The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-04-30
HE SCAF FOLD!
Execution of Jack Cooper, at RaVenna,
ohio, for the Murder of John ROden-
baugh-HIs BravadO Under the Gal.

ohio, for the Murder of John ROden-
baugh-His BraVadO Under the Gal.
lows.
Jack Cooper, whose real name was Samuel Wit
tum, native of Erie county, Pa, was eXecu ed at
Rayenda, OmO yes erdav for the murder of John
Rodent taugh, an auctioneer OF Kent, Por age
county, Oaio Previous to his execution, Cooper
made confession, in which he stated that his com.
panion, Joel Beery, proposed and planned the mur-
der, while ne executed 1t. The conclusion OF his
confession is in thee words -" Beery SAID
get buggy, and we could Ieave before aIter the
old man. that tn re were Uusnes along the road,
and We had better cut club and hit HIM over
with it; we needn't ktl him hurt HIN
hls money, and we could go up to his folks,
and ii we were slapcioned or arrested, they would
BCery went TO get the horse, while went to see
where the old man wac, and get Dite to eat. Ro-
denbaugh loon started on for the house, and we
followed after, and passed HIM to cut the club 1
jumped out and cut the club and Beery stood the
drove aong TO the place whore we agreed to do it,
and Beery drove on to wait for me and take me up
when 1t was over l lay down by the eide of the
road, and when the old man came along, the horse
all a. once started into trOt, and didn't get up to
him quick enough to hit him and followed
up to INN and hit HIM as soon as got chance.
AS hit him he rose up and fell out of the wagon,
and L ran to him, jerked the money and watch
away, and Beery drove up, and got in, and we
drove right away"
The execution took place in the Jail yard at Ra-
VIENNA, IN the presence Of one hundred persons At
one O'Clock Cooper mounted tue scaflold, with a
cigar IN his mouth, making desperate effort to ap
informed him that he was about to execute the
tence OF the law upon HIM, and asked if ne had any
thing to saw The prisoner answered So / have is
my brotherin.law here" He was told that he was.
"ls the clergy man behind mer' He was answered
that he was. He then commenced RAMBLING, inco-
heIenJ, and, at times, violent speech about as fol-
lows &C gentlemen Firmly say here am. How
long have TO talk, Mr Jennings" "Ten minutes"
l know my destiny as well as you. L am to die.
Excuse me- L told a wrong story am
because bee T / have got to die. 1 want to shout
so loud that men can hear me outside
for aa1 Of peoD %e ds as nS6e OF na
United STATES; am cool, you see though an ocean
Is before me with no bottom If a man believes he
is all right he will be all right tefore Christ, Mr.
jennings, you have been brother TO me. am
hoarse and can't talk, but there is no CO yardce
here" lie put his head to the grating OF the wudog
| ana commenced shouting TO the crowd outside, buC
was at once stopped by the Sheriff, ~ am sorry
for the murder TO the bottom OF my toes. am not
| ch,ld but man 1 intend to smoke to the last
minute. am the convicted murderer or Roden-
bangh, and will die ike, man. Murder was
cou d, but you needn't be afraid of me, amt
:;uch a fool. wasn't acquainted with Roden.
boat and BseSy B % %Ssid, .s JACK lie Ists 60 gd and
and were jolly We met Rodenbaugh. He was
a welcome friend and Democrat, and we
cards and kept drinking Beery comes to me
| and says, Jack, Rodenbaugh hes an awful pile OF
PentesGs SidSt sCS f the me money @ wSn to
| look outside, Mr.. jennings the crowd can't hear
| me over twenty-five or thirty RODS BeerY says,
| Come 10 time; you must 20 and get horse and
| carriage tod MIN TO go aiOoG which goes to
| show that know more about the murder than he
| did told him not to xiii ROdenbaugh, as he was
| a trend ana brother Democrat. am ashamed to
be hung here. Iwant to hear the birds sing and
| see the grass outside. If Pm a pattern TOR the
| world, why shou din ttthey see meH l know when
the rope drops I'm gone, but nary tear. Where we
| and cut a stick, and give HIM little clay; I'm
afraid he'll recognize me- did so. l struck HIM,
and he yelled out Whoa TO mis- horse, rose up, and
| alln nj no VUQuO 1 Dnt
into the buggy; BeeIy didn't refuse TO let me m"
The Sheriff told him to step forward, and the Rev
| j g. Hall asked him the following questions: :-"Do
sorry ior youT crimeS' al am " "Do Won want TO
die like a penitent2" IL do" He then kneeled
down with the prisoner and offered ferVent PRAYER
for his salvation. When they arose Cooper was pale
he then removed a military cape which had
hitherto been his shoulders, and his arms and
legs were spInIoned from behind. While this was
being done he said with horrible attempC to
smile ;-"What did tell your Didn't L tell you to
do itl" The sheriff about to adjust the rope
when he took 1t from him and requested permission
to adjust il himself II granted, and lflng his
manacled hands he placed the moose over his head
and gave directions to the position of the knot
He then bade farewell to his friends, and the Sheriff
odY" CoopeT Iened Mr Jenpnss @ SI ready
| to die. X mock it."
The trap fell at twenty. three minutes before 2
O'Clock, and desperate man was launched into eter
ntv HIS neck was disOcated by the fall, and not
D struggle quIver was visible. Ihe rope had
| done its work justice was appeasedi Jack Cooper
! was dead In about seven minutes and twenty
seeonos the pulse ceased TO beat though the hear
. huWercd two and Onehalf minutes longer. At toul
minutes past two O'Clock the body was cut down an6
placeo In the coffin, to be removed rom the jail tC
the Cemstery.-Ptttsbttrg Commercial, 2oh.
} ODDLY SHAPED SToNE.-The Maine Farmer has
an account OF curious stone picked up on the