The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1894-10-24
MURDER MOST FOUL.
ORANGEBURG COUNTY's TREASURER
wAYLAID AND ASSASSINATED.
Collecting Tour and Treasury Funds
Taken-Gov. Tillman Promptly
Takes . Hand In Trying to
Capture the Villains.


Taken-Gov. Tillinan Promptly
Takes Hand in Trying to
Capture the Villains.
CsANGEBURG, October 20.-Robert
Copes, county treasurer, was fcusly
murdered this afternoon about eleven
miles from this city while on his way
home from the collection of taxes in
Edisto township at J. W. Smoak's
place.
The piace the murder occurred Was
at Dry Swamp, near the residence of
Andrew Myers. The discovery Of the
deed was made first by Andrew Myers,
Mr.. Copes' horse having gone up to
the house hitched to the buggy, and
being recognized by Mr. Myers, who
went il the direction the horse and
buggy had come, found the body lying
in the road at the point mentioned,
with three buckshot in the right tenn
pie. MIR. Myers at once came to the
city and notified the coroner and the
family and friends Of the deceased.
The deed was unquestionabiy for
robbery, Notwithstanding it vas done
in open daylight. Mr.. Copes had
collected it is thought, about $500, none
of which was found on his person after
the murder, The treasurer was known
to have had with him pistol which
was also missing.
The community in which this terri
BILE deed was committed is tolerably
well settled, bat it being Saturday the
large majority OF citizens who were not
at the place where the ts1es were col
lected were at the various tewhs where
it is their habit to 60 nearly every
Saturday to attend to business.
Immediately on receiving tfe ipfor-
nation in regard to the murder the
coroner, sheriff and one or two hundred
citizens went to the place where the
body was found. Blood hounds of the
penitentiary were telegraphed for aad
the information now here is that they
will arrive here by special train at lO
o'clock, when they will be taken to the
place of the murder. An advance BODY
of cautious men was sent out early this
afternoon to prevent, if possible, pass
ing over the path made where the
mur6erers very probably went in max
ing their escape. The bridges at this
city and at Rowesville, near where the
murder was committed, are closely
guarded.
The killing was certainly from am.
bush and the place at which it occurred
gave better means of escape than any
on the route to the city. =.
Mr.. Copes had frequently been heard
to say that he invariably gave himself
sufficient daylight to make his return
to the city in, but it seems that this
did not deter the lawiess spirit that is
so frequently read of in these days.
The inquest was begun tonight and
adjourned over. Nothing will be left
updone to catch the murderers.
Intense excitement prevails. Mr..
Copes was highly respected citizen
and the whole community is bent on
avengiDg the deed. Lypehing is talked
of on every side and in fact, were it
possible to visit upon the murderers 8
greater punishment than death by rope
or shotgun it would be meted out to
them.
Mr.. Copes was about fifty.fve years
old and had held the Office of county
treasurer two terms, from 1878 to 1882,
when he resigned and some time after
wards accepted an appointment as in
spector of postofices and postal routes.
He was again appointed county treas
urer two years ago. He leaves wife
and five children-two sons who are at
the South Carolina College, and three
daughters, who are at home. His death
was q terrible blow to his family, who
have the deepest sympathy of the peo-
pie. The body will not arrive here be-
fore l.. o'clock tonight.
ROBBERS GOT VERY LITTLE MONEY,
Especial to News and Courier
ORANGEBURa, October D.-Later
information from the scene Of the
Copes murder as given oy reliable
parties who have examined the body re-
port that Mr.. Copes was shot twice 6y
two parties in ambush from the side OF
the road. Ten buckshop entered bis
head. Two empty shells were found
near the body. The surroun ding ground
indicates that the assassins' were lying
in wait for Mr.. Copes for some time
before his arrival. The tracks of the
murderers have been discovered in an
old field near by and staked of to
await the arrival of the bloodhounds.
The robbers failed to get any great
amount of money. Five hundred and
fifty-six dollars were found in Mr..
Copes's pockets. The satchel in which
he usually carried bis money and which
is missing containing only about fifty
or seventy. five dollars. The body is
expected to be brought in about l2
o'clock.
TEE BLOODHoUNDS on TIE SCENT.
The special from Columbia has just
arrived with the bloodhounds and their
manager. They have left for the
grounds in charge of special posse
under command OF the sheriff: The
indications are that the criminals will
soon be captured. If they are, in view
of the present excitement, they will
hardly be brought to Jail.
GOV. TILLMAN NoTIFIED-PRoMPT
OFFER OF 4 REWARD ANp SEND
ING OF BLooDHoUNps.
COLUMBIA, October 20.-The an
nouncement of the murder Of Treas
urer Robert Copes, of Orangeburg, was
received here this evening frst over the
railroad wires. It cccasioned great SUR
prise that such thing should happen
in broad daylight in the State.
Governor Tillman received the fol-
lowing notifications of the murder:
"County treasurer killed and robbed
this afternoon nine miles west OF this
city. .,,
John Il. DUKES, Sheriff"
"Treasurer Robert Copes dead nine
miles from Orangeburg. Shot through
head and body. Robbed. Offer re-
ward for murder.
OSCAR r. LowMAN."
"Treasurer killed and robbed nine
miles from town. Could you send
bloodhounds?
&c. B. K1TTRELL, Auditor"
Governor Tillman promptly tele-
graphed Offering a reward of S50l, with
proof to convict. He ordered the two
bloodhounds from the DeSaussure farm
to be sent to the scene.
They were sent on special train
from Hagood's and were due to arrive
in 9rangeburg at 10 O'Clock.
Ar. Copes was nan of high charac-
ter and integrity and has before the