Democratic messenger., 1893-06-24
A HORRIBLE MURDER
Captain Frank Cooper
Murdered on his YES
sci at Deals
Island.
TWO NEGROES DID TT.

TWO NEGROES DID TT
THE MEN CONFESS TELL
HOW THEY COMMITTED
THE AWFUL DEED.
On Friday the ninth instant, Captain
Frank Cooper of Virginia, was at Deal.
Island with his vessel the James A. Dai
ger managed by a crew of two coloret
men. On Saturday the Captains bod,
was found floating in the sound. He hat
been foully murdered. The colorcd men
had disappeared and secured passage fol
Virginia. Telegram, headed them off and
after struggle they were captured ard
placed in Lancaster County Jail. The
Degroes. named Courtney and Taylor
were taken out of the Jail by Sheriff Tull
of Somerset County and il was all he
could do To prevent the incensed people
from lynching the murderers. Sheriff
Tull was accompanied by DIR. Monmonier
Rowe. Capt W. d. Windsor, @. A. Cos
lee and reporter Of The .Sna The party
lett Deals Island at midnight Saturday,
and arrived at Carers Creek at IL o'clock
on Sunday. AS soon as he had his pris-
Oners on board of his boat some one in
the crowd gave "A signal and from all
sides small boats approached and the
men who were In them clambered over
the vessels sides until there was scarcely
standing room. Sheriff Tull and his depu-
ties took their positions on the matches
which covered the hold and to all he
stated that he would defend the prisoners.
lie made strong appeal hot to he dis
turbed In taking the prisoners to Mary.
land for trial. The mob would not listen.
but constantly called for Courtney.
Sheriff Tull was seized and forcibly taken
from the hatchway. The Sheriff freed
himself and returned to his post, DIR.
Newbill. Messrs. Frank Newbill, Melee
and Walter Damman. all citizens of the
place, made appeals TO the crowd beg
cing them 10 desist and allow the men 10
go. The crowd subsidized, but i, was for
n purpose.
ATTEMPTED LYNcHING.
Hardly had DIR. Newbill stopped talk
ing before the cry went up. I'VE have
him." The vessels hatch had been torn
away and forty or more peopl. were in
The vessels hold searching for the cul-
prits Courtney and Taylor tried To hide
N the fore peak, where they were found.
A rope was procured and placed around
he neck of Courtney. The negro strus-
,led. and Sheriff Tull Jumped down the
iold. opened his knife and cut the rope
ust as the negro was being hOisted on
ieck.
Finally realizing that they could not |
,ct the prisoners. the people listened to
he argument made by DIR. Newbill and |
'ihers. and Sheriff Tull and his party were
IllOwed to leave. The contention lasted |
Until past midnight During all this time |
he shores were lined with men and wo. |
men. Among the latter was the wife Of |
he murdered man, who constantly cried |
'ut to the crowd To kill the men who had
AIKEN her husbands life.
END or THE STRUGGLE
As soon as the decks became clear
taptain Windsor hoisted anchor and |
lrificd out ofthe creek about IL o'clock.
courtney WAS seen crying, aud when ask
d what was the cause of his emotion he
aid he wanted to tell the truth about the
Whole affair. The prisoner stated that
N Sunday afternoon, while on board of
he James V. Dagger. lying at Deals Is.
and. Henry Taylor and / were talking
bout money and both said we would
IKE To have money enough To carry us
hrough the summer without working
or il. ! said the Captain has a good bit
+ money with him. Taylor said let's
ill him and take il, as he owes me for
FORK. said no; we will. wait till he
tarts ashore and then we will throw him
own on deck and take what he owes us.
Ienry Taylor and said we would put
he body overheard and nobody could
nd II. We went 10 the forepeak and
ot an iron dredge roller. weighing about
hirsy pounds. and we tied piece of rope
. each end of IL, so we could tie his
cad at one end and his feet To the other
nd the weight would sink the body.
apt. Cooper was ashore at church. When
e came down TO the wharf he hailed the
essel. He had intended TO go to Balti-
lore ahd had borrowed a pair of trous-
rs from me To wear ashore To- church.
Did Henry Taylor that the captain would
ant To wear his clothes, and if he (Tay-
'r) let him have them, we could not get
chance to kill him when the sailboat
cached the wharf. Captain Cooper ask
! Henry to let him have his trousers
enry said no: he wanted his clothes
Imset 1apiain cooper said this Is
retty hard; had no clothes aboard the
essel and you will not let me wear yours.
e got in the yawlboat and we took him
BOARD the vessel.
4 SHOCKING CRIME.
Here we all talked, and about . O'Clock y
e all three went 10 the cabin The cap :,
in undressed and got in his bunk on the
arboard side. 90, in the port bunk
ID Henry Taylor laid alongside of me .
! the locker The iiller began to thump I
I'd we thought il would keep the cap !,
in awake. got up and went out on u
'ck and tied the tiller to keep it from
ringing around. | returned To the cabin
I'd both of us went again on deck This !,