The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-09-07
THOMPSON'S AWFUL CRIME
 -----e---- Evergreen Man Stays Wife and Her Father. DOMESTIC INFELICITIEs Cooler Judgment Will Pre- vent Lynching.
 -~-- Pitifsi Spectacle at scene of the Mur- der whea Three chiIaxen ct
 Uxorciae Plead for
 Protectiea.
DOMESTIC INFELIcITIEs

Evergreen. Sept 6--fSpecial. )--Tha most diabolicai crime that has ever oc- cured in this quiet and iaw-abiding town was committed here this morning at o'clock. when J. H. Thompson shot upon his aged father-in-law. J. n. Cooper. from which he died at . cscioclx.
 It seems that Thompson and his wirs did not get along we'll together and ( few days ago 1t was reported that q separation had taken place. Thompson abscntiug himself from the house for one or wo nights. It is not known Just where he spent last night but early this morning he came to the house and began to curse and abuse his wife. and when ordered away by Mir. Cooper he replied that he would so away. but as Mir. Cooper proceeded toward the front gate ,ae heard gun fire aud turning saw that Thompson had shot his wife as she stood in the dining room door.
 Thompson immediately puraued MT. Cooper and inflicted upon him the wounds from which he died later.
 Thompson used double~ bnrfeied shotgun. firing only two shots. The load took effect in the wifess side and breast, and death was instantanaous. He shot Mir. Cooper in the abdomen. Cooper made a dying statement and soon became unconscious.
 Thompson was immediately arrested, and is now occupying a cell in the coun- ty jail. He seems to feel no re1norae for his crime, and, In fact, treats it lightly.
 ComIn@ Brought Dascora. Thompson came to this State several years ago from Kentucky and worked in and about Evergreen ax carpen- | ter. EIe married the only child of MT. and Mrs. Cooper. then girl h her teens, Mir Cooper was then 8 prospe- | ous merchant ard with hia wife aud l daughter had lived a quiet aud con tented life until Thompeon came into his family. His coming brought diB- cord, and after the death of Mrs Cooper it Is said that Thompson seemed to think Mir Cooper should turn over all of his property to him and it is the hold of Mfr. cooper's property led up to the crime.
 Thompson's children, three in num- Der. witnessed his murderous deed. The oldest. a boy of 10 years, testified be- fore the coroner's jury. The ages Of the other two are { and 2 years,
 The children. with their mother. were in the dining room, having just finished breakfast, when their father approach ed and fired the fatal shot that sent their mothers soul into eternlty. They ran out. begging for protection and telling what had occurred.
 J. B. Cooper was Mason in guod standing in his lodge He came to this place years ago from Pike County, and has always had the respect of the com- munity. His death Is deeply deplored by his many friends.
 Mrs. Thompson was well liked in the town and her character stood above re- proach.
 Both will be buried this evening in the cemetery here
 Many persons have visited the hoIns of Mir Cooper today to behold. side by side, the remains of father and daugh- ter, and have turned away with a shud- der at the contemplation of such an awful crime.
 Nothing good can be said in favor of the murderer. He was known as a peculiar and rather eccentric character but no one ever deamed that he would be guilty of such q crime. While public sentiment Is very much against Thon1p- son and talk of lynching is heard on the streets, 1t Is believed that cooler judgment will prevail and the law wil1 be allowed to take It's course.