The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1895-06-22


and is "A good representative of the Eastern
Shore. Sheriff Berry is feet inches tall
and weighs 252 pounds.
The execution of Marshall L. Price, the
brutal murderer of the girl Salie i. Dean,
will take place take place at Denton, on July
5th.
HIS LAST HOURS.
Cooper's actions from his conviction up to
the very morning of his execution show that
he did not believe he would be hung. He
was not communicative and showed very
little desire to talk about his case. although
when approached, he always maintained his
innocence of any intention to kill Maggie
Pitts. Very few of his neighbors or friends
about Shrewsbury had visited him. His
mother had not seen him since his conviction,
having said if he was to be hung, she did
not care to see him. About Il week ago, his
father and brother visited him. On Thursday
a colored woman from Shrewsbury, with
whom Cooper had been intimate, came to see
him. After conversing with him in IA friendly
way she asked him ''if he had made his
peace with his Maker?' Cooper replied
''that the Lord knew all about his case. that
he was rs innocent of any intention of killing
Maggie Pitts as an unborn baby During
Thursday he ate his meals as usual. besides Il
number of small pound cakes, and quantity
of ice cream. Although showing no emotion,
he was mentally disturbed, which he showed
by his restessness. He said to the Shrews-
bury woman that the sheriff had not said any
thing to him as yet about hanging ;that every
thing was quiet about the JAIL his hope of a
reprieye evidently still sustaining him. On
Thursday night DIR. Clemson called at the
JAIL and said his pulse was l03, or 81
above the normal pulse. The Rev. Mr.. Chew
part of the night with him, and returning at
eleven o'clock, remained until a late hour.
Early on Friday morning Deputy Sheriff
Mackey conversed with him. Horace" he
said, ,"your time is getting short, as this is the
day of yonr execution Have you made your
peace with the Almighty?' Cooper said ''that
he was not thinking much about that yet. ex-
hibiting the same indifference of manner that
he had always maintained. Deputy Sheriff
Mackey and Mr.. George White relieved each
other on duty ut Cooper's cell door during
Thursday night. Cooper was restless and
did not sleep much, although making no out
ward demonstration.
At six O'Clock on Friday morning the work
of erecting the gallows in the south yard Ci
the prison began, and the echo Of the car
penters hammers rang through the corridors
of the Jail. This was the first indication in-
side the Jail that preparations for the cxecu-
ton were going on. Coopers cell was on the
second tier Of cells overlooking the north
yard, and from which side a view of the
scalold could not be obtained.
HIS RELIGIOUS CONDITION.
Rev. William Chew, pastor of the Elkton
A. NJ. f. Church, who has been one Of his
spiritual advisers, paid his last visit to the
condemned man at ten o'clock on Friday
morning. The divine eXhorted fervently
with the prisoner for an hour. Cooper appre-
ciated every word but remained silent as to
his eternal welfare. He said that he knew
that God was his only Saviour, but to Mr.
Chew professed no conversion. Cooper read
well and continually read his bible. He was
intelligent, and maintained IA cheerful dis
position. no break down being perceptible.
After Mr.. Chew left the prisoner, the Rev
j. II. Grinage, Of the Elkton A. [. NJ p.
Church. spent sometime with him in his cell
I To Mr.. Grinage, Cooper seemed resigned
and said that he looked for his execution, and
expected to go to glory He said to Mr.. Grin.
age that he had not revealed his true feelings
and repentance because he thought it would
| prevent his obtaining Il reprieve.
COOPER PROCESSES CONVERSION.
The Rev. r. H. Coleman, of the
Newport Delaware, African NJ. Z. Church
who was his pastor at Cokesbury at
the time the crime occurred talked will
Cooper at half-past eight o'clock. Cooper
talked of religious matters and seemed il
distress and paced his cell. He said he hat
felt that his sins We're forgiven bnt he did moi
confess it to the other ministers from the fact
that he was not well acquainted with them
and that he had other reasons for not doing
so. The minister promised to meet hin
again at II o'clock.
TO SAVE HIM
Coopers counsel assisted by other member,
of the bar made strenuous efforts to obtain q
respite for the condemned man. The minis.
ters who had visited him We're unsatisned
with the spiritual condition of Cooper up tc
early Friday morning. who, although iiligent
in his religious zeal, stated on Thursday
night that he had not made his peace with
God.
WORKING FOR A RESPITE.
The last Of May, Mr.. Constable, Mr.. Writ
and Mr. l.. NJ. Haines visited the Governor
at Baltimore. The Governor gave those
gentlemen to understand that if the jury who
had tried Cooper should file a petition tc
commute his sentence to imprisonment for
| life he would then give the legal notice and
investigate the case.
Upon this Mr.. Constable on Saturday last
| took to the Governor a petition signed by
every juryman who sat in the case. But the
| Governor would not enter upon the inves-
tigation he had promised saying, that no rea-
sons had been given by the petitioners.
On Wednesday Mr.. Constable again visited
the Governor, when the Governor informed
him that if States Attorney A. l.. Crothers
would ask for a respite and investigation he