bell murder

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This news article tells of the murder of my great grandfather, John Bell Cooper.

The date is never really stated, but he was killed on 8 OCT 1898. He was born on

19 April 1847 to He was the son of James Irwin Cooper, Sr. & Isabella Eleanor

Dickson (Cooper) of Gibson Co, TN.

He married Nancy "Nannie" Elizabeth Bradford (Cooper) on 24 Jan 1878 in Gibson Co.

He left four children: Samuel Harris, Leslie Ellen, James Bradford, and George

Bryant.

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Trenton Herald Democrat Roll No: Nov 19, 1897-Aug 10, 1900 Book: Oct 14, 1898

Page: 4, Col 3

An Awful Crime

Last Saturday afternoon about four o'clock the report reached town that Esq. Jno.

B. Cooper, who lives five miles south of here, had been murdered by Mr. W. N.

Putman. Dr. Happel was sent for and pronounced the case hopeless. The facts in

the case as near as we can gather them are about as follows: There had been bad

blood between the men for a number of years past, but not thought by anybody to be

serious. On Saturday morning they had had some words. Esq. Cooper came to town

and upon approaching his home of his return he heard the report from a gun in his

wood lot. He rode out to see who it was hunting on his land and found that it

was Mr. Putman and his little son. Esq. Cooper remonstrated with Putman and

told him that he knew the lot was posted and no one was allowed to hunt on it, and

told Putman that he would feel bad if he should have him indicted for hunting on

his land. This seemed to fire Putman and he took the gun from the little boy and

deliberately shot Esq. Cooper in the side, the muzzle of the gun within three feet

of him, remarking at the time, "you have run over me just as long as I am going to

stand it," or something to that effect. Esq. Cooper fell from his horse and said,

"Putman, you have killed me for nothing." Putman walked away and a son of Mr.

John Hicks heard Cooper groaning and went to him and gave the alarm. Esq. Cooper

was removed to his home, where he lingered until 7 o'clock that evening. The

above, facts of the killing are the statements, made my Esq. Cooper to Esq. R. Z.

Taylor and are sworn to. Putman skipped out and officers and blood hounds were

hunting for him until Monday morning about 2 o'clock he came in and gave himself

up to Sheriff Jones.

Esq. Cooper was a prominent man and this sad ending of his life was a shock to his

many friends in Gibson County. He had just been elected a member of the county

court and was a good citizen. Mr. Putman, who was a near neighbor to Esq. Cooper,

is a preacher and it is said claims to be sanctified. Circuit court is now in

session, but the grand jury has adjourned and we presume nothing will be done in

this case the present term of court.