The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-09-17
Whole Family Of
Imbecile Criminals
Lexington County Crime
Brings to Light Shocking
State of Affairs


Lexington. Sept. 13.-The FIVE
members of the Coos family. all
charged with the murder Of Mar
cellus Cook, head Of the family,
were formally arraigned at the
court of general sessions here this
morning, attorneys being appointed
by the court.
The trial viii begin Thursday
morning, the chief defense to be
proposed being the claim that the
five defendants are all mentally
deficient. This is based upon tests
made upon the prisoners By DR..
Arabella Feldkamp Of the national
committee Of mental hygiene, who
found all five defendants feeble
minded. Or. Feldkamp has been
summoned as witness and Will
testify Thursday.
The defendants are Mrs Julia
Cook. wife of the slain man.. Ira
c.. Cook, his son, who confessed to
cutting his fathers throat: Sarah
Minnie Cook, daughter; Henry
Wheeler. a friend. who was said to
be engaged to Minnie Cook, and
James Barfeld. ST., said to be a
friend Of the Cook family.
The lawyers named by the
court are: G.. T. Graham, E. L.
Asbill, c. L. Shealy and ]. G.. Gra-
ham
The alleged murderers of Mar
cellus Cook have been examined by
DR.. Arabella Feidkamp Of the ma
tional committee on mental hy-
giene and found to be feeble mind
ed. the oldest Of the accused, men
tally, being Julia Cook. wife Of the
murdered man, registered nine and
one-tenth years. Her physical age
being 48, according TO the ply
sician.
The son of the murdered man,
Ira Cook. who it is charged almost
severed his fathers head from the
body while his mother. his sister,
Minnie. Henry Wheeler and James
Barfeld. it is claimed, held the Old
man. is 10 years of age, his mental
age registering six and siX-tenths
years. The girl, Minnie who, it is
alleged, helped hold her father
while her brother did the cutting,
is 16 years Of age physically while
her mental age was registered at
five years and 10 months. Henry
Wheeler. who also helped hold the
old man. according to the story,
registered ct eight and seven
tenths years. his physical age being
21. James Garfield, also said to be
implicated in the murder, age 63
years. registered at eight years
! mentally.
DIR. Feldka,lp said in her report
Of this examination that Julia
Cook. although Of a low grade Of
mentality and being woefully ig-
norant. had enough sense TO oper-
ate her farm, and support her fam
ily. She gave the number Of the
days Of the week as six and the
number of months in the Year as
| -. She does not Know the mum
! DEL VI Qe... > III ti4t teSi i4Oi LIZ
capital of the state or the United
States She could rot name the
president of the United States nor
the governor OF the state; could
make simple change but failed IN
simple problems. She knew the
date upon which the examination
was made and was Very talkative.
Both the mother. and daughter
seemed tremulous and slightly
nervous, which. according to this
report. was the result Of eXcessi:e
/ smoking Neither the girl nor her
mother showed the slightest signs
! Of emotion in relating the details
of the crime, the report says, the
mother saving that her husband
had threatened al of their lives
and that they killed him rather
than be killed themselves.
This investigation was made in
i connection with a survey that is be-
ing made by The national commit
tee on mental hygiene through a
humber Of states to determine the
mental level Of the people. Of this
country. This survey is being made
in educational, charitable and
penal institutions and also among
selected groups OF persons. The
work in this state is being done in
cooperation With the state board of
public welfare