Organizations of such vast and gigantic magnitude, are incid

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE

Italic text is denoted by _underscores_.

Changes to the text are noted at the end of the book.

LIFE AND BLOODY CAREER

of the executed criminal,

JAMES COPELAND,

THE GREAT

SOUTHERN LAND PIRATE

LEADER OF A DEVASTATING CLAN

RANGING OVER A GREAT PORTION OF THE NATION,

PARTICULARLY THE GULF STATES, SPREADING TERROR AND INSECURITY

EVERYWHERE.

MYSTIC ALPHABET OF THE CLAN,

FOR THEIR SECRET CORRESPONDENCE,

GIVING A LIST OF ALL THE MEMBERS THROUGHOUT THE UNION,

WITH AN APPENDIX OF

PROFOUND RESEARCH,

BRINGING TO LIGHT MORE OF CRIME, CORRUPTION AND DISSIMULATION,

UNVEILING THE MANY WAYS IN WHICH TALENT,

WEALTH AND INFLUENCE HAVE GIVEN ASSISTANCE.

[Illustration: Decorative Image]

BY DR. J. R. S. PITTS.

[Illustration: Decorative Image]

JACKSON, MISS.:

PILOT PUBLISHING COMPANY, PRINTERS AND BINDERS,

1874.

Entered according to act of Congress in the year 1874, by

DR. J. R. S. PITTS,

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

All rights reserved.

MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR.

The author of the ensuing publication was born in Effingham county,

Georgia. His grandfather, Dr. Soda, was a native of Cologne, an ancient

city on the Rhine, in Prussia. Here educated to the science of physic,

he afterwards became a practicing physician. Rather early in life,

he came to the United States of America, and settled in the city of

Savannah, Georgia, where the remainder of his life, some thirty years,

was spent. Here, and during this time, he practiced in the medical

profession with success and distinction. He married an American lady,

the issue from which consisted in only one son and one daughter, Robert

and Jane Rosettah.

About the year 1830, the latter, with J. G. W. Pitts, were married in

the city of Savannah, Georgia. The result from this nuptial union is

the existence of the “author.” With him, in 1834, his parents removed

from Georgia to Rankin county, near Brandon, Mississippi; but the wife

and mother did not long survive afterward, as will be seen from the

following record found in the family Bible:

“Mrs. Jane Rosettah Pitts, wife of J. G. W. Pitts, departed this life

the 7th day of January, A. D., 1835, in the 21st year of her age, after

severely suffering under a complicated disease of two years’ standing,

which battled the skill of the best physicians.”

The author was left an orphan at a very early age—only two years

old. He was consigned over to the guardian care of an affectionate

grandmother, who performed the charge both creditably to herself and in

perfect accord with the welfare of the infant entrusted to her charge.

He was sent to school as early as convenience would permit, and, at

intervals, continued until the age of twenty-one, when his friends

brought him out for Sheriff of Perry county. At this period he left the

school-room, and forthwith entered on the canvass, which resulted in

his successful election by a handsome majority.

For some four years he continued in this office, during which time

the painful duty devolved on him of executing James Copeland, the

subject of the present work. Next came his memorable trial in the city

of Mobile, Alabama, to answer an inveterate prosecution for libel—a

trial which involved the best talent of the bar, and resulted in the

conviction of the author by such means as truly gave only the shadows

of victory to the straining prosecution, and triumph in real substance

to the defence.

At a very early age, the author manifested a preference for the study

of medicine, and in his capacity of Sheriff, his leisure hours, apart

from the requirements of his office, were spent in making proficiency

in his favorite science; and still more so after his trial—immediately

following which he attended a medical college with ardor and assiduity,

and ever since has been engaged in the practice of his profession.

INTRODUCTION.

There is, perhaps, nothing within the sphere of human operations which

more affect the present and future generations, either for good or

evil, than a faithful narration of history and biography. But the

effects, either for better or worse, depend pretty much on the comments

and conclusions of the historian and biographer themselves. He may

have an unprejudiced mind, he may chronicle the events of a nation

faithfully and correctly, and he may be capable of delineating the

mighty strokes and nicer shades of individual character with all the

force and brilliancy which extraordinary genius can command; but if

his deductions or inferences be unsound or erroneous, the effects will

extend to all parts of society, both the present and the future.

For instance, and as an illustration, the poet said of Lord Bacon:

“The greatest, the wisest, and the _meanest_ of mankind.”

This is a forcible declaration, and one that belongs to the true

philosophy which others must adopt before they can be the real

benefactors of mankind. Had the poet gone further, and particularized

the conduct of this great man, in what consisted his exalted virtues,

and wherein he has contributed so much to the benefit of after

ages—giving him credit for all this, and stamping it with true glory,

admiration and immortality—holding up the same as worthy of imitation

for aspiring youth; and then followed by a painful portrayal of

his enormous vices which have had their share in producing so much

corruption and misery on society at large—making manifest, according

to the declaration of another poet, that “an honest man is the noblest

work of God;” and that it is far better to be honest, though humble,

than to have a combination of character of all which is great and all

which is mean; let it be repeated, had the poet drawn his lines in some

such manner, far happier might have been the result.

Again, war is the scourge of humanity. Of all woes, there are none

which can be compared to the horrors of protracted warfare. Neither

tongue nor pen can adequately depict the miseries which flow in the

train of consequences. The rust, disease, exposure and pestilence of

camp life; the crowded hospitals of accumulated wretchedness; the sweat

and smoke—the blood and groans of the red battle-field; these form

but a very small part of the dire afflictions which flow from hostile

collisions of this nature—to say nothing of the burdens entailed on

posterity by waste of treasure—leaving an interminable debt to oppress

generations yet unborn!

Here the fashionable historian has a fine field to work in. In dazzling

colors he gilds and paints in profusion. He largely expatiates on

the stratagems, the manœuvering, and the master strokes of policy

displayed by the commanding General. In matchless grandeur he draws his

lines, made conspicuous by gleaming swords and bristling bayonets. He

plants his thundering batteries on every eminence within the scope of

vision. Now open the scenes of death and carnage. Red flashes, black

smoke and leaden hail extend from every spot of falling conflict. Hand

to hand, foot to foot, breast to breast. First one and then another

of distinguished officers dropping, “covered all over with immortal

glory.” Grounds taken and retaken. One wing giving away, another

pressing victoriously onward over heaps of the slain. Here stubbornly

contested, then riding on the fiery wings of battle overpowering all

opposition—producing rout, defeat and dreadful slaughter on every road

of retreat. Such animating descriptions animate other armies and other

Generals. Not only is the impetuous enthusiasm of the common soldier

excited, but also the ardor and emulation of the General himself. The

young, the old—all seem to desire more opportunities to occur for the

exercise of prowess, as well as for further demonstrations of martial

glory. But it is quite possible to conceive how the historian could

have produced quite a contrary effect. By degrading all that appertains

to warfare, and by holding up to public scorn and indignation the

brutal and hellish scenes involved for purposes of rapine, plunder or

false notions of honor; by descriptions of this sort war might be held

in a very different estimation to what it now is.

But is the present course of the historian’s pen altogether erroneous?

Perhaps not. The inordinate rapacity and selfishness of human nature

must be taken into account. The overpowering propensity for conquest,

might against right, must be considered. A nation extremely rich

in agricultural productions, in manufacturing commodities, and in

everything else pertaining to wealth, yet effeminately weak in spirit

and incompetent for physical protection, will stand a poor chance

against the trained hordes who prefer plunder and conquest to any other

pursuit. So far, then, the historian’s pen is not misapplied in keeping

alive and active the bravery and martial spirit of a nation to secure

its own against the unscrupulous encroachments of other nations, or

against the wild infatuations of parts of the same nation.

In this department the true and correct province of the pen is to

encourage, by all honorable means, bravery, magnanimity, and all other

generous traits of a great nation, consistent with safety or security

in the future, determined to maintain the right, and equally so not

to yield anything to wrong through abject fear of consequences; at

the same time favoring forbearance and exhausting all honorable means

before the last resort of warfare be put in execution; while not

forgetting to impress that external warfare or internal rebellion

generally leave behind worse evils than those intended to be removed.

A little reflection, then, must convince all of the vast and mighty

influences which the historian and biographer exercise on society and

nations at large, either for good or evil, according to the range or

sphere occupied.

The life of the condemned criminal, James Copeland, who expiated his

blood-stained career on the scaffold, together with the history of

the alarming and extensive clan, which, for many long years, produced

a perfect reign of terror over such a broad expanse of territory

in this nation, and of which said James Copeland formed one of the

principal leaders in the clan—clearly showing the causes which favored

the progress, as well as the causes which produced dismemberment and

final dissolution—such a life and history cannot fail, even at this

late date, after so long an interval of unavoidable interruption, of

materially interesting and benefitting the public at large.

James Copeland was executed in 1857. His life and the history of the

clan were published in 1858. The sale of the work was progressing

wonderfully when a ruinous prosecution commenced against the author

in Mobile, in another State, Alabama, for libel on several parties

by the names of Messrs. Overall, Moulton and Cleaveland; the former

being the principal actor in this prosecution, at least overtly so.

This circumstance, in connection with the crippling of the author’s

pecuniary resources, together with the all-absorbing questions involved

in the late internal war, through which we have just passed, prevented

any but the first edition from appearing, which only circulated in a

very limited extent of territory.

The obstacles here referred to are now pretty much out of the way.

Opportunity is offered for republication on a far broader basis than

before. Time is the corrector of errors and excesses. Heated passions

give way to sober reason. In the enlarged edition which will shortly

appear, impartial minds will at once discover that the principal object

is to do justice to all—injury to no one; but this course will not

exclude the guilty from exposure, yet it will endeavor to exonerate the

innocent who may have been accused through misnomer or by inadvertent

mistake.

Great and influential men league together, sometimes for worthy

purposes, but often for unworthy ones. It is very easy to entertain

the idea that a young man just setting out in the public walks of

life without the prestige of the distinguished, can easily be broken

down, no matter how foully the means resorted to for accomplishment.

It is strange that Governor McWillie, of the State of Mississippi,

should have so tamely and willingly given up the author to the laws of

another State, and more especially to the particular locality where

the designing influence of the prosecutors so widely extended, while

well knowing that the author could have had no motive or interest in

accusing or misrepresenting any—not previously knowing anything, either

of name or person, in relation to the prosecuting parties, either of

good or bad—only publishing in substance the unaltered revelations as

made by the convict himself, the truth of which he sealed with his

last dying breath on the scaffold; and while Governor McWillie, with

hundreds of others, have known from previous experience the truth

of the principal particulars as related by Copeland himself. This

notorious clan was not only a terror to almost every part of this

State, but also of many others. But all this belongs to the past,

and is only now alluded to in order to give a right understanding of

all the facts and circumstances connected with the whole affair from

beginning to end.

Truth and justice, by oppression and by forces foul, may be held down

for awhile, but the increasing and progressive power of the springs

will break and throw off the impediments—again bursting forth in vigor

and strength not to be crushed nor repressed by sophistry nor by the

influences of money and distinguished officials.

G. Y. Overall was the principal open prosecutor of the three. It was

clearly evinced on trial that there were other Overalls, and, to the

satisfaction of the jury, it was to one of these whom Copeland referred

to in his confessions; consequently, the public sentiment was in no

way changed or weakened by the proceedings of the trial; but, on the

contrary, was largely strengthened in favor of the substantial truths

of the confessions.

Hon. P. Walker, the counsel for defense, maintained the same; and,

further, that G. Y. Overall had not a shadow of right on his side for

instituting the prosecution.

The author is frank to confess, from the testimony produced on trial,

that G. Y. Overall established his innocence so far as he was concerned

in point of time as specified in Copeland’s confessions. But if

this had been his only object, why not have rested satisfied with a

verdict in his favor which could not have failed to have been rendered

without any injury to either the author or the “confessions?” Why

did he, in combination with others, resort to means so disreputable,

as will afterwards be shown, to crush the author or publisher, who

before did not know him, and could not have had any enmity or sordid

motive against him, as well as for the purpose of destroying the

“confessions,” the major parts of which were well known to be strictly

true? Why one part of the witnesses so infamous and in every way so

suspicious? Why the strange and oscillating conduct of the Judge in

varying his charges to the Jury at different stages of progress? Why,

contrary to all modern usage, hold confined the jury for six long days

and nights with an express and determined resolve not to release when

there appeared to be no prospect of an agreement on a verdict? Why so

many cunning inlets to and tampering with parts of the jury? Why, when

it was worn out by fatigue and loss of rest, was the last stratagem

resorted to for delusion to the effect that it was hardly worth while

holding out when the penalty, if any at all, would be nothing more

than a slight fine? Why the low, the despicable, and the underground

agencies set at work to poison the mind of a then intended wife,

and to sever the agreement of marriage which had been made in good

faith on both sides? If G. Y. Overall had meant nothing more than the

establishing of his own innocence as regards the confessions made,

and which he unwarrantedly applied to himself, why so many mysterious

forces at work and so much of corruption put in play? By endeavoring to

establish too much, reaction often follows which sometimes satisfies

that too little has been effected to produce any benefit to the

complainer.

Public disapproval of the verdict, universal sympathy which followed

the author everywhere, even within the confines of his prison—a

stranger in Mobile, yet on every hand met with kind treatment both in

this city and elsewhere from afar, all giving testimony against this

uncalled for and malignant prosecution. Mr. Overall and company’s

victory was dearly bought, and left them in a far worse condition than

before they commenced.

For proving too much, a miserable subterfuge was tried to make

appear that Copeland was deranged, was a maniac, and his statements

entirely unworthy of credit. A more signal failure could not have been

attempted. If he was non compos mentis, the law grievously erred in

causing his execution. Those who knew him well, those who visited him

long and often in his prison, can testify to his extraordinary strength

of mind. Brave and undaunted, affable in deportment, a tenacious

memory, with all other indications of mental vigor, the chances are

very small of making impressions touching his insanity. And all this

in the face of those localities which suffered so much from the

depredations of the clan, which localities can vouch for the truth of

his confessions. But the jury of inquest, on an artful plea raised at

the time of his trial settles this question. A man with certain death

before his eyes, with not even the remotest hope of any possibility of

escape, is not governed as other men are under ordinary circumstances

of business and duplicity. If, to the double-dealers and the reserved,

his conduct appears strange in the exposure of his associates, how

much more so in the reflections on his own mother? The testimony of a

dying man, given freely and without any deceptive or compulsory force,

is generally considered reliable. The circumstances under which he

made his confessions, having in view his fast approaching end to all

earthly scenes, the internal evidences of truth which they bear, the

numerous localities which can confirm the facts as in them contained,

all tend to produce convictions as to the substantial accuracy of his

narrations. In his last moments before the fatal drop launched him into

an endless eternity, in reference, read the following certificate,

correctly transcribed, as given by an eye witness in reply to an

application from the author:

MOBILE, ALA., July 31st. 1873.

This is to certify that I was present at the execution of James

Copeland, who was executed at Augusta, Perry county, Miss., the 30th

day of October, 1857; and heard the Sheriff, J. R. S. Pitts, ask him,

the said James Copeland, if the detailed history and list of names

given as members of the Wages and Copeland clan were correct, and he

answered the Sheriff in the affirmative that they were.

T. C. CARTER.

Office 58, North Commerce st., Mobile, Ala.

Other equally reliable certificates could be given to the same effect,

but the one here transcribed will suffice. The person whose signature

is above given, is respectfully known pretty much throughout the City

of Mobile, as well as over the greater part of Mississippi, and whose

veracity none will attempt to dispute.

Let it be borne in mind that the existence of this clan continued

for a great number of years, its fields of operations extended from

State to State—from shore to shore. Here murder and prodigious rapine;

there burning wrecks, with hurried flights from place to place to

avoid capture and the pursuits of retributive vengeance—frequently

succeeding, but now and then failing for short periods of time until

the reserves in men, in money, and in officials or leagued members

of the bar could be brought to bear for rescue or for jail delivery

by process of law. Amid all these chequered scenes of success and

adversity, it would not be impossible for some unintentional errors

of date to have intervened; yet, intrinsically, such errors may be of

a character as not, to the smallest extent, to affect the validity

or value of the “confessions” made; but still, errors of this sort,

may furnish fine capital for indirect sore-headed associates to rave

and foam. As a simple illustration on this point, one man saw another

commit a crime on the 15th, but, on investigation, it turned out to

have been done on the 16th. Now, had he stated “on or _about_ the

15th,” all would have been complete; but will any one contend because

of the omission of this “_or about_,” the whole value of the statement

is destroyed?

Again, typographical errors will occur in almost all printed

productions, to a greater or less extent. Such errors are sometimes

insignificant and sometimes material. In the original work, as first

published, some few typographical errors have been discovered. For

instance, “Shonesmack” should have been Shoemake or Scheumake; but the

idea of raising a fuming warfare because of such sort of errors as

these, is sublimely ridiculous.

After some hesitation about propriety, the author has decided to

re-publish the same as appeared in the first edition, with such few

appended explanations and corrections as are necessary for distinct

comprehension by the reader.

Filial acknowledgements and a tribute of respect for the father,

but mother, brothers, and associates, Copeland spared none.

Without reserve—without restraint—simple and without any object of

complication, truth fell fast and spontaneously during the short time

he had to live. The philosopher, the statesman, and the moralist—all

may deduce lessons of value to the future from his confessions.

Reflections on his mother show the mighty force and influence which

the female parent exercises on youth and maturity. “The rule is bad

that will not work both ways.” If in this case the mother produced so

much of evil fruit, a contrary or an opposite one must produce contrary

results—hence, the vast importance of mothers both to the present and

rising generations.

The Murrell clan first, then the Wages and Copeland next. Both

organizations came to a tragic end. Astounding as the fact may be,

there are some who prefer a life of blood and plunder and terror, to

peaceful industry and the blessings of orderly society. If the life

and history now under consideration should fall into the hands of

some of this class, let them not indulge in the flattering unction

that but for this or the other error committed, the career of the

clan might have continued indefinitely. Let no such fatal delusions

be cherished for a moment. Under a system of semi-civilization, where

laws are only a mock farce, where amount of money is the measure of

guilt or innocence; where judges on the bench, executive officials,

rings, cliques, lawyers, demagogues, and even a number of the clerical

order—Mr. McGrath as an instance—all operate, not according to the

principles of right in consonance with the benign influences which

tend towards a rule of natural order and justice, but in conformity

with corrupt and sordid motives for political considerations to secure

wealth and power, no matter how foul the means; under such an unhealthy

condition of circumstances, organizations like the Murrell, the Wages

and Copeland, however assiduously and indirectly supported by men

of wealth and distinction, however bold and able the actors, cannot

permanently continue. Such combinations of lawlessness for murder and

plunder, incendiarism and all the other darker crimes which belong to

depraved natures, must terminate in death and dissolution; but it so

generally happens that the less guilty end their career on the scaffold

or in some other way by the hands of an outraged community; while the

higher grades of participant criminals, of larger calibre of brain, are

left to revel on the spoils for which the less fortunate have had to

suffer the pains of an ignominious death.

Organizations of such vast and gigantic magnitude, are incidents of

a rude and transition state of society, where population is sparse,

where means of protection are sadly at fault, and where so many

hardened criminals make their escape through the mock forms of trials

in courts, not of justice, but of ignorance and corruption under the

name of liberty and a scrupulous tenderness in behalf of a spurious or

false sentimental color of humanity; but in proportion as population

increases, so also must detection and protection, with a better

administration of law and justice increase in the same ratio, even if

the forms of government have to be changed for the accomplishment of

the same. Wealth cannot accumulate long without chaos and anarchy,

unless protection of life and property be commensurate.

But often the closing era of such terrible organizations for bold and

daring depredations on the better portions of society, then begin other

organizations of less dimensions, but more dangerous, because more

subtle and refined, and in every way harder of detection.

There is something terrible, or, at least, alarming in conception

awakened by the names of _clans_ and _bands_; but different as regards

_rings_ and _cliques_. These last control legislation the executives

and cabinets, and nearly the whole of the judicial rings. They are

the arbiters of aspirants of every description—generally according to

the price or consideration offered. But there is yet another lower

grade of rings and cliques, composed of subordinate officers, picayune

members of the bar, and low-down reckless strikers. When money or

other sorts of gain is to be made, these strikers are set to work,

and if they become involved in law difficulties, the cheap lawyers,

with the assistance of the officials, are always at hand to liberate

the offending culprits. Former methods of murder, conflagration and

high-handed robbery have been exchanged for more intricate forms of

conquest and gain.

Whoever ventures an exposure of the fashionable vices of influential

circles—whoever assails the citadels and strongholds of crime

and corruption, must not expect to elude numerous and deep-laid

conspiracies for the sacrifice of life, which, if he escape falling a

victim, he will be more than fortunate. Even so far, the author has

bitterly experienced all this. The marvel is that he is yet alive and

determined to continue in stronger terms than before exhibited—relying

on invincible truth and the better portions of society to bear him up

through the ordeal which he has to encounter. Although he has suffered

much, and has had many “hair-breadth escapes” from the plots and snares

laid for his destruction.

The subsequent part of the Appendix will inform the reader of several

infernal concoctions for assassination when attempts at intimidation

failed. The first of these will embrace particulars in the period

betwixt the publication and the author’s arrest, and the other about

three years after the trial had terminated. The period betwixt

publication and arrest cannot be devoid of interest to the reader—it

is a prelude to the important trial which followed. The incidents

involved during the time here referred to have ponderous bearings, in

a circumstantial point of view, toward establishing the substantial

correctness of Copeland’s confessions, although intended to invalidate

them and make a nullity of the whole.

During imprisonment Copeland seemed to fully comprehend the profound

plans and commanding power of one by the name of Shoemake. This is the

man who played so conspicuous a part before and on trial in combination

with the three prosecuting parties of Mobile. The arch-enemy of all

mankind cannot surpass him in perfidious deception.

“With smooth dissimulation well skilled to grace,

A devil’s purpose with an angel’s face.”

He who it was who first addressed a letter of almost matchless

duplicity to the author, while residing in Perry county, under a

forged or fictitious signature. He who it was who next visited the

author in person, first to try the arts of persuasion, and then the

designing influences of intimidation, but in either case without the

desired effect. After this, he it was who entered into compact with the

prosecuting three, of Mobile, bore the requisition from the Governor

of Alabama to the Governor of Mississippi for the rendition of the

author, and, in the circumstances connected with the arrest, acted in

such a mysterious and suspicious manner as could leave no doubt that

he contemplated the life of the author under a plausible pretext of

resistance to lawful authority. But this object was signally defeated.

A considerable number of good citizens quickly collected together, well

armed for protection, and volunteered to accompany the author under

arrest to Mobile, which they accordingly did, and effectually secured

his safety.

The trial followed next. By careful attention to the circumstances

connected with it much information may be gathered, showing the force

of political considerations, and how hard the task for truth and

justice, in the first efforts, to gain a triumph over a combination of

wealth and intellect leagued together for bad purposes. For instance,

the presiding Judge, McKinstry, could have had no personal prejudice or

enmity against the author, and in his heart might have rejoiced over

the dissolution of the clan, but his palpably reprehensible conduct on

trial furnishes convincing evidence that he was influenced by other

considerations than those of law and justice. To this fact Dr. Bevell,

one of the impaneled jurymen on the case, had his eye turned in the

references to the Judge’s conduct and political considerations, which

references will be found in his letter published in another part of the

work.

On the days of trial the notorious character of this said Shoemake

was made public and manifest. He was the principal witness relied on

in the prosecution. Another, equally infamous, as demonstrated by the

most satisfactory of testimony, by the name of Bentonville Taylor, was

brought from afar in rags and poverty, and sent back in costly attire

with money in profusion. Does the impartial judgment require anything

more to produce conviction of the shameful features of the prosecution?

If so, he will find much more before he gets through the particulars of

the trial. Added to this, the almost universal outburst of sympathy in

behalf of the author, with letters of condolence from distant parts,

all of which will be found in the proper places of the work.

Under circumstances so adverse it is not to be expected that Copeland,

in his confession, could give more than a small fractional part of

the transactions of the whole clan. Since then a number and variety

of interesting matters have been collected from the most authentic of

sources, and will be found in the appropriate place of this pamphlet.

The subject of crime opens an almost inexhaustible expanse for

expatiation. An elaborate treatise on its causes and remedies is too

prolix for a work of this nature—only a few passing observations on

this theme will be found interspersed, which are relevant and have a

direct bearing on the main topics discussed.

And now, in closing this introductory part, the author wishes the

public to understand that he has no personal animosity against those

who so wrongfully deprived him of his liberty, ruined him with

expenses, and encompassed his life in so many intricate ways. He has

not indulged in any revengeful passions, but has endeavored to strictly

confine himself to the unprejudiced and impartial province of the

historian and biographer—according merit where due, and with propriety

denouncing crimes, corruptions and unhealthy conspiracies whenever they

come in the way. And, if in so doing, he is to endure a repetition of

persecutions and prosecutions, with fresh dangers added, he will try to

bear them with all the fortitude he can command, with the hope that the

peaceably and honestly disposed parts of the community will rally for

the pulling down the edifices of vice, and for establishing a better, a

purer and a healthier condition of society.

PREFACE.

The number of years during which the Copeland and Wages Gang of Land

Pirates pursued a successful career of robbery, incendiarism and murder

in the United States; their final dismemberment, disgrace and violent

end at the hand of retributive justice; and the stern moral lesson

taught by their history and fate, have induced the undersigned to

publish the confession of one of the leaders of the gang, as made by

himself, in anticipation of his death at the hands of the hangman. Its

accuracy may be relied on; and indeed it is hardly possible to doubt

the truth of its statements, so minutely, consecutively and clearly are

they related, and so consonant are they with the various localities and

the characters of the men.

This confession was given to me, principally by the aid of copious

memoranda which Copeland had kept for years in his diary, and which

materially refreshed his memory.

James Copeland, the subject of this memoir, was born near Pascagoula

river, in Jackson county, Miss., on the 18th day of January, 1823. He

was the son of Isham Copeland and Rebecca Copeland, his wife—formerly

Rebecca Wells. The parents had resided for many years near Pascagoula

river.

Isham Copeland was a farmer in easy circumstances, with a good farm,

several negroes, plenty of horses and mules and other live stock; and,

in fact, he might be said to have everything about him that a family in

moderate circumstances could require to enable him to live comfortably.

He was the father of several sons; but, alas! this, which is by most

men deemed a blessing, proved to him a curse; and after encountering

many trials in youth and manhood, just when he thought to enjoy the

peace and repose of old age, his son’s misconduct drew on him many

severe reverses of fortune, and finally drove him to the grave broken

hearted.

J. R. S. PITTS.

LIFE AND CAREER

OF

JAMES COPELAND,

THE SOUTHERN LAND PIRATE, AND HIS INTIMATE ASSOCIATES,

AS RELATED IN DETAIL, BY HIMSELF, IN PRISON, A FEW DAYS BEFORE HIS

EXECUTION, TO DR. J. R. S. PITTS, THEN SHERIFF OF PERRY COUNTY, MISS.

When I was about ten or eleven years of age, my father sent me to

school, and I went at intervals from time to time, to several good

teachers. I might, with proper training and management, have received

a liberal education. My father often insisted, and urged it upon me

to study and try to obtain a good education, and he told me that he

would send me to school as long as I wished to go. But being misled by

my associations with bad company, I was engaged, instead, in studying

mischief, and other things no way profitable to myself or advantageous

to youths. It was my misfortune, that my disposition led me on to

study how to cheat, defraud and swindle my comrades and school-mates,

out of their pocket-knives, their money or anything they might have,

which I wanted, and I was generally successful in my undertaking. If I

could not effect my object in one way, I would resort to some other,

and finally obtain it before I stopped. Indulging in this rude and

mischievous disposition, I naturally became more hardened, and when

at school, it was my delight to see the scholars whipped or otherwise

punished, and I would often tell lies on any of them that would

displease me, so as to cause them to get a flogging; and very often

I would tell a lie on an innocent scholar, so as to clear a favorite

and guilty one, and have the innocent one punished. It most generally

happened, that I managed my villainy so as to get clear; it sometimes

happened, however, that I got punished. This I did not care for any

longer than the punishment lasted. So soon as I was released, I would

commit a worse misdeed than the one I was chastised for, and any of my

school-mates that were the cause of my punishment, I was certain to

wreak my vengeance on, by having them punished in some way. From my

bad conduct in school there was no teacher that would permit me to go

to his school long at a time, and whenever I had any difficulty with

my teachers, my mother would always protect and indulge me in what

I would do; and being so indulged and protected, this excited me to

commit crimes of greater magnitude. And I am frank, here to say, that

my mother has been the principal and great cause of all my crimes and

misfortunes, by stimulating me to the commission of those deeds that

have brought me to what I am.

When I was about the age of twelve years, my mother one day sent me

with a sack to a neighbor’s house (Mr. Helverson’s), to procure some

vegetables or greens. I communicated my errand to Mrs. H., who told me

to go to the garden and take what I wanted. I had no knife with me. I

asked Mrs. H. to loan me a knife, which I knew she had, and she pulled

out a very pretty little knife from her work-pocket, and told me not to

lose or break it, for it was a present made to her by a friend. This I

listened to and promised her that I would be careful. Now, while I was

in the garden procuring vegetables or greens, my whole mind and wits

were employed in devising some mode by which I could cheat the lady out

of her knife. Finally, after I had procured my vegetables and placed

them in the sack, I put the knife in the bottom of the sack; I then

returned to the house, and told the lady that I laid the knife down in

the garden, and had forgot the place and could not find it; I asked her

to go with me and help me hunt for it, which she accordingly did, and

we both hunted diligently, but to no effect. The lady was very anxious

about her knife and much regretted its loss, while I was all the time

laughing in my sleeve, to know how completely I had swindled her. This

trick of mine passed off very well for a time. It was, however, found

out that I had the knife, and that created some noise and trouble. I

was accused of stealing the knife. But I denied all accusations and

stated that I had bought the knife I had, in Mobile, and proved it by

my mother, who always upheld me in my rascality. This may be said to

have been my first successful feat in stealing, although I was in the

habit of stealing little frivolous things from the school boys, before

that time.

My father living a very close neighbor to Mr. Helverson, whose family

is related to ours, their stock run together in the same range. My next

onset in stealing was from Mr. H. again; he had a lot of very fine fat

pigs, and these were at that time selling at a high price in Mobile.

My brother Isham (nicknamed Whinn) and myself geared up a horse in a

cart and started, pretendingly for a camp hunt to kill deer and haul

to Mobile. We went a short distance that night and camped. During the

night we went to Helverson’s hog bed, and stole a cart load of his

finest pigs, fifteen in number, hauled them to Mobile and sold them at

two dollars each. Although Mr. H. was satisfied in his own mind that we

had stolen his pigs, yet he could not prove it; and I escaped again.

So I was stimulated with my success, and being still more encouraged

and upheld by my mother, and not exceeding fourteen years of age, I

believed that I could make an independent fortune by thieving, and

became insensible of the danger which awaited me. A short time after

the incident just related had transpired, I made a second rake upon Mr.

H.’s pigs. But in my second adventure, I was not so fortunate as I

was in the first, for Mr. H. _rather got me_ that time. The proof was

sufficiently strong, and I was prosecuted, for the first time, for pig

stealing. Well knowing my guilt as I did, and the evidence against me,

I thought my case extremely doubtful. I was arrested by the sheriff of

Jackson county, and had to give bond to appear at the Circuit Court

of Jackson county, to answer an indictment preferred against me by

the State of Mississippi, for the crime of larceny. The bond required

me to attend the Court from term to term, and from day to day, until

discharged by due course of law. My poor old father employed the best

counsel to defend me, that could be obtained in all the country. This

cost the poor old man a large sum of money. My counsel, after learning

the facts of the case, advised me that my only chance of acquittal,

was to put off the trial as long as possible. This he did from term to

term, in hopes that something might occur to get me acquitted. I well

knew if my case should be brought to a hearing, I would be convicted,

and I dreaded the consequences; for I knew that there would then be no

chance on earth to prevent my being sent to the penitentiary.

Fully sensible of my situation, young as I was at that time, it

became necessary for me to devise some plan to get out of the scrape,

and I reflected for weeks how to manage this matter. One day, in a

conversation with my mother and some other confidential friends, she

and they advised me to consult GALE H. WAGES; and my mother said she

would send for Wages and see him herself, as he was a particular friend

of hers. This she accordingly did, and he came to our house. There were

several of the clan at our house then, though I did not know them at

that time as such; but my mother did, as I afterward found out when I

joined them. Among the many plans proposed by the clan, none seemed

to suit my mother or Wages. Some were for waylaying and killing the

witnesses; some for one thing, and some for another. Finally Wages

made his proposition, which was seconded by my mother. This was the

proposition I had been waiting to hear, for my mother told me that

whatever plan Wages would pursue, he would be certain to get me clear.

His plan was, that we should, in some way or other, endeavor to have

the Court house and all the records destroyed, and so destroy the

indictment against me. By that means there would be nothing against me,

and I should be acquitted, as no charge would rest against me.

With this plan I was highly pleased, and much elated with the idea

that I had a friend fully able and competent to bear me out, and who

would stand up to me at any and all hazards, and bring me out clear.

Wages pledged himself to me in private to do this, and he was as good

as his word. We set a time for the accomplishment of our design, and

we accordingly met. The precise date I cannot recollect, but it was a

dry time, and a dark night, with a strong breeze from the North. After

procuring sufficient dry combustibles, we entered the Court-house,

went up stairs, and placed our combustibles in the roof, on the

windward side of the house. Wages went down stairs to patrol around.

After reconnoitering around sufficiently, he gave me the signal, by

a rap or knock on the wall; I immediately sprung open the door of my

dark-lantern, applied the match, and made my escape down stairs, and

Wages and myself left the place in double quick time. We halted on an

eminence some five or six hundred yards to the southeast of the Court

house, to watch the conflagration. Such a sight I never had before

beheld. The flames seemed to ascend as high, if not higher than the

tops of the tallest pine trees; they made everything perfectly light

for over two hundred yards around. After the Court-house, records

and all were completely consumed, and the flames had abated and died

away, we took our departure for home, rejoicing at our success in

the accomplishment of our design. There was a great deal of talk and

conjecture about the burning of the Court-house, and we were accused—at

least, I was strongly censured, but there never was any discovery made,

nor any proof sufficient to get hold of either Wages or myself; so I

again got clear of a crime of which I was guilty and for which I ought

to have been punished.

The assistance, advice and protection I had received from Wages, gave

me the utmost confidence in him, and he had unbounded influence over

me; I looked on him as my warmest and most confidential friend, and

I eventually pinned my whole faith on him and relied upon him for

advice and directions in everything. Although a villain, as I must

now acknowledge Wages was, yet he had some redeeming traits in his

character. At his own home he was friendly, kind and hospitable;

in company, he was affable and polite; and no person at first

acquaintance, would have believed for one moment, that he was the _out

lawed brigand_ that he finally proved himself to be; and I firmly

believe he would have spilt the last drop of blood in his veins to

protect me; yet I must say that he was the principal author of my

misfortunes, and has brought me where I am.

After the burning of the Court House, the intercourse between Wages and

myself became more frequent. We became strongly allied to each other,

and confidence was fully established between us. Wages one day made

a proposition to me; to join him, and go with him, alleging that we

could make money without work, and live in ease and genteel style; that

there were a great many persons concerned with him, in different parts

of the country, some of them men of wealth and in good standing in the

community in which they lived; that they had an organized _Band_ that

would stand up to each other at all hazard; that they had a _Wigwam_ in

the city of Mobile, where they held occasional meetings; and that they

had many confederates there whom the public little suspected. To this

proposition I readily acceded; it corresponded with my disposition and

idea of things, and then, being the age I was, and stimulated by my

past success, I feared nothing.

I went to Mobile with Wages, and there he introduced me to some of

his comrades, who were members of his Clan. They accordingly held a

meeting at their _Wig-wam_, and I was there introduced by Wages, (who

was their president,) as a candidate for membership, I should have been

rejected, had Wages not interceded for me. I was finally passed and

admitted to membership. Wages then administered to me the oath, which

every member had to take. I was then instructed and given the signs and

pass-words of the Clan; and above all was cautioned to keep a watchful

eye, and not to let any person entrap me; nor let any person, under

pretence of belonging to the Clan, or wishing to join, obtain in any

way information from me in relation to the existence of the Clan, or

their plan or mode of operation. The oath was administered on the Holy

Bible. (Oh! what a profanation of that good book!) The form of the oath

was: “You solemnly swear upon the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God, that

you will never divulge, and always conceal and never reveal any of the

signs or pass-words of our order; that you will not invent any sign,

token or device by which the secret mysteries of our order may be made

known; that you will not in any way betray or cause to be betrayed any

member of this order—the whole under pain of having your head severed

from your body—so help you God.”

Wages was President and Chief of the Clan. All important business

of the Clan was entrusted to his care. He called meetings, gave all

notices to the Clan for their gatherings, and when assembled he

presided in the chair. In all matters, he had the preferred right to

introduce resolutions for the benefit of the Clan.

There were present at this meeting, Charles McGrath, Vice-President;

McClain, Secretary; John Eelva, Henry Sanford, Richard Cabel and

Sampson Teapark, Vigilant Committee; William Brown, of Mobile, Tyler.

After I was thus initiated, and invested with all the signs, words and

tokens, and fully instructed in the mysteries of the Clan, I was taught

their mode of secret correspondence, by means of an alphabet or key,

invented by the notorious Murrell, of Tennessee. I was furnished with

the alphabet and key, and in that same mystic writing I was furnished

with a list of all the names that belonged to our Clan, and a list

of several other Clans, that ours was in correspondence with, their

several places of residence, and the locations of their Wig-wams; so

that when we stole a horse, a mule, or a negro, we knew precisely where

to carry them, to have them concealed and sold.