Life and bloody career of the executed criminal, James Copeland, the great Southern land piratePitts, J. R. S. (James Robert Soda)
History
Life and bloody career of the executed criminal, James Copeland, the great Southern land pirate
Pitts, J. R. S. (James Robert Soda)
Copeland, James, 1823-1857; Criminals -- Gulf States -- Biography
On my way back I learned at Black Creek, of the death of Wages and
McGrath. They had got into some difficulty with Harvey about the forty
dollar note, and he shot and killed them both. This news sounded in my
ears like thunder; and so astounded was I that I lost for the time all
my senses. However, after a little reflection, I began to think over
my situation, and a thousand thoughts hurled through my brain. Almost
instantly, it seemed that every crime I had ever committed in my life
was then pictured before my eyes and the awful consequences attending
them. The object, for which I committed them, was money; and it was
now doubtful whether I should ever obtain that, or not. Upon further
reflection, I recollected that Wages had given me a diagram or map of
the place where our, now my money was hidden, and a direction of the
course so that I certainly could find it. Stimulated with the idea of
being worth thirty thousand dollars, I began to cheer up and returned
home.
REWARD OF ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS OFFERED FOR HARVEY’S SCALP.
The first thing was to procure my map or diagram, which I did. I found
all my friends grieving. The first word asked me by old man Wages and
the old lady was: “What are you going to do, James? Are you not going
to seek vengeance on that Harvey?” Both then said to me, “James we will
give you one thousand dollars for Harvey’s scalp, if you will kill
the rascal or have it done.” I then told them I would see some of my
friends, and let them know in a short time.
A short time after that I received a notice to attend a meeting of the
clan, at our Wigwam in the city, on a certain night. So I disguised
myself and went into the city and attended, and in that meeting I met
several officers of the city, such as constables, deputy sheriff, etc.,
who all told me not to be afraid; that there would be no exertion to
arrest me. There were a number of resolutions passed commemorative
of the demise of our departed friends and brothers Gale H. Wages and
Charles McGrath. After the adoption of these resolutions, I then raised
the question before the meeting as to the propriety of taking up with
old Wages’ offer; and after explaining that offer to the meeting, it
was unanimously approved; and I was nominated to head and lead the band
on that expedition, with power to select as many, and just such men
of our clan as I thought necessary. So I selected Jackson Pool, Sam.
Stoughton, John Copeland and Thomas Copeland. I selected them because
they were good woodsmen, and I knew that Pool and Stoughton were brave.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account