A story of two men who were killed in a knife fight on Easter Eve 1918, at Polish Row, a housing area for miners in Wiconisco Township, near Lykens, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, and the trial, conviction and sentencing of the man accused of the crime.
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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 1 April 1918:
TWO SLASHED TO DEATH IN RAZOR FIGHT AT LYKENS
Benjamin Johnson, Alleged to Have Been Gambling, Gives Up Self
Lykens, Pennsylvania, 1 April 1918 — Benjamin Johnson, better known as “Preacher,” a Negro living in Polish Row, Wiconisco Township, cut the throats and fatally wounded two brothers as the result of a dispute over a game of crap on Saturday night. The men are all Negroes and were employed at the Summit Branch Colliery of the Susquehanna Coal Company here. They had returned home at 11 o’clock. Saturday being pay day at the mines, they entered into a game of crap, which lasted well into the early hours of Easter morning.
About 2:30 o’clock and argument arose between the three whereby “Preacher” Johnson was accused of taking money which did not belong to him. After a short time, Johnson, being unable to convince the others that he had not played unfair, returned their money and went home to bed.
About ten minutes after he had retired the other two men, Tucker Copeland and his brother, Odell Copeland, became angered at his having left the room and pursued him to his home. They went upstairs and breaking into the bedroom found the man asleep. They at once began to pummel him with large rocks, which they had secured on their way to the house. Being attacked in bed by the two angry men, “Preacher” took steps to avoid further ill treatment, and succeeded in ejecting them from the house.
Having received several ugly cuts about the head he them went to a hydrant outside the house to wash the blood from his face. As he was doing this the noise made by the water attracted the attention of the men inside, and they again attacked him with rocks. At this time Johnson’s only retreat was the house occupied by Odell Copeland. He ran through the house crying “leave me alone; you’ll kill me.” They still pursued him and finally cornered him in the front room of the house. Reaching over a sideboard Johnson seized a razor and slashed the throat of Tucker Copeland, who was nearest. The wounded man sank to his kneed and crawled out the door. The attack by Odell, the brother, then became more furious, and he met the same fate as that of his brother, falling to the floor mortally wounded. He died within five minutes.
In the meantime, Tucker had made his way to the office steps of Dr. J. A. Ulsh, in Lykens, about a quarter of a a mile from the scene. He bled to death before medical attention could be given him. The dying man, in a deep gash in his throat, had succeeded in tying a handkerchief around his neck. It was found difficult to remove after his death.
Officer Oscar Hawk, of Lykens, was notified of the tragedy and at once set out to find Benjamin Johnson. He located him in Coaldale, about a half mile away. The arrest was made with no resistance and the man was placed in the town prison. The authorities having been notified, Coroner Jacob Ecklinger, District Attorney Michael E. Stroup and County Detective James Walters, of Harrisburg, arrived in Lykens at 2 o’clock Sunday afternoon. The scene of the murder was inspected and names of witnesses ascertained. An inquest was held and Johnson was taken by automobile to the county prison at Harrisburg. The bodies of the murdered men will be sent to Philadelphia tomorrow morning by the Reiff and Helt undertaking establishment of Lykens.
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From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 14 June 1918:
UPPER END MAN PUT ON TRIAL FOR DOUBLE MURDER
“Preacher” Johnson Formally Charged With Slashing Throats of Brothers
Benjamin, alias “Preacher” Johnson, indicted on charged of murdering Tucker Copelin and Odell Copelin, brothers, colored, early Easter Sunday morning, was placed on trial this morning before Judge C. V. Henry, specially presiding in Courtroom No. 1. The fight and the homicides following it occurred Saturday night and early Sunday morning in one of the houses in “Polish Row,” Wiconisco Township, near Lykens. Odell Copelin was slashed across the left side of his neck, the cut extending through a large artery, death resulting a few minutes later. Tucker was cut across the cheek and left side of his neck, dying on the steps at the home of a physician.
Jurors who were accepted for service follow: David Lape, Steelton; Horace A. Chayne, city; William A. Kain, Elizabethville; Harry E. Oves, city; William L. Jauss, city; Richard R. Brown, Steelton; Daniel Boardner, Middle Paxton Township; William H. Sites, Swatara Township; Earl T. Gruber, Highspire; George D. Toomey, city; William A. Dorwart, city.
It is expected to close the case late in the afternoon and it may be submitted to the jury before adjournment. The first witnesses called for the Commonwealth this morning when the trial opened told of the meeting in the Copelin home where the two brothers, Ben Johnson, Odell Copelin’s wife Queenie, Richadr Scarver, Viola Love and Cecil Coates, all colored, and Eugene DeWalt, met. Some of them left later after which Tucker Copelin and Johnson started a crap game. This testimony was given by Queenie Copelin. She told of the argument which followed, and efforts made by Odell to stop the fight.
Saw the Blow
Queenie said that after the fight in the house Johnson left but Tucker followed him shortly afterward. A fight was heard outside and Odell went out to investigate, she told the jury. Going to the door she saw Johnson strike at Odell, her husband, who then came back to the house bleeding profusely. Leading him to a couch she asked him to lie down, and a few minutes later he died. Tucker was found on the steps at the home of Dr. Ulsh.
Coates, the next important witness called in the prosecution of the case, repeated the details of the fight and also stated that he heard Tucker threaten Johnson’s life, saw both Odell and Tucker die, and when he went to the latter lying on the steps heard him say “Lord have mercy on my poor soul, have mercy Lord.” A number of other witnesses who were at the Copelin home late Saturday were called in the afternoon.
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From the Philadelphia Inquirer, 15 June 1918
PLEADS SELF-DEFENSE
Preacher Johnson Says One Victim Threatened Him, Brother Killed Self
Special to the Inquirer
HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, 14 June 1918 — Pleading self-defense was his motive in striking at Tucker Copelin, colored, and slashing him with a razor, and that Odell Copelin, a brohter, was accidentally cut when he ran into the weapon, Benjamin, alias “Preacher” Johnson, colored, took the witness stand this afternoon before Judge C. V. Henry, specially presiding.
Johnson is charged with killing the two men because of a fight over a crap game early on Sunday morning, 31 March. The murdered men and the defendant lived in “Polish Row,” Wiconisco Township, near Lykens, in the Upper End of the county. Johnson declared Tucker Copelin threatened his life, threw rocks at him and attacked him. In defense he said he struck at Tucker with the razor and Odell seeing the fight ran toward him while he was holding the open razor, causing a fatal, self-inflicted wound.
A verdict will probably be returned in the morning, as all testimony has been heard late today….
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From the Harrisburg Evening News, 17 June 1918:
Johnson Found Guilty in One Homicide Case
“Preacher” Ben Johnson, the Wiconisco Township colored man who was tried in criminal court last week and acquitted of one murder and found guilty only of voluntary manslaughter in the second homicide case, has been granted ten days in which to file reasons for a new trial in the latter case. W. Justin Carter, his counsel, said this morning that he has not fully decided whether he will press the application.
Johnson slew Tucker and O’Dell Copeland, brothers, and put in a plea of self defense at this trial. The jury was divided, eleven to one, and deliberated nearly eight hours before the verdict was reached Saturday evening at 6 o.clock. The decision means that the murder of Tucker Copeland was justifiable and that the slaying of O’Dell was more or less accidental – at least without pre-meditation.
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From the Harrisburg Evening News, 25 Jun 1918:
TEN YEARS FOR SLAYER OF TWO
“Preacher” Ben Johnson, colored, the Lykens miner who slew two colored men early last Spring just outside his boarding house in Wiconisco Township, and who was acquitted in one case and convicted in the second, was sentenced to the penitentiary today by Judge Henry for a term not not less than eight years and not more than ten. A fine of $1 was imposed and Johnson was directed to pay the costs.
Fifty Lykens residents petitioned the Judge to deal with Johnson as leniently as possible.
The prisoner seemed to be pleased with the comparatively light sentence. He smiled and told his counsel that he was grateful for his legal services. Judge Henry said he regarded both verdicts as entirely proper. Johnson slew Tucker and O’Dell Copeland, brothers.
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News clippings from Newspapers.com and the on-line resources of the Free Library of Philadelphia.