Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-30
CHARGED WITH CRIME
COOPER HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR
HARRY WARMERS DEATH.
Result Of a Row at Picnic Held at
Muirkirk, Md, Last Satur:
day Night.

l
pose OF investigating the death OF Harry
| Warner, colored, who was shot and killed
| by another colored man at a picnic held
| last saturday evening at Muirkirk, resumed
| us nearing last evening in the telegraph
| station at Muirkirk. A number of witnesses
| were heard, and at the conclusion Of the
taking of the testimony the jury retired
| and was out but short time, when 1t rem
! dered verdict to the effect that Harry
warner came to his death from a pistol
wound. the weapon being held in the hand
Oh thornton Cooper, also colored.
Inc hrst witness to testify was General
Morgan, young colored man, and a friend
OF the accused. Witness testified before the
| jury Sunday, and since that time 1t had
been reported to some Of the jurymen that
he said he had seen the accused since the
shooting affray at the picnic When again
put on the stand, Morgan denied having
said he had seen Cooper since the death of
Warner, and was excused.
Donius Warner. a brother of the dead
man was next called to the stand. He
stated that at the time of the shooting he
was standing about twenty yards distant
from his brother and Cooper and saw the
latter shoot his brother He Immediately
ran TO the wounded man and put his hand
on his face. About this time Cooper turned
the revolver on witness and fired. the DOW
der burning witness face He did not hear
ms brother say anything, nor did he move.
He ran back into the crowd and shouted
that his brother had been killed. He then
came back to the body and took what
money there was in the pockets of his
orother Witness stated that he found
nothing else. When questioned concerning
whether any one ran after the murderer
witness stated that he did not see any one
run In the direction taken by the man who
did the shooting.
Tells Of the Row.
Clarence Adams was the next witness
heard. Adams stated that he was in the
hall prior to the time Of the shooting, and
that there was slight row between several
Of the young fellows there Witness stated
that number of chairs We're being thrown
about the room and that he jumped up to
get out AT this Cooper, the accused man.
pulled a revolver and put it against the
stomach of witness, swapping the trigger
twice but the cartridges did not explode. He
stated that 'General' Morgan told Cooper
not to shoot witness as the latter was a
friend of his (Morgans) Witness stated that
Cooper then went down the stairs and fired
two shots in the hall, both of the bullets
taking effect in the ceiling. Afterward
Cooper went out into the yard, when he
fired three more shots into the air Adams
said that was the last he saw. of Cooper
until the shooting of Warner. He said he
did not hear words passed between the two
men.
Rein Lancaster one Of the Jury, was next
called. He stated that he was at the door
when some disturbance took place upstairs
He went up and found that General Nor
gan was throwing chairs about the room
He wanted to know of Morgan why he was
doing this, when the latter drew back as if
to strike him. A son of witness threw Nor
gan to the floor and held him there. Wit
ness did not know anything concerning the
shooting.
Charles BRIGGS was next caIIad and s+,+o5
that he went down to the hall to look after
some of his children. and after finding
them went down near the gate. About that
time he heard number of people running
out that way and heard some one exclaim
Catch him, catch him. He was not near
the scene when the fatal shot was fired but
shortly afterward heard a woman, who was
the wife of the dead man, crying that
Harry is dead"
Gives Important Testimony.
Benjamin Lewis was regarded as the most
important witness heard at the sitting He
stated that after Cooper had fired the shots
in the yard he went out into the road and
turned on the crowd and snapped his gun
at them. Witness stated that Cooper came
back to the hall shortly afterward, and
when he was seen coming into the yard
some one shouted Here he comeS!" At
that witness stated that rush was made
for the man, and that the latter ran into
the yard, where the refreshment tables
were set, and circled about them. Warner,
the dead man, was in the lead of those pur-
suing Cooper, when the latter turned and
fired at Warner. the shot taking effect. This
shot had the effect. witness stated, of stop
ping any further rush for Cooper.
DR.. w. F. Taylor of Laurel performed the
autopsy, and the result was given to the
jury by the coroner, Dr. Taylor being I'M
able to reach Muirkirk until a late hour. 1t
was stated that the bullet struck the left
frontal bone near the temple, and on a
line about two inches above the eye. 1t
penetrated the left lobe of the brain, tore
a wide furrow through the brain matter
and lodged in the back part of the right
lobe against the skull.
The case then submitted to the Jury
and the verdict rendered as stated.