The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-05
INDIANA ANDILLINOIS NEWS
Bartholomew County Greatly Excited
Over the Brutal Murder of Cooper.
Breach of Promise Suit at Richmond
Charged with Robbing an Express Com
pany-State Notes and GleanIngs.


Bartholomew County Still Excited Over the
Cooper Murder--Address from the Sheriff.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
COLUMBUS, Jan. 4-The Cooper murder. a
brief account of which was published in the
Journal of Sunday, is still the absorbing topic in
this community. The coroner's inquest still con-
tinues with closed doors, and there are num-
berof witnesses yet to be examined. Further
most cold blooded and brutal crimes ever COM
mitted. Thepost-mortem showed that one ball, in
the forehead, had penetrated the brain. and the
skull had also been broken by some duh instru-
ment which wounds probably caused death, and
the several pistol shots fired into the body
after Cooper had fallen. possibly were
after death. He was undoubtedly hauled to
where he was found and everything about him
arranged so as to indicate that he was killed
there, after violent struggle. The tolls are
drawing closer around young Fix. who was ar
rested on Saturday, and the general belief is
that he is guilty. The investigation shows that
Cooper and Evan Fix worked together at Mrs.
Rachel Fix's, on Tuesday, and that Cooper ate
supper there that evening. The Fix family
swear that he started away after supper, saying
that he was going to Newbern village some
two nile east, but he was never again seen
alive, and the body was found five miles
in the opposite direction. The club that
lay near the body was found to have been cut
from an old reaper-tongue in the Fix barn-lot the
other pieces and the chips hewn from it having
been found there also an AK with hicks in it
responding to the marks on the club Blood
developed that Fix and Cooper were engaged in
stealing clovertseed and a considerable portion
was found stored in the Fix residence. The
theory is that they fell out concerning this, or
Fix was afraid that Cooper would divulge the
secret, and determined to put him out of the
way; that he was killed at or near the Fix resi-
dence and taken to where found. There were q
number of on-hunters in tine wood where
the body was found, and the object appeared to
be to convey theimpression that he had been at
tackled while hunting.
All that region where the murder ACQUIRED is
intensely wrought up, and mutterings and
threats Of vengeance are heard on every hand.
So serious is the situation that Sheriff Brown
this evening published the following address,
though it is hoped that no violence will be at
tempted
ITO the Citizens of Clfty Township
Everything that can be done is being accom-
plished by the officers of the law to ferret and
bring toa just punishment the perpetrators of
the foul murder that has been committed upon
one of our citizens and, as is believed, in your
very midst. Anything bearing upon the case.
which may tend to throw light upon it, should
be furnished me in the fullest detail. Thus the
ends of justice will be subserved But I espe-
cially desire to caution everyone against any
unauthorized step in thS. matter, as any
move to take upon itself the punishment of a
crime by the public is itself violation of the
law. and renders the actors liable to the law.
Better councils should prevail, and any sugges-
ton of lynch law should by frowned upon, so
that no blot should attach to the public at large.
The officers of the law fully appreciate the terri
BILE character of the crime. and will do their ut
most to bring its details to light and its perpe-
traitors to justice Meantime the cooler judg-
ment of the people should prevail.
JAMES S. BROWN, Sheriff"