Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-06-27


assist him in carrying out hlspiaD. Ne uaid Ray
was perfectly reliable, 80 He then went on TO ash
The Captain what he was intending 70 pay for bis
services IN destroying the opposition line Waid
replied by saying thai be could not AFFORD 70 give
uiueh but d be oCooley,j should succeed in com
pellng the opposition 10 withdraw, he would pay
$500. II he only succeeded in destroying the boat
he would only pay sfOO Cooley expressed him
self satisfied with the oaer The Captain clinched
The bargain by paying him $500 on the SPOT He
then commenced making inquiries about his hav.
ing blown up ships before. Cooley in reply, sta
bed that he was hired by a couple Of individuals to
blow up the barque Grdmpus in Oswego, some
eight years ago, which he did by placing torpe-
do under her The explosion forced the vessel
from her moorings, she swung around and was
dashed against the breakwater and went 10 pieces.
He had previously got the Captain and Mate Of the
GramPus drunk ashore, and succeeded in getting
the balance Of the crew of, before he applied the
match. The wind was blowing freshly OF The
time and Il was supposed that the waves
forced the Grdmpus from her mooring. Hence
there was no suspicion Of the true cause Of the
accident
After making this revelation, Cooley proposed
to set Sunday evening, June 25th, (last evening",
for carrying out his devilsh project, which was
acceded TO by Capt Ward, who informed Cooley
his money was ready, when the job was done.
After this last meeting Marshal Craw detached
policeman Sanford to watch the motion Of Cooley
andthen called upon Capt. Chapman, superintend
ent Of the Buffalo and Lake Erie Steamboat ssoci
alton, informing him Of the plot and requested him
to keep sharp watch for the scoundrel should he
be prowng around the steamer in his fishing boat
! He also found out from Capt. Chapman that there
was barque by the name of "Grampus' wrecked,
as II was supposed, on the breskwater at the mouth
Of Oswego Harbor some eight years ago-that it
was supposed at that time she was purposely
wrecked. This 50 far confirmed Cooley's story in
regard to the Cramps.
! We would here state what we omitted before,
that Cooley said that one Of the men who had EN-
ployed him to blow up the GrampliS, had his mill
burnt sometime previous that be had difficulty in
settling with the Insurance Companies, who sus-
pected him oi burning his mill property that the
other man now lived in Detroit.
Last Friday Capt Ward was called away from
the city The Marshal, being satisfied that he had
sufficient evidence 10 convict Cooley, and being
fearfu as the boat laid here all day Sunday (yester
day) that he might changehis mind and apply the
match sooner, concluded he would make descent
on Rays house. For this purpose he got out q
search warrant, placed II in the hands of some Of
his policemen, who proceeded to Rays house, ,whers
after diligent search they. found large tin car
designed for altorpedo calculated TO hold 25 or 3C
pounds Of powder. with tin tube about five fee
long attached to IT, The size Of tie can is 10 inch
es high, and three feet aud half in circumference
They also found a coil Of fuse hid in the pocket o
one Of the dresses of the women. The fuse Il
about % or 80 feet long.
While this search was proceeding, Marshal Crav
ordered the arrest of Cooley, which was done an'
he was taken to the Jail.
Tins through the shrewdness OF Captain Ward
was most helIish plot to blow up the magniaeen
steamer City ofBunalo, and perhaps destroy mum
Der of lives nipped in the bud.
We are informed that according to the opinion q
one of our first lawyers there is no Slate or
S. law to reach this offence, that in order to pun
ish Cooley the crime which he attempted, mus
have been committed Irthis is so, it is high tim
that law should be passed as soon as possible
punish such cases. Fortunately Cooley had bee
apprehended for counterfeiting aud is out on hi
own recognizance. 1t seems that some OF hi
friends, who are among our business men on tn
dock had their sympathies excited in his favor, o
account OF his age Che being some 55 years ofage
and had used their influence with the Court to al
low Cooley to 60 on his own recognizance l
the absence Of any law to punish him for the Grim
for which he was arrested, and!will undoubtedly
tiled and convicted for the first offence, and
sentenced the full term, whlchis ireeu years in Il
' penitentiary.
; Cooley has been in the employ of Capt Nei
son, for the last four years, aiding him in his C
?. pacty as diver, in raising and rescuing prope
ty from sunken vessels He recently held tn
d situation of shipkoepcr under Marshal Johnso
g he having charge of the schooner SlOeet Hon
recently confscated for violating tho reven'
laws.
y Ray is an old penitontiary bird, having bee
:, sentenced some fifteen years ago for passiT
"a counterfeit money,
sr Much credit is due to Captain Ward for Il
step he took to have Cooley arrested. Marsh
10 Craw is also entitled to tho highest praise
A. the skill he manifested in ferreting out the
no scotndrels