Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-08
Three White and Two black Persons
Killed by "a Negro.

CHARLESTON. S. c., January IA
special 20 the News and Courier from
Sumter. 5. c.. says: All Sumter was
aroused this morning. when the news was
flashed over the wires that Simon Cooper
(colored) had killed old Mr.. Benjamin Will
son, his son, Wesley, and Mrs Wesley
Wilson. The first information OF the ter
iible work was RECEIVED about 9 o'clock
and shortly afterward Sheriff Pierson re-
ceived a telegram confirming the report.
adding further that Cooper had also kill
ed two negroes a man and a girl Sheriff
Pierson, as soon as possible, organized a
posse, and. chartering q special train left
for Lynchburg. When the special reach
cd Maysville the Sheriff received informa-
ton that Cooper had been seen to pass
near the town "A short time before, so the
train was stopped at Maysville, and Il
part Of the posse left for st. Charles
while the others took the public road
coming towards Sumter These two par
ties, in conjunction with posses from
Maysyille. are securing every foot OF the
land between Maysvile and Sumter
The facts in regard to the killing of the
FIVE people. as received In Sumter at 1894
T. NJ. are as follows;
Simon Cooper went to Lynchburg yester-
day afternoon for the purpose Of forcing a
young colored girl TO marry him. he girl
and her mother, by some means escaped
and ran into the swamp. AS soon as pos
sible after Coopers appearance in the
town "A posse was organized and went in
pursuit OF him. he having left az soon as
he failed to get the girl. The posse came
within 200 yards of him at one time, when
he shot at them and retreated he forced
some negroes to 90 with him, and kept
them with him all night. He came out of
the woods about daylight, and went to the
house Of a colOred man named Boyle. took
his horse, and compelled Boyle's son 10
accompany him. From there ne went TO
the house Of the Wilson's, about mile
distant where the horrible crime was
committed.
Mr. Baker. who lives nearby, says he
heard considerable shooting, and saw
Mrs Wilson go to the buggy-house with
Cooper, 10 get a harness, and then go
back into the house. Cooper following
her Cooper short time afterwards,
came out on the piazza, shooting in every
direction and forced Boyle's boys to
furnish the horse for Mrs. Wilson's
buggy He got in the buggy and had
only gone few yards when he met
coored man named Smith. He killed
him; and, as ne passed Bakers house.
shot at Bakers children, who were on
the piazza Where he went no one
knows at this time, but he will be found.
Hundreds of brave, determined men are
securing the woods in every direction,
and speedy vengeance will be meted out
10 this human fiend.
When the bodies Of the Wilson's were
found this morning. the old gentleman,
Is years old was sitting up in bed with
a shotgun in the hand; his son. Wesley,
was In another bed, his head split; while
on the floor lay the body Of the woman,
her head smashed i'm and her throat cut
Smith, the negro who was killed on the
road. was found with an axe still in the
back Of his neck, and his head half
severed from his body.
The dead people were inoffensive, peace
able citizens. These are the facts as
they can be obtained from the excited and
determined men from Lynchburg, who
came into this city this afternoon.