The record-union., 1894-05-17
SUICIDE RATHER THAN THE GALLOWO
A Placer County Prisoner Takes His
Own Life.
William B. Coup Found Dead is His
Cell at Auburn Yesterday-He
Was Veteran.

The town of Auburn, Placer County,
had sensation yesterday, the story OF
which is told by a RECoRD-UNI
representative now in that town.
A man named William B. Coup. who
was to have been tried yesterday for the
murder of Zedekiah Root in Long Can
yon. Placer County. in 1892 committed
suicide in his cell last night by hanging
himself to nail in the wall. He had
used an old handkerchief for the purpose,
and when discovered his feet were rest
ing on the floor of the cell. The history
of the case and the crime for which Coup,
who also went by the name OF Baker,
was to be tried is as follows:
In 1892 ne was working with Root at
Long Canyon. Placer County, IN the
latter's mine. On June 18th of the same
year Coup was arrested at Garden Valley.
FL Dorado County, short distance from
Long Canyon, and was brought 20
Georgetown and placed in the custody OF
Constable Fredericks, charged with hay
ing committed burglary at Garden
Valley.
There being no complaint sworn to
against him he was released, and then
went to Long Canyon.
In the meantime a complaint was
sworn to against him for burglary, and
the officers in Placerville were instructed
to look out for him.
on july 5fh following he was captured
at Piacerviile while celebrating July 4th,
which fell on Sunday, and was observed
on the day following. At that time he was
searched, and on him were found small
bag of gold dust. two purses, two knives
and pair of spectacles.
He was then delivered to Constable
Fredericks. who took him to George
town. and while the officers were prepar-
ing to examine him for the burglary
charge he escaped.
on July 18th a special election was held
in Placer County for some purpose, and
there being but few voters In Long Can
Won Precinct a messenger was sent to
Roots cabin to notify him to serve on the
election board.
When the messenger reached the cabin
he found a notice on the door, reading:
leone to Michigan Bluff" The COM
,uunity was alarmed, and every body
who read the notice said that it was not
in Roots handwriting.
They investigated and after little
while found the body of man slightly
covered with dirt. The remains were ex-
humed, and on examination they were
positively identified as those OF Root,
Coup. having been with Root and stay
ing around the cabin, was Immediately
suspected of having murdered the latter.
At the inquest on Roofs remains the
gold dust, knives and other property
found on Coup when he was caught on
July 5. 1892. were identified as belonging
to the murdered man.
Coup wrote the notice on Roots cabin
door for the purpose of deluding any
body who might inquire for the muir
dered man. At that time Root was buried
near the cabin with his skull crushed IL.
Efforts were made to find Coup. and 1T
was not until about two weeks atterward
that he was apprehended at Oroville. He
was brought to Auburn, and on his pre-
liminary examination he was held to
answer for killing Root, and would have
been tried to-day.
When Coup's body was taken from the
cell in which he hung himself his pock-
cts were searched. and in one of them
was found two pieces Of a newspaper.