The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-01-08
A FIEND INCARNATE
Negro Kills Five Persons While In An 40.
parent Fit of Kurdsrous Insanity.
THEE MEN AND TWO WOMEN VICTIMS
He started Out eo Force u Girl to
10 Esnvc Driven Him Srnzy An
Axe and PI>toI :hc eupons-A
Posne i'm Pursuit

Charleston. S. c.. JAN "A special to
the News and Courier from Sumter S.
c.. says:
All Sumter was aroused this morning
when the news flashed over the wires
that Simon Cooper had killed old MIR.
Zen Wilson. his son. Wesley. and Mrs.
Wesley Wilson. The first information of
The hel,ish work was received aDout 8
O'Clock and shortly afterwards Sheriff
Pierson received 4 telegram confirming
the report. adding further that Cooper
had also killed two negroes-a man and
girl
Sheriff PierSnn as soon as possible or
ganiZed posse, and churterng a spe-
cial train. left for LynchburE When
the special reached Maysvile The Sheriff
received information that Cooper had
been seen TO pass near the town a short
time before. so the train stopped at
MaysNille and a Part Of the posse left
for st. Charles and the o'hcrs took the
public road coming towards Sumter.
These two parties. in conjunction with
posse from Maysvi.le are securing every
foot of the land between Maysville and
Sumter.
HE KILLED PEOPLE.
The facts in regard to the killing of
the i've people as received at Sumter
at $3.50 p. m, are as follows:
Simon Cooper went to Lynchburg yes
terday afternoon for the purpose of fore
ms ouhS coioTeu girl 10 marry hlGl
The girl and her mother, by some means.
escaped and ran into the swamp.
AS soon as possible after Coopers ap.
pearance in the town a posse was or.
ganiZed and went in pursuit of him. h,
having left as soon as he failed TO ge;
the girl.
The posse came within two hundred
yards of him at one time. when he shot
AT them ana retrca;ed. He forced some
negroes to so with him and kept them
with him -, night He came ot-t of the
woods about daylight and went to the
house or colcred man named Boyle,
took his hors" and compelled Boyle's son
to accompany him. From there he went
10 me house Of the Wilson's. about a
III distant, where the horrible crime
committed.
NDlSCRIMINATE SHOOTING.
t.. Baker, who lives near by. says
ke1r! considerable shooting and saw
: .F. Wilson 20 10 the huGgY-house with
'agnsr 10 set the harness and then go
tck into the house, Cooper following
Sr.
Cooper short tine afterwards came
out on the piazza. shooting in every di-
reciion. and forced Boy e's hoy to fur
nlsh the horse to Mrs. Wilson'S buggy
Ee got in the buggy and only went n
few yards when he met n coiored man
named smith. Fc killed him. and as he
passed Bakers house. shot at Bakers
cnlldreN. VINO were on the piazza.
Where he went no one knnws 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 to this
human iend.
When the bodies Of the Wilson's were
found this morning the old rentreman.
Is years old. was sitting IN in the bed
with a shot gun in his hand. his son.
Wesley. was in another bed. his hea 4
split. while on the floor lay the body of
the woman, her head smashed in and
her throat cut
a HORRIBLE SIGHT.
Smith. the negro who was killed on
the road. was found with an axe still
In the hack Of his neck and his head
half severed from his body.
The dead people were incffensive.
peaceable citizens. These are the facts
Us we are able to get Them from the
excited. determined men from Lynch
burk. who came nto this city this after
noon.