty, hope they will turn for
consolation, and you for pardon, to that
good Being, who in His wrath remem-
oercth mercy. Make then your peace
with Him--for you must soon be ushered
into His presence, there to be dealt with
us His justice and His mercy may ordain.
To conclude this sad duty | now an
nounce that the sentence of the law is,
that you, and each one cf you, John Il
Cooke, Edwin Coppie, Shields Green
and John Copeland, be hanged by the
neck until you be dead that execu-
ton of this judgment be made and done
by the sheriff of this county, on Friday,
the 10th day of December next, upon
you Shields Green and John Copeland,
between the hours of eight in the fore
noon and twelve noon, of that day =
and upon you John Il. Cooke and Edwin
Coppie, between the hours of twelve
(noon) and five in the afternoon of the
same day. Aud the Court being Of
opinion that the execution of this SEN
tence should be in public: it is further
ordered that this Judgment be enforced
and executed, not in the Jail yard, but al
such public place convenient thereto as
the said sheriff may appoint-and may
God have mercy upon the soul of each
enc of you.
During the delivery of the sentence
the utmost silence was observed, aud the
solemnity was very marked. A large
number of the spectators wept, as also
did the judge.
The prisoners were remanded to Jail,
there TO await the execution of this
judgment
1t is supposed that Governor Wise
will respite Brown, who is sentenced to
be hung on the ID Of December, until the
day fixed for the other executions.