The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1897-01-09

sumter, 8 c., Jan. S-Simcn Cooper.
the negro OUTLAW, who Yesterday muir.
dered three members of the Wilson family
and colored servant, was lynched near
hercx to-day. Cooper was captured bv
the Shcriii's posse and was being taken
to sumter, when the mob decided TO hang
him. The deputy sheriff aided bv two
men resisted the lynchcrs. but were over
powered
y rope was thrown over the limb oc Il
tree ana rs the mnn swung upward II
vollcy rans out. The body WAS pierced
by more than 100 balls One bullet cut
the rope and the corpse fell to the ground,
where the coroner found it some hours
later when me went to hold M inquest.
Cooper was captured about noon in n
cabin live miles irom.ths place. About
O'Clock this morning Jake Darran. col.
ored, went to the house OF WIS. Burkett.
II white neiEhbor, and said that Coopcr
was ut his house asleep. l'urkctt rode
to Sumter with the news and Il deputy
sheriff with il posse of nine men im;nedi-
atclv left. y woman and Il man were m
the house with Cooper. lie sent out the
woman and later sent the man to buy
him ammunition i'll Camden, giving him
II sample shell. The man rode over tn
the posse and gave them the she'll.
Cooper was well armed with Winches.
tcrs and kept up !; continuous fire. The
house is small aud on II hill in the omen.
so that the posse could not at first come
within range with any degree Of safety.
once Cooper came ont of the house with
a gum and was taking aim when Mr..
Cowcn iire,! nj him. Cooper Immediately
dropped his gun, llnelt aud pressed his
hands on his lett side about foun inches
below the heart. Cooper did not shoot.
but returned to The house. Cooper's
steady fire kept the crowd under cover for
some time.
About noon, however, an advance was
made and the posse closed in. They called
to the outlaw to come out and surrender.
promising that he would not he shot.
Cooper replied with vollev Of oaths and
two gentlemen who knew him ordered
hun to strip and come ont. Cooper seeing
that his game was nearly up replied
that he would remove his coat but moth
ing else. After II conference his terms
were accepted. Several men posted them
selves at the door and as the outlaw
stepped out lie was seized by the arms.
rs he stood facing the crowd II shot was
fired and Cooper dropped with rifle ball
through his checks He WAS not badly
wounded, however, ana rs he rolled over.
made IN attempt To get his hand to his
'''hSti@. nc wis SclIcO lEillil ana
searched. Iii his shirt IL razor was found.
while hcncath his trousers band was !,
loaded revolver. Cooper was drunk and
after the Shot became almost unmanngc-
able.
y search OF the cabin revealed il Win
chester rifle, two rcvolvcrs, Il vnlisr filled
with cartridges, ard II number of tasks,
some empty and others filled with Wills
key. On page torn from Il blank book
was written, "Remcmber that | killed
myself; there never was il man that could
take me. Simon Cooper
Cooper was placed in II wagon with Mr.
Mckagen. of Sumter, and Mr.. Turbeville.
of Florence, and the party started for
town. The crowd OF nearly 100 men fol
lowed. There were muttcrings of lynch
ing, but the trouble did not eliminate
until Green Swamp twas reached. about
two miles from Sumter. Then the mob
'denanded Cooper 5 surrender, and IL move
was made Oh the wagon. Deputy Galliard
and the two men with him tried to dis
suade the mob and fought desperately to
save Cooper. They We're ovcrpowereu.
however, and rope was Thrown around
the negroes neck. He was dragged from
the wagon to the roadside, tie rope
thrown over IL limb and with a''dozon men
at the other end he swung into the air
Then Il volley. WAS fired into the suspend
ed form, the bullets cutting the rope and
letting the body fall with IL crash The
MOB then dispersed.
Several hours later the coroner went to
the spot and empaunellcd Il jury After
brief dcliberation they returned II YER
dict that Cooper came to his death at
the hands of n mob Whose members are
unknown to the jury
BROKE HIS NECK.