The news & observer., 1897-01-08
Simon Cooper, the Outlaw, Pats
in More Blood W ork.
a pos Sc or MEN AFTER HIM
If Caught His Fate Will be a
Terrible One.
MURDERED A MAN 30 YEARS OLD
An Axe Used TO Commit I; g Horrible
Deed, and Leaves it Sticking in
the Head of the Last
One Murdered.

Mayesville. S. c., Jan. 7.-Simon
Cooper the negro outlaw, who, it viii be
remembered, shot and killed another ne
gro hy tile name OF Davis and wounded
several others at Magnolia a few days
ago, and for whom there is Il reward
of 100 offered by the Governor, put in
some more bloody work this morning
near Magnolia. Cooper entered the
house Of Mr.. Ben. Wilson this morning
about sunrise and demanded the use OF
Mr. Wilson's buggy, which was refused.
This human monster then picked up an
axe and split Mr. Ben Wilson's head
wide open He then made for Mr.. Wes-
ley Wilson, the son, and murdered hlm
in q like manner. He then murdered
Mrs. Wesley Wilson with the same
weapon, after which he struck down
negro, who had come up on hearing the
noise, and left the axe sticking IN the
negro's head.
Soon afterward the telegraph wires be-
gan to hum with full account Of the
shocking and bloody tragedy. As soon
as the news reached Sumter, the sheriff
organized posse of men, chartered a
special car and came over to Mayesville,
where reinforcements from this town
and the surrounding country awaiting
him ready to place themselves under his
command Soon word reached the
sheriff here that Simon Cooper had been
seen within two miles OF Sumter in a
buggy. wrapped mp in quilt, with an
other negro driving him. The sheriff
then divided the volunteers into several
posses and sent them out in different
directions while he, with several others,
returned to Sumter on a special train.
Several persons who came to Mayesvllle
during the day reported that they had
met a buggy on the road, and that some
one was in the buggy wrapped up in q
quilt and one person, the driver of the
vehicle, said that the person SO wrapped
ND was his wife, and that she was sick
and that he was taking her TO the doctor.
At a late hour this evening the driver
of the vehicle was captured and brought
to Mayesyille. The fellow proved to be a
young negro by the name of Boyle. The
guilt was in the buggy and proved to be
the property of Mr.. Wesley
Wilson, one of the murdered
men Boyle is locked up here in the
guard house and will be taken to Sumter
jail The coroner went over to the scene
of the terrible tragedy to-day and held
an inquest over the dead bodies.
The Wilson's were white people of high
standing in their community and their
untfmely death is deplored by all who
knew them. Mr.. Ben Wilson was an
old man, about eighty years Of age, his
son Wesley was about borty. Mrs. Will
son about thirty-fve. Two poor little
innocent children have been left orphans
on account of the terrible deed of the
monster Simon Cooper.
Up to this hour Cooper has not been
captured, but it is almost impossible for
him to escape as the county is being
secured in every direction for HIM and If
captured, we predict that his fate will
be most terrible one
Cooper got out of the buggy near Sum-
ter, but it is believed he did not enter
the town, and that he has gone in the di-
recion of MechanicsviIle, where he has
an uncle living. When he got out of the
buggy, so Boyle says, the told the driver
that he expected to go back to Magnolie
tonight and flood the town with blood.