Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-01-13
SHOT, HANGED AND SHOT.
People of Sumter Visit Summary Punisi
ment on Simon Cooper.


People of Sumter Visit Summary Punish
ment on Simon Cooper.
Simon Cooper, the Sumter county
murderer and ravisher, has paid the
penalty for his iendish crimes. He met
death last Friday at the hands of an
infuriated crowd of people of Sumter
and adjoining counties, after desper-
ale resistance Of several hours.
AS already stated, after the cold
blooded murder of the Wilson family,
the people of the adjoining country be-
came thoroughly aroused, and imme-
diately squads of men, armed with
shotguns and rifles, began to scour the
country in every direction in search of
the fend. The search was kept up
Thursday and Thursday night, and al
though numerous false trails were run
down, no definite Information as to
the whereabouts of the Negro was
procured until about 2 o'clock Friday
morning.
1t seems that after having lodged
about all day, late Thursday night,
Cooper went to the house of his uncle,
Jake Dargan, a respectable Negro who
lives about five miles from Sumter
and demanded shelter for the night.
A posse had searched the house only
about half an hour before, and al
though Dargan did not want Cooper
to come in, he dared not try to keep
him out. Cooper was hungry and
tired, and after getting something to
eat, gave Dargan S5, with instructions
to 20 to Camden and buy cartridges,
and then went to sleep. Instead of
going to Camden, Dargan went to the
house of Mr.. George Burkett, four
miles from Sumter, and informed him
as to Cooper's whereabouts.
Mr.. Burkett Immediately got out of
bed and made arrangements with John
Cooper, colored, to 60 to Sumter after
Sheriff Pierson. John Cooper is
: half-brother of the murderer; but the
understanding is that to kill John was
a part of Simon's business in the
neighborhood just at the time, aud
John, therefore, was more than willing
to undertake the task of bringing the
sheriff.
i Sheriff Pielson was indisposed when
he received the message; hut immedi-
ately communicated with Deputy Sher-
iff Gaillard, and collecting posse of a
dozen picked men, armed with rifles,
started for bargains cabin, which is
constructed of logs. Not caring to
approach too near the house until af-
ter they got a thorough understanding
of the situation, the members Of the
posse contented themselves with sur
rounding the place; but keeping at a
safe distance from Cooper's murderous
rifle.
The situation remained in shape un-
til shortly after daylight, when having
completed his sleep, Cooper got up out
of his bed and went to the we'll after
some water. Deputy Gaillard, who
was probably 200 yards away, fired at
The Negro with long range rifle; but
missed; and hurrying back into the
house, Cooper got his rife aud began
to fire through the cracks wherever
he caught sight of man. This firing
was kept up on both sides for some
time without result, and at length Dep
uly GaiIlard concluded it advisable to
send for re-inforcrInents.
The sheriff having already arrived
in the meantime, by 10 o'clock the
numbers Of the attacking party was
Increased to someihiu like 100 men
but still it was not thought best to at
tempt a rush. As Cooper Was well
armed and desperate, the sheriff cal
culated that he might kill three or
four men before they could reach the
house and accordingly he decided to 20
10 Sumter and telegraph the governor
for cannon. The governor replied
that he had no cannon available; but
instructed the sheriff to take Cooper
deal or alive.
While Sheriff Person was absent in
Sumter, the increasing crowd grew
more and more impatient, and finally
some Is or 20 men, with more courage
than the others, made rush for clos
er quarters. They succeeded in reach
Ing the corner of small log building
only about 30 yards from the house in
which Cooper was defending himself,
and from this closer range, began fir
ing into the doors and windows Of
Cooper's fortress.
After the doors and windows had
been pretty well riddIed, Cooper called
upon Mr.. C. w. Slansill for parley.
He wanted Mr.. Stansill to come to the
house but this Mr.. Stansill refused to
do. He told the Negro that there was
only one course open to him, and that
was to surrender. Cooper wanted to
know if he would be killed, and Mr..
Stansill assured him that he would
not if be would strip himself naked
and come out with his hands over his
head. At this Cooper began to curse
at terrible rate and swore that he
would "de and 90 to hell before he
would do such thing" Then Mr..
Stansll told him that he would be al
lowed only five more minutes, and
that if he failed to come out in that
time, the house would be blown up
with dynamite. Cooper replied with
Il volry of oaths aud the firing was
renewed.
While the fusilade was going on,
greatly to the surprise of the besieging
party, Cooper suddenly opened the
door Of the house and appeared in the