The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-08-19
PRISONERS ADMIT
PART IN KILLING
COOK AND WHEELER CONFESS
TO SHERIFF.
Family Now IN Jail-Threc Men and
Two Women Charged With Muir
der of M2rceilus Cook.

The State.
Lexington, Aug. 1G.-Ira Cook, 20
wears of age, and Henry Wheeler, %,
lheld in the Lexington county jail on
the charge of killing Marcellus Cook
last Friday afternoon, today con-
fessed to Sheriff E. Austin Roof and
two others that they were guilty OF
the crime of which they are charged,
and at the same time implicated 9TH
err members of the family and Bar
field.
! Cook and Wheeler were arrested
Sunday afternoon by Deputy Sheriff
III. C. Oswald on the strength of a
sworn statement made by James Bar
field, Sr., who is also held in connec-
ton with the killing on testimony
given at the coroner's inquest Sat-
urday, and at first the two men de-
MED any knowledge of the murder.
In their confessions today they
claimed that Barfeld and Mrs. Cook,
wife of the dead man, had planned
the killing, and had frst tried to kill
ICook by poisoning, and after this
method failed young Cook and Vince
/ ler were induced to commit the deed
on the promise that they would be
protected from the law, and would
receive as a reward for the crime
certain chickens and cow belonging
to Barield. In their confessions they
claim that Wheeler held one arm,
/ Mrs. Cook the other, the young girl
held the aged mans feet and that
Ira Cook did the cutting. That after
Cook died the razor was placed in
the dead mans hand to indicate sui
j eide.
Both of the men say that Barfield
was absen; at the time of the killing
but came up short time afterwards.
/ 1t is also claimed that Barfeld bought
the poison which they say was admin
istered to Marcellus Cook by Mrs.
| Cook on Thursday before the killing.
Warrants were issued today for
the arrest of Mrs. Marcellus Cook
and Minnie Cook, her 16 year old
daughter, charging them with mur-
der, and they are now in jail at
Batesburg. When they are brought
| here the entire household will be
confined in the Lexington Jail as a
result of the killing, together with
Barfeld, whose home is in Bates
burg.
Barfeld continues to deny that he
had anything to do with the killing,
but admits that he bought 'arsenate
! of lead which, he claims, was to be
used to poison boil weevils.
Batesburg, Aug. 16.-Mrs. Julia
Cook and her daughter, Minnie Cook,
were arrested here this afternoon by
! Constable L. NJ. Adams and placed
in the Batesburg guardhouse. They
will be transferred to the Lexington
jail tonight or early tomorrow morn
ing.
| Both Mrs. Cook and her daughter
are charged with a part in the kill
! ing of Marcellus Cook, their husband
and father, last Friday. When ar
rested Mrs. Cook was told of the
arrest of her son, Ira Cook, and
Henry Wheeler and the alleged con-
fession of the, two in which she and
! her daughter were involved. She was
told that any statements she cared
to make would be given publicity
that her side of the case might be
known.
Mrs. Cook said that last Friday
she, her daughter, Minnie Cook, son,
Ira Cook, and Henry Wheeler pulled
fodder until IL o'clock when they
went to the house to cook dinner.
There they found her husband Sit
ting on the edge of the bed, she says,
greasing his gun. He told Wheeler
to get out, saying he would kill him,
and called him a name. 81 don't take
it," Wheeler said, according TO Mrs.
Cook, and going over to the bed
ierked Cook back across the bed and
i held his hands across it. Mrs. Cook
continued that Wheeler told her to
get the gun and she secured the
weapon and placed it in a corner.
Wheeler then told her, she said, to
help him and as she put her hand on
her husbands arm, he said, 'Let him
alone. can hold him."
Just as l took my hald off, Ira
\