Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1859-11-15
Trial of I0hn Il. CoOk--He beads
GuHty 80 Conspiracy with Slaves
and MURDER.

] crr-aspeulenoe q fhr Raitmare American
~CHARLEsTowN, November 3, 1883.
EDIroRs American; The attendance at
our court to-day was quite large, drawn BY the
announcement that the case OF Captain Cook
would be taken up. Besides a large attend
ance fromthe county Of Jefferson, quite a num-
Der Of persons we're present from The adjoining
counties and abroad.
A. haif past nine O'Clock the prisoner was
brought into court BY the jailor and a couple
I Of deputies, accompanied bv Gov. willard and
Mr.. Crowley, hrothers-in-law. The appear
ence OF the prisoner is rather progressing.
Tie is about twentv-six years Of age, has light
hair and a remarkably fair complexion, and
were e not for the fact that he is quite round
shonldered, would be considered handsome.
he was dressed in a neat manner, and his
bearing showed him 70 be q msB0f i%utelli-
gence. He occupied a seat near the center OF
tie bar. Gov. Willard bsving a seat on his
right, and Mr.. Crowley on bis left. His eoun-
sci, Attorney General Mcdonald, District
Attorney Vorhees, Of Indiana, and Messrs.
Bolts and Grcen, were seated in front, and
communicated with him constantly the entire
day.
Before the clerk commenced the reading Of
the indictment, Mr.. Green stated that the pris-
oner would rot plead to the indictment until
after counsel had been heard, as they wished
10 enter a demurrer against the finding Of the
grand Jury y the first count, which referredto
the act Of treason.
TIE clerk then proceeded 70 read The indict-
ment, which filed some seven pages Of closely
written foolscap, the prisoner Standing erect
without the bending Of a muscle, during the
entire reading.
Mr.. Bots then commenced The argument FOR
the prisoner against the first count Of the in
dicfment, which be claimed was not woried
according 10 he requirements Of the common
law practice. He quoted a large lumber Of
authorities 10 prove the correctness Of his p0-
sition.
The question was further argued BY Messrs.
Hunter and Green for the defense The aIgu-
ments consumed almost the entire morning
session, and was finally decided BIZ the Judge,
10 the 81 ct that The Indictment was correct
according to the statutory provisions Of the
Virginia cole. An adjournment was then
made 10 dinner.
o. the reassembling Of court, the process Of
empannelinz a jury vas beEuR- The same
Questions propounded 70 the jury in the case
Of Brown, were put TO the Jury, and but little
difficulty was experienced in the selection, as
but few had expressed an opinion that would
prevent their giving the prisoner a fair and i'm
partial trial. In a short time the following
were announced as the Jury selected Charles
+. Butter, ChariCs HeWe-t, Joseph Hout, LO-
r-unu h-ks---.. Tq1-mds Cudp1us Jim 6--
der, Henry Ssiby, William NJ. Leman, Jacob
ns EAEHALF lAaAAAA oM AAlENH 1HAl-T alttfEA anu
Michael S. Hunsueker. The jury is composed
mainly Of farmers, and is possessed Of a fair
share Of intelligence.
After the Jury had been sworn, the prisoner
was directed to stand up, and the Indictment
was again read, and the question p~ropounded
by the clerk, Guilty or not guilty? The pTis-
oner responded, Dot guilty as to the hrsteount,
charging himw with treason, and gHiity asto the
second and third counts in the indictment,
rh.~~--w him NTH roueufrfuw NTH efavae 70
rebel and murder.
NJ. Green, for the defense, then arose and
stated the grounds on which the prisoner plead
not guilty to the first count. The prisoner ad-
mitted the fact Of c0nspiring with slaves to re-
bel, which was Punishable with death OF i'm
prisoHment for life. Mr.. Green spoke some
lime, and was listened TO with much attention.
Mr.. Hunter followed, and stated be held in
his hand a confession written BY John 2. Cook,
which ne proceeded to read. The confession
covers some twenty-five PAGES Of manuscript,
and is written in a smooth style Nothing
new IS elected, excepting the fact that he i'm
7~licates Fred. Douglas and DR.. Howe with the
affair. The confession will not Be published
In the papers, IS & viii be printed in pamphlet
form and sold FOR the benefit Of Mr.. Samuel C..
Young, OF this town, who was severely wound
ed in front Of the armory gate while assisting
in the attack on the insurgents. The reading
Of the confession was listened 10 with much at
tentioa by a crowded courtroom, and the
comments on it were various.
Agreat effort viii be made BY the defense
to save The prisoner frcm hanging, and fears
are entertained by many that the effort viii be
successful. The outside feeling against the
accused isTery great.
Hszlett, Of Pennsylvania, was yesterday
captured in Carlisle, Pa, and was at midnight
brought into Charleston. Hazlett has nothing
10 say, having been instructed BY counsel 10
answer no questions, and give 10 intimation
Of his autecedsnts; and the other prisoners
seem oppressed By an absolute incapability 10
recognize him, although called upon to identi-
~. This prisoner Is, In appearance, the most
reckless and determined Of an that have been
brought here.