Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1913-05-15
THE JOHN BROWN RAID
SOllE CLIPPINGS FROM OUR
OLD FILES OF 1859.
CONTINUED from last week,
Escape and Capture.

i SNES INV VNkSAAASs
A little after o'clock, on Thursday
night last, Cook and Coppee made their
way out of the Jail and were in the
act of getting over the Jail wall when
they were discovered by one of the ont
side sentinels who discharged his rife
at them. The sentinel belonged to the
''CIarke Guards" and bis name is Guard,
When the gun was fired they fell back
inside Of the wall and were taken into
the Jail.
It appears that they had been seElzai
days engaged in working tneiS "a q
through the Jail wall, and relieving
themselves of their shackles-doing all
the work, as they said, in daytime.
By means of bed screw they removed
two pieces of loose timber, under the
window, which they. could replace at
pleasure and thus worked out the brick
which they hid in the drum Of the stove.
When the Jailor approached their cell
they could always hear the turn Of the
lock which gave them time to replace
the timbers and place a table. which
they used for writing. against the wall,
thus hiding all appearance of their eff
forts.
We insert below statement pre-. AIRED
by themselves which will speak for
itself
Charlestown, Jail. Dec 16.
Having been called upon to make a
fair statement in regard to the ways
and means of our breaking Jail, we
have agreed to dc go from a sense of
our duty to Sheriff of the County, to our
Tailor and to the Jail Guard. We do
mot wish that any one should be unjust
~ censured on our account.
The principal implements with which
we opened passage through the wall
of the Jail were a Barlow Knife, and a
| screw which we took out of the bed
stead. The knife was borrowed of one
of the Jail Guard to cut Lemon with.
We did not return it to him. He had
no idea of any intention on our part to
break out, neither did the Sheriff, Tailor
or any of the guard, have any know
ledge Of our plans. We received no aid
from any person, or persons whatever.
We had, as we supposed, removed all
the brick several days ago. But on the
evening previous to our breaking out
| we found our mistake in regard to that
matter.
We had intended to 60 out on the
evening that my Sisters and Brothers
in-Law were here, but knew that it
would reflect on them and we post,
poned it. But | urged Coppee to CO.,
and would remain. He refused. We
then concluded to wait.
II got knife blade from Shields
Green and with that made some tole :
able teeth in the Barlow knife, with
which we sawed off our shackles. We
had them all off the night previous to
our getting out. Coppee went out
first andS IssfolloWed. We then got up
on the wall, when was discovered and
shot at. The guard outside the wall
Immediately came up to the wall. We
saw that there was no chance Of. escape
and as it was discovered that we had
broken Jail SO we walked in deliberate
ly, and gave ourselves up to the Sheriff
Capt Avis and the Jail Guard. There
was no person or persons who aided in
our escape This statement is true SO
helE us God. JOHN E. COOK.
EDWIN COPPEE.
The prisoners had contemplated max
ing their escape on Tuesday previous.
but in consequence of the arrival of
Gov Willard, and Cooke two sisters,
Mrs Crowley and Mrs Staunton. as also
| Miss Hughes cousin, they say they
| deferred the attempt.
Coppoc had been visited on Thursday
by an uncle, who left here shortly
| after the interview. In all the inter
| views however. the Sheriff or Jailor
was always present.
The plastering had been removed
| from that part of the room by lunatic
short period after Capt Avis had tax.
en- charge of the jail; and to one of the
known shrewdness of Cook. the sug-
gestion of escape readily presented
itself, and we have no doubt had 1t moi
been for the hope of communication Of
punishment through the Influence OF
Gov Willard, the effort of escape
would have been made long ago. The
prisoners professed desire:to be left
alone and not be interrupted by visitors
as they wished time for preparation te
die.
The Jail was not secure, as an in
spection hasssince developed And the
only blame which may be attached t
the Sheriff and Jailor was an oyer-con
fdence in their ability to watch thu
prisoners.
It is due the military management o.
Gen Taliaferro and Col Davis, to say
that their sentinels saved the prisoners
from escaping the Jail wall But per
haps had there been no sentinel1,
greater vigilence would have been KEEP
by the Jail Guards. as guards had al
;; ways been placed in the yard.
Sheriff Campbell had been in th'
apartment of the prisoners as well d
the Jail yard but few minutes befor,
} they made their escape and the JaiIo
was in the adjoining room with Cope
land and Green; and when leaving
, discovered Cook and Coppoc had mad
their escape, at which time he hear
, the rennrt of the Knntinela cr1n O.