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

SAID.
The mass meeting should have added
oue more paragraph to their resolutions.
They should have denied in explicit
terms the report that they intended
burning the mangled remains Of
Cooper had the body been sent to Mag
nolia. They should have made haste to
clear themselves Of the imputation that
they proposed committing that browning
act of savagery. We do not yet fully
believe the report, and would hail With
pleasure a denial by the people Of
Magnolia.
By a strange fatality the editor
of the Item is able to speak
from personal knowledge of nearly
every stage of the series of tragedies.
Go the pight Of January lst be was
on his way to Florence aud passed
through Magnolia. As the train stop
ped at the depot he heard some one
cursiog 10 loud voice aud threatening
to shoot any one who got on the traio,
Putting his head out Of the window. a
negro with a gun 10 his hand was seen
by the side of the train, while crowd
of terrified negroes we're fleeing in
every direction. This mau. who was
Simon Cooper. crossed the train oo the
platform between the first and second
class coaches aod stood on the depot
platform until the train left. From
several gentlemen who boarded the
traiu the facts Of the row, the killing of
Grant Davis aDd the woapding of five
others, were ascertaiDed.
The inquiry. "Why was Cooper not
arrested p was met with the statement
that it was negro row, aud as be was
not molesting the white people the
white people would have nothing to do
with it.
The following Wednesday night was
the first time that the white people of
Magnolia and Lynchburg made any
effort to capture Cooper, aud citizens Of
the community Informed the writer that
this effort was made because Cooper had
threatened to Kill! several white men of
the place. The names of our inform
ants can be given, if desired by auy Of
our readers And in addition to this
Capt. D. E Keels, whose name ap-
pears FIRST amoug those who signed the
resolutions of ceusure. told the writer
at Magnolia, on Thursday night last, that
be had done his duty, but could not get
a sufficient number of men to back him
up. he made similar statements on
the streets of this city 10 the pres
euoe Of reliable citizens during Thurs
cay afternoon. These statements are
given for the purpose Of showing the
Inconsistency and uojustness Of the
ceusure directed against The Item and
the Columbia State when coming from
the people of Magnolia The oum-
erous other Inconsistencies 10 the Mag
rolia resolutions are apparent and will
be discovered by our readers.
When the news Of the murder Of the
Wilson family reached Magnolia early
Thursday morning, the people, white
aud colored alike, at last became thor
ougly aroused aud every effort vas
made to capture Cooper. They did
their duty like men aud brave men.
The country was secured 10 every d.
rectiop, aud ore posse tracked him to
the limits of this city, but lost. him
where be left The buggy and concealed
himself 10 Turkey Creek Swamp.
Now. to return to the capture and
killing of Cooper All are familiar
With the facts concerning how he
sought refuge in the house Of his uucle,
Jake Dargan, how Dargao Informed
Mr.. w. S. Burkes, of Cooper's where
abouts, how messenger was sent TO
Sumter for posse, how Deputy Sheriff
Gai!lard and Messrs. Joe F. Turbevile,
Rees McCowo, F. Z Floyd. E. S.
LaCoste, Tom DuBose. Geo. P McKa
gen, Jr., W. S. Burkctt. G. L Rhame
and Jake Dargan, surrounded the house
an hour before daylight and kept guard