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

To the Editor Of the Sumter Item: Please
allow ne space 10 your paper to criticse
your. CON mreuts on the killing of Simon
Cooper If sou simply meaot to eondemn
the hanging of him when dying, and thea
riddiing his body with bullets, | think my
self it was unnecessary. But d careful read
ing Of your comments leads 10 the conclu-
sion that yon condemned the FIRST shooting
as we'll. Very true that he was surrounded
by nearly huadred armed men, and pro-
bn ,ly escape was impossible but he was not
secured, and migbthave wounded or killed
several Of them if he had BEEN allow to
get out bis PISTOL and razor. You surely do
not ne T. to say you would advocate taking
that risk.
After bis shooting one man end wouading
several Others, and defyiog arrest Oh Jan.
lst. ,Iagis!rate Goodman shooid have depu-
tized several determined men to take him
dead o. alive" if be bad the authority to
issue such a warrant And if he had go
such authority the deputies should have taken
20 chances with hin, out getting the "drop''
on him they should have ordered him to
throw up his hands, and any motion TO use
his weapons should have been net with sere
raj loads of oucSsbot. And any jury 10 the
One would suppose from your comment
aud the ''indiguant outcry from msjority CT
the crowd that you and they would rather
majesty of the law be upheld. than the sum-
mary killing of this 6end in human form
Several with whom have talked agree with
least, and think you will see it that Way
nhao 81 tbo
Since writing the above have talked with
several of our best citizens, and they say the
newspapers bad about convinced them that
lyncbing is wrong, bat this affair hes brought
it home to us, and.as long as law officers let
such fends go at large without any effort 10
capture them, lynch law is the only practical
remedy. When the officers of the law allow
criminals TO run at large until the community
is outraged by some such crime, there is no
use to preach that the majesty of the law
must be upheld" Oae such horror as the
people Of Lyuchburg have experienced does
more to mould puolc sentiment than thou
sand theoretical editorials on the upholding
of the law The 'msjesty of The law" was
more tramped upou when her sworn officers
allowed Simon Cooper liberty 10 run his
6endish course than when outraged citizens
ended his bloody career og shooting him
down and hanging him. Respectfully,
E. W. DABBS
II Mr.. Oabbs has read for himself what
the editor of the Daily Item has written, be
should not be at q loss 10 understand oar
position But for his benefit We will say
Simon Cooper came oa, OF the house with his
habds up, aud under the promise that his life
would be spared for the time. The editor of
the Item was with those who we're the near
est TO The house in which Cooper was, and
objected 10 the promise be;cg made. We
were in position 10 drive him from his
stronghold, when he would doubtless have
net the fate he deserved, but being TO-
duced ty majority of others to cease our dy-
na lie operations, and Cooper being allowed
to surrender, we cannot approve of his being
then shot down in violation of the promise
made, and while holding up his bands, and
held By stroug men.-Editor of the Item.