The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-01-13

horses set out io pursuit Of Cooper. Other
messengers we're sent to St. Charles and o.
wego TO call out the people to be on the look
out for Cooper. Sheriff Pierson aod the re-
mainder of his posse returned 90 the special
to Sumter for the purpose of sending out
other posses surround Cooper if possible.
Your correspondent, in company with
Coroner A. D. Moses, and his constable, W.
H. Commander, went ten miles across the
country to the scene of the tragedy
THE SCENE OF THE TRAGEDY.
arriving there a more grew some and
bloody spectacle was never beheld. 10 the
road, Immediately 10 front of the house lay
Preston Smith, colored, covered with blood,
with 40 axe still sticking in the back of his
head, just as if it had been block of wood.
Eotering the house, which was small two
room frame cottage, with hallway between,
a more horrible spectacle vas disclosed.
Lying 90 the floor, weliering in blood, wss
the half clad form Of q venerable old man.
His face was bloody from cash across one
temple and eye, and his long, grey beard
was clo,ted with gore, as was his entire shirt
front. This was Mr.. B. E Wilson, aged 76
years. % the floor of the left hand room
was the bloody form OF Mr.. S. Wesley Will
son. A pool of blood extended from be-
meath his head across the room. The back
of his head was split open, as with an axe,
and there were two bullet holes in the side of
the head and one through his righ, hand.
Oae cheek was burned and powder marked.
just in front of the fireplace, in the other
room, in scant white nightgown laJ the
body of Mrs. Wesley Wilson, handsome
young woman Of 20 or % years Her face
was pillowed 90 one arm, which rested in g
pool OF blood that still oozed from her
mouth and the wound in the back of her
head. Her luxuriant brown hair was sata-
rated with her blood. Her bare feet we're
soiied from contact ith the frosty ground,
when she had gone in the lot to hitch up the
horse for Ter fendish murderer. The house
was turbed topsy-turvey, and oa the floor
were seen number of erpty rife and pis-
to cartridges, showing that Cooper bad
taken the precauton to reload after complet-
ing his murderous work.
TIE INQUEST.
The coroner empanneIed jury and exam
ined ]. W. Baker, white, Sam Lowry and
one other negro, who was in the vicinity
when the four murders were committed.
Dr. e. F. Darby made an exam ination Of the
bodies and submitted written statement,
that simply described the nature of the
wounds, and declared that the dead came to
their da.th from said wounds. The verdict
10 esch case was that the deceased came to
their death from wounds Inflicted by Simon
Cooper with murderous iutent.
This is the story of the mos. 6endish mur-
der in the history of Sumter County. The
murder is one of the most brutal and blood
thirsty on record, and the people Of the State
should use every effort to bring him to
justice.
THE MURDERER DESCRIBED.
Simon Cooper is ginger-cake co:ored ne
gro, about feet or 10 inches in height, 25
to 80 years old, broad shoulders, has small
mus.ache, two gold filling in front teeth,
toes of one foot were burned off when
,h;Id /. nho, Ioot oooo uoro lioht rroo cn;:
his movements are quick and nervous !: has
wound on back Of neck and bead, received
iu the riot on Emancipation Day; may have
other wounds on bis person.
LAST HEARD OF COOPER.
Isaac Boyle, the boy who was with Cooper
when the killing was done, and drove him
toward Sumter, was captured hear Mayes-
vile this afternoon. He says that Cooper
came within three miles of this place, left the
buggy, gave him FIVE dollars and told him 10
go home. The boy says also that Cooper
boasted OF ravishing Mrs. Wilson before
blowing her brains out. Cooper is said to
have been seen in Mayesville after O'Clock
tonight, and went 10 the direction of fLynch-
burg.
F ON the Daily Item, Jan. g.
The Story of the Capture and
Killing Of Simon Cooper, the
Desperate and Murderer.
The above report sent The News and Cou-
rier last night covers the outlines Of the Mag.
poIia tragedy as fully as necessary. Itis an
occurrence 60 horrible and 80 deplorable that
the details cannot do more than further
torture the minds and hearts of all people in
whose breasts the well-springs of human
sympathy and compassion have not dried up;
a detailed account could do DO more than
further in6ame the passions of people al