The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-01-08
A FIEND'S HORRIBLE WORK.
A NeSrO'S Terrible Trail Of hur.
der,
HIS UNSUITABLE THIRST FOR BLOOD.
lie Kills Five People and Forces other
Negroe. TO DO Ills wili-Being
Hunted I'm the Woods by
the Outraged CITIZENS.

SUMTER. $. c., Jan. 7.-Special--Au
su,nter VAS aroused this morning whes
tho news dashed over the wires thai
simon Cooper had killed old Mr. Ben VII
SON. his SON Wesley. and AIRS. Wesley
Wilson. Tho FIRST information OF tho
hellish work was received about
o'clock. and shortly afterwards Sheriff
pierson received telegram, conilrmins
The report. adding further that Cooper
had also killed two negroes, man ana
a girl Sheriff Plcrson as soon as pos
sible organized "A posse and chatterihs
a special train. left Tor LynchhufB, ;. Z.
When the special reached MaysNile tho
Sheriff received Information that cooper
had been seen 10 pass near the TOWN.
% short time before. so the tram was
stopped al Maysville. and "a part of mo
posse left for ST. Charles, and the otherS
took the public road. coming towards
Sumter These two parties. n conJunc-
tion with posses from Maysvilie' "''
securing every foot OF the land between
Maysvlle and Sumter.
The facts IN regard TO the Milins oS
the i've people as received IN sumter
at 3.A L. NJ, are AS follows
OK MARRIAGE BENT.
Simon Cooper went to Lynchburg yes
terday afternoon for the purpose Of fore
ing a young colored girl 20 marry him.
The girl and her mother by some means
escaped and ran into the swamp. As
soon as possible after Cooper'5 appear
anco In the town posse was organized
and went in pursuit of him. he having
left as soon as he failed 10 get the girl.
The posse came within TWO hundred yards
Of him M one time when he shot az them
and retreated lie forced some negroes
TO 20 with him and kept them with him
an night ifo came out Of the woods
about daylight and went 10 the house OF
a colored man named Boyle. took hi-
horse and compelled Boylc'a son 20 accom-
pany him. From there he went TO the
house of tho Wilson's. about milo dls-
tant where the horrible crime was COM
mlttod
THE WILSON TRAGEDY.
Mr.. Baker. who lives nearby, says he
heard considerable shooting and saw Mrs.
Wilson go to the buggy house with Coop
or 10 get the harness and then 80 back
into the house. Cooper following her.
Cooper, a short time afterwards. came OUT
on the piazza. shooting In every direction.
and forced Boyle's boy 10 furnish the
horse to Mrs. Wilson's buggy. He got IN
the buggy and only went a few yards.
when he met "A coored man named smith.
lie killed him. and as he passed Bakers
house. shot at Bakers children. who were
on tho piazza. Where he went no ono
knows at this time, but he will be fornd.
Hundreds Of brave. determined men are
securing the woods I'm every direction ANA
speedy vcngcnce will be meted out q.
this human tcnd
4 TERRIBLE SCENE.
when the bodies Of the Wilson's "eT-
found this morning the Old gentleman.
seventy-nvc years ola. wos slttlns up W
the bed with "a shot gun ban the hand, nil
SON Wesley. was I'm another boi ni- heaI
sput. while on The floor loy De body o.
the woman. her head smashed .n and
her throat cut. Smith. 'he negro VINO
was killed on tho road. wa FOUND WIN
am axe stlll In tho back OF IBIS neck ana
his head half severed from tho BODY
The dead people were ino1cnsive, peace
able citizens. These are the facts as we
ara able to get them from the excited and
determined men from Lynchhurg who
came into this city this afternoon