The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1909-08-26
OUARTERMASTER SERGEANT VIM COPPER
VICTIM OF MURDEROUS ASSAULT
While Aiding Officer Re-
ceives Frightful Cash
In His Neck.
Frank Bannister Negro in Jail For
The Crime. Taken to Atlanta
to Escape Angry Crowd.

About 9 O'Clock Saturday night, Of
ficer White, of the police force, was at
tracted by the quarreling of two negro
women, Gertrude Patterson and Mary
Williams near Rogers corner, on the
northwest side of the square, and when
he arrested the two women dep1tized
Mr.. William Copper, who is about y
years OF age, to assist him in Carrying
the negro women to the calaboose.
Mr.. Copper started to cross the square
with Gertrude Patterson, and when he
reached the entrance to the park Frank
Bannister, a negro, rushed up behind
him and with a sharp knife cut the
back OF his neck from ear to ear, infiict-
ing dangerous wound, which required
near one hundred stitches to sew up.
The negro then turned and ran down
Church street.
Mr.. Copper, after being cut, secured
q pistol and shot at the fleeing negro
four times, but finally had to give up
from loss of blood.
Officer White released the negro wo-
man and began the chase after Bsnnis-
ter, who ran into the railroad yards and
escaped the officer, but Is he crossed
the tracks and started down Kennesaw
Avenue, Messrs. Floyd Northcutt and
Fletcher Reynolds saw him running,
and Mr.. Northcutt fired several shots
at him. but none took effect. However,
the negro, seeing they we're close onto
him, surrendered.
1t was with considerable difficulty
they reached the Jail with the negro, az
q large crowd of citizens had gathered
on the square, and threats of lynching
were heard on all sides. Captain Fred
Morris soon had the Marietta Rifles out
and dispersed the crowd that had gath
cred about the Jail.
Mr.. Copper, after the cutting, was
hurried to DIR. Nolan's SaniJarium, on
Church street, where every effort was
made to save his life, and after some
heroic work on the part of the stan OF
physicians OF the sEnitarium, it was an
nounced that there was some hope for
his life, and up to this time Mr.. Copper
is resting az we'll as could be expected
under the circumstances. The hope Of
his recovery is still entertained by the
doctors and his many friends in this
city.
At II 80 O'Clock that: night Mr.. Nor
gan McNeel drove his automobile
around to the back side Of the Jail and
the negro was placed in the machine
and taken to Atlanta for safe.keeping,
az the crowd was getting larger and
numerous threats .were being made to
take the negro from Jail and lynch him.
Constables w. A. Bishop, M. A. Nor
ris, Capt. Fred Morris, and CorpoFals
w. G. Dobbs and VIM. Attawsy, Of the
Marietta Rifles, accompanied the negro
TO Atlanta, where he 10 now in Jail. He
will be brought back and tried at the
September term Of court for assault
with intent to murder, which offense
carries q sentence Of from two to ten
years.
Mr.. Copper is the son Of Mr.. John
Copper, deceased, and worked at his
uncle, John Stubbinger's automobile
garage: on Winters street. He is Quar-
ter Master Sergeant Of the Marietta
Rifles, and young man well liked by
all who know him.
The negro Bannister had been drink
ing and was in an ugly mood, and when
he saw Mr.. Copper start of to the Gala
boose with the negro woman he became
enraged, and before Mr.. Copper knew
of Bannister's approach, the negro had
grabbed him from behind and inflicted
the serious wound.
He will also be tried for interfering
with an officer in the discharge OF his
duties, which offence carries fine OF
81 900 or u months in the changing or
8 months in jail.
Bannister confessed to the officers
who carried him to Atlanta that he was
the man who cut Mr.. Copper, and says
he cut him with 8 sharp knife and
threw the knife away in the railroad
yards, but the knife hasn't been found.