The morning news., 1894-10-22
A COUNTY ON A MAN HUNT.
Five Hundred Men Trying TO Run DOWa
The COpeS MuTdeTerS.

No Trace Of Them Yet Found-The MUIR
dered Treasurer Fired on Simultane-
ouGly From Both Sides of the Road-A
Tin Box Containing About 875 in
Silver Secured, but $3.50 in Bills in
One of His Pockets Overlooked.
Columbia, S. c., oct. 21.-The coroner'a
inquest was held over the body of Robert
Copes the murdered treasurer of Orange.
burg county, this morning. From the tess
timony given there. it is learned that the
| treasurer had been at crossroads
eleven miles from the city of Orangeburgs
collecting taxes from a. m. till p. ms
when he left for the city driving alone
/ through the country in a one-horsa
buggy. He had with him about 1855 In
greenbacks, which he placed in his trou-
sers pocket. and about SIS in silver. which
he placed in a tin box in the bottom of
his buggy. He had not gotten more than
/ two miles from the place at which he had
| collected the money when he was killed.
He had just crossed a small stream
which runs through the middle OF Dry
swamp, and the highwaymen had chosen
well their place, as It is a lonely and un-
| frequented one. He was fred upon al~
most simultaneously by a man on each
side of the road. Five buckshot passed
through his hat and seventeen entered
the left side of his head, mangling 1t fear
fully. There were also five buckshoe
wounds in the right breast Evidently
his horse plunged forward at the shot OF
the guns and was seized by the highway
| men
They then pulled the dead treasurer
! from the buggy and searched some of his
pockets taking his pocket knife
and keys and snatching his small
| Valise and tin box, in which was
about $75 in silver, beneath the seat of
the buggy, and made off. In his left hand
| trousers pocket was $556 in greenbacks.
which they did not get, nor did they get
his watch, which was in his upper left
hand vest pocket attached to a buckskln
| string, and which they probably took for
! eyeglasses From the tracks around the
| spot, 1t appears that the hjghwaymen
had been waiting in their position for
some time, and that they were white men,
from the style OF the shoes worn. A
widow lady living about mile from the
swamp heard the fatal shots, and says
they were almost simultaneous.
The state bloodhounds were put on the
trail of the murderers about 70 O'Clock last
night, and they tracked them to a point
river, where they evidently took row.
boat and went down the river
Treasurer Copes was a very popular
man and at least 500 men are out search
ing for the murderers. At O'Clock to-
| night the telegraph operator at Orange-
burg reports that five negroes have been
arrested on evidence not heard at the
coroneP's inquest, and that they have all
been lynched.
Charleston. s. c., oct. a.--A special to
the News and Courier from Orangeburg
says: "As yet nothing has transpired
TO fix the indentity of the Copes murder
era. Every effort has been made to ap-
prehend them, but without success.
1.-THE blood hounds came down on q
special train last night from the state
farm in charge of Capt. Allen of tho
penitentiary guard. They reached the
scene Of the tragedy about 2 clock and
were put on the trail. At first IL seemed
that the dogs were going to accom-
plish something, but they soon lost the
trail The trail was entirely too cold
to hope for much from the hounds
Armed squads of men were riding in
all directions throughout the entire
4 night. Every bridge crossing the Edisto
river was guarded. Sheriff Dukes, as the
news arrived took every precaution to
prevent the escape of the murderers
The scene of the terrible deed is a pic
turesque point in the Cannon bridge road,
where 1t IL crossed by Dry Swamp. The
foliage is very thick on each side of the
road. 1t is probable that not less than
three parties were concerned in the MUIR
der and robbery. Both shots were fired
by the same party from ambush. Behind
a tree on the side of the road were picked
up two empty breech loading shells. An-
other man was probably standing on the
opposite side of the road. who attended to
the horses A place was found near the
road in the bushes beyond the swamp
| from where the murder was committeds
where some one had lain In wait for a
long time This was probably the man
stationed to give the signal Of Mr.. Copes'
arrival This swamp is very thick on
| both sides, and only about one mile dis
tant from the river. 1t is thought that tho
nurderers either took to the river in a
boat or are now concealed somewhere in
the swamp.
This morning Mr. Copes satehel was
found some distance off in the swamp with
several sllts in It. This satchel contained
what money was stolen. 1t is impossible
at this time TO ascertain exactly the
amount of money that is missing, but II
will hardly exceed $50 or SIS.
Several hundred men have been out
searching all day and they are determined
to leave no stone unturned to assist in
the capture Of the villains
Tomorrow the citizens of Orangeburg
| will probably increase the reward offered
by the governor $500 making In all, a
bounty Of 81, 900 hanging over the heads of
the murderers. II seems that this ought
| 10 bring them to justice
Detective Holland of Denmark is upon
, the scene. aiding by every means in his
power the searching parties.
The funeral OF Mr. Copes took place
this afternoon, with Masonic honors, In
the Methodist church"