New-York tribune., 1897-01-08

BLOODY WORK OF A NEGRO DESPERATE.
THREE MEMBERS OF ONE FAMILY AMONG THE
vICTIMs-POSsss SEARCHING FOR
THE MURDERER.

THE MI RDEkEk
Charleston. s. c.. Jan IA dispatch to THE
News and Courier from Sumter. S. C., says:
"All Sumter was aroused this morning over the
report that Simon Cooper had killed old ben
Wilson. his son Wesley and Mrs. Wesley Wilson
The first information of the crime was received
about o'clock and shortly afterward Sheriff
Pierson received telegram confirming the re-
port. adding further that Cooper had also kileu
two negroes-a man and girl.
Sheriff Pierson soon as possible organizou
a pose and chartering special train, left Tor
Lynchburg When the special reached Mays
vile the Sheriff received information thas
Cooper had been seen to pass near the town
short time previous the train was stopped al
Maysville and a part of the posse left TOT 81
Charles and the others took the public road COM
ing toward Sumter. These two parties IN con-
junctiok with posses from Maysville. are scour-
ing every foot OF the land between MaysViiie ana
Sumter.
The facts in regard to the killing of the hve
neonle az received in Sumter at $3.50 p. m. are
as foowc: Simon Cooper went to Lyhehou'e
yesterday evening for the purpose OF forcihs
young coored girl to marry him. the girl anu
her mother by some means escaped and ran into
the svamr As soon as possible after Cooper
appearance in the town a posse was orgahi~eu
and went in pursuit OF him. he having let' d.
soon as he failed to get the girl. The posse
came within 200 yards of him at one time "hen
he shot at them and retreated
He. forced some negroes 10 60 with hi'h anu
Ian, then, with him all night He came out OF
the woods about daylight and went to the mouse
Of a colored man named Boyle took his horse
and compelles Boyles TO accompany hli'i'
From there he went 10 the house Of the Wilson'S
hare
committed.
Mr. Baker who lives near by, says he heard
considerable shooting and saw Mrs. Wilson go
TO the buggy-house with Cooper to get the mar
ness and then go back into the house. Cooper
following her Cooper a short time afterward
came cut on the piazza shooting in every direc-
ton. and forced Boye's boy 10 harness the morse
10 Mr. Wilson's buggy. He got in the buggy ana
only went a few yards when he met a coioreu
man named Smith He killed him. and as ne
passed Bakers house shot at Bakers chluren'
who were on the piazza. Where he went TO no
one knows at this time. but he VIII be round
Hundreds of determined men are securing the
woods in every direction. and speedy vengeance
will be meted out to him.
"Uhen the bodies of the Wilson's were found
this morning the old gentleman, seVenty-n'e
wears old was sitting up in bed. with shotgun
in his hand: his son Wesley was in another Deu'
his head split while the floor lay the oody OIL
the woman her head smashed in and her throat
cut Smith, the negro who was killed Oh the
road was found with an axe still IN the pach
Of his neck and his head half severed from Ills
body The dead people were inonensNe' peace-
ohio citizens These are the facts they can be
obtained from the excited and determined men
from Lynchburg who came into this city TINS
afternoon