Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1893-01-27
Attempt to ASSaSSilat0 !
REV. GEO. A. COPP AND FAMILY OF FISH
ER's HILL, VA, NARROWLY ESCAPE BE-
ING BUTCHERED.
(For the HERALD.)

| lNG BIICHkKED.
(For the HERALD.)
Saturday night between the hours of n
and II o'clock after Mr. and Mrs. Copp haC
retired, a negro boy IA years old, named
Bob Coyington, who was bound to Mr.
Copp, attempted to murder the whole
family in their beds He had been sent
on an errand to a neighbor, Mr.. John
Lichliter, TO have his boots repaired, and
had returned and gotten into the ho1se
in his usual way by climbing upon a
small outbuilding and thence oyer an
upper porch and through a window that
opened just over the head Of his bed, Mr.
Copp always keeping his outside doors
locked after retiring. This was about
O'Clock and, acco rdiug to his own state
ment, he went to the kitchen, carrying
with him sharp AK. He says he stood
by the fire for an hour or more waiting
until his transporting victims should be
in sound sleep.
He then gathered MP his murderous
weapon and stealthily and noiselessly
moved toward the door leading into their
bedroom which always remains unlocked.
This he opens quietly, but thanks to a
kind Providence which intends to prevent
the accomplishment of the fiendish deed,
the door creaks as it moves on its hinges
and causes him to hesitate and Mrs. Copp,
who Is awake calls her husbands attention
to it, but he being very drowsy fails to
grasp the situation. However neither 60
to sleep, and when the intended muir
derer pushed the croakiDg door again
Mr.. Copp became alarmed feeling, certain
that be had closed the door and it could
not he the wind. Quietly he arises and
moves to the door which he attempts to
close but finds something against it, but
only for a moment as the monster steps
quickly back He now realizes that
something unusual is going on, but never
suspecting the horrible attempt upon his
life he suddealy pills the door open snd
at the same time strikes a match. His
horror can be imagined when right before
him with the glittering blade uplifted,
his fiendsh eyes almost bullying from
their sockets ard his clutehed teoth white
and beastly, stood the demon.
Dropping the match and in total dark
ness he throws mp his hands as the AK
descends and, thanks to a mercful God,
he graaps The handle. The brute makes
another attempt to strike bat with all
his strength he wrenches the weapon
from his hands and in tho darkness the
would-be murderer makes bis escape.
SpriDging from the bed Mira. Copp
throws fuel on the sleeping fire and IN a
moment tho room is illuminated and
there stands her husband with the
weapon still in his grasp.
Mr.. Copp is a fferer from heart disease
and the trying ordeal is to much for him
and he swoons away. No wonder, for
the poor man has passed through a trial
that would require the stoutost Of hearts
and nerve of iron.
His wife applies restofativoo and he
Soon returns to CONSEQUENCES. He tells
her to ring the bell and summon help, but
before doing this, aud as she approached
the door, the welcome boot beat OF a
horse greets her ear. She calls ard the
riders enter the hoJse and after learning
the facts they arouse TIE neighbors far
and near and a search is instituted. At
an early hour on Sunday morning some
one suggested that he may be hidden in a
large cavity OF straw stack IN Mr., COpp'a
barn-yard BY cutting away largo part
of the stack they find him down deep in
the straw with his hands and feet frozen.
He was taken befOre Justice Cra6lll, of
Toms Brook, who committed him to jail
for the action of the grand jury when It
is hoped he will suffer the punishment
be so richly merits. J. Z. B.