The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-01-13
From the Daily I'm, Jan. 9.
Yesterday S
Lynohingg.
Story as Told by Eye
Witnesses.
The Letters Left by Cooper.
Blasphemous and Reck'
less to the Last. EVi-
dently Intended to
Kill Himself.
Statements of Isaac Boyle and Rob
Wilson-Wilson's Story Not in
Accordance With the Facts.


after coming out of the house without
guu, and was lying on the ground the
writer left almost i'm mediately and re-
turned to town The events that oc-
cured subsequently, will be reconnted
as related by the most reliable eye
Witnesses that could Re found.
His pockets we're searched aud
razor was fouod in one. Stuck inside
of tho froat Of bis trousers was pls-
tol sod 10 another pocket was found
the following note:
January s 1897 Remember that |
kill myself. There never vas man
that could take me.
Simon S. Cooper.
Com. 10 to me aud [ vii! give you
bell 5. ). y.
In The house was found the following
potes. which are now 10 the possession
of John Daygan. the half brother OF
'.Simon Cooper.
'sI have been killing men for l0 years
and expect to kill them till | die.
Simon S. Cooper.
He'll aud daunation."
7 am bound for hell bat want to see
Maggie Cooper aud Ever hickson once
more before. Remember that kill my
self know man can take me.
Simon S. Cooper.
He'll aud dampatiou.
No other papers were found, and re-
ports Of q. will telling where he had
money are anfouoded.
a short tine after he was shot he re-
vived sligbly from the shock aod be-
gan TO talk in discon uected manner.
add this served to inaame the more pas
sionate members Of the crowd. who
Insisted on iynching him at once; 9th
ers wanted to shoot him again as be lay
on the ground. Some of the cooler
and most Influential men pursuaded
them not to put him to death, aud took
possession of chain aud rope which
had been procured to string him up.
The half dead negro was put on 8
wagon which was pulled by crowd of
men to St. James Csurch. short dis
tance away. where it was attached to
the rear OF surrey aud sent toward
town. It vas believed that the danger
Of lynshiog had passed and many of
the party drove on TO town. The story
Of the lynching told below shows how
sadly they.were mistaken.
The details of the hanging and
shooting 1of Simon Cooper by the
mob at Green Swamp yesterday,
when he was being brongbs to town
in dying condition, have been diff
cult to obtain. as no one is willing to
be quoted as a participant The
following facts have been obtained
from Deputy Sheriff Gaillard, who
had charge of the negro, but was
overpowered and taken short dis
tance up the road by four or five of
the mob while the others hanged him
to tree and then riddled his .body
with bullets. Mr. Gaillard's state
ment was supplemented by a gentle,
man of this city who came up to the
'ynch;ng party while they were en-
gagged in putting the finishing touch
es on their victim
Mr.. Gaillard says that Cooper was
lying in the wagon and was talking
in rambling sort of manner from the
time they left Jake Dargan's house
until they got to the swamp At st.
James Church some of the party
talked about killing Cooper, but he
told them that he would not allow it,
as he was an officer and no one
should touch the prisoner. They
went on until the swamp was reach
ed and there several men. one man
in particular. insisted on killing the
negro, and upon his angry refusal to
consent to it, hot words passed be-
tween him and this man, who was q
stranger and whose name he did moi
know at the time. and it looked as il
there would be a personal difficulty
between them. While this alterca-
ton was going ON, some one seized
him from behind around his arms and
body and jerked him backwards
Others seized him and carried him
forcibly up the road.
The crowd took the plow line by
which the wagon was tied to the sur
rey, and after jerking the negro ou
of the wagon by tie legs, put i
around his neck He was dragged
across the road to small tree which
one man climbed and put the rope
over a limb. Three others held the
body up while the rope was being
placed over the limb. 1t was foune
that the negro's feet touched the
ground, SO the tree was ascended
second time, and the rope pulled uE