The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1866-06-29
CAsEOF MISTAKEN INDEMNITY
A Woman Murdered, and the Body
Supposed to be that of Another-The
Husband of the Latter Indicted for
the murder of his Wife-She Appears
and Claims HIm...Who is the Muir
dered Woman
From the New York Times, June

From the New York Times, June9.
Among the many cases Of mistaken in
| IDENTITY which have occurred in the police
annals, none have been published pre-
senting more singular features than the
one we are abou. to relate. Although
the main incidents occurred several years
ago, the explanations which served TO clear
up the mystery have been but recently
made. The affair at the tine was widely
canvassed, the newspapers giving every
publicity to the case in its various stages
and while some Of orr readers will doubt
less remember the interest excited, they
will be glad to learn the facts which will
disperse the mystery which then surround>
ed the entire matter
Several years ago, Inspector Leonard,
then Captain Of Police, received tele-
graphic despatch from the police authori-
ties Of Providence. r. l., requesting him
20 arrest John Nj. Cookson, master of a
small coasting schooner plying between
Providence and Norfolk, Va. The accus-
ed was charged with having murdered his
wife, at the little town Of Seaconk, near
|
about the task required os him, and in a
very short time ascertained that Capt
Cookson's schooner was then lying in this
harbor. lie at once boarded the vessel,
and on inquiring for the master, Capt,
Cookson appeared in person. The officer
notified him of the charges against him,
and of his purpose to arrest him. Cooks
son turned pale, stammered, was confused,
and, in fact, showed all those signs OF
embarrassment which are generally int:
preted as evidence Of guilt, but may also
be the effect OF surprise and virtuous in
dignation. He, however, submitted quiz
city to the arrest, protesting in the most
solemn manner his innocence, and decar-
ing that he knew nothing of the wherea-
bouts Of his wife, if she were not at home.
The officer conveyed his prisoner at
once to Seaconk, and there learned the
facts which had led to the arrest.
1t appeared that Cookson lived in the
outskirts of the village with his wife, with
whom he was not On the best of terms
Quarrels frequently arose between them,
but no violence on his part had ever been
observed. On a certain morning Cook
son and his wife was overheard by the
neighbors quarrelirg violently. Shortly
afterward Cookson started for Providence:
and immediately set out for Norfolk with
his schooner. His wife was not seen dur
ing that day ror the one following, but 0
attention had been paid to that fact. On
the third day some children, who were
picking black berries near the village, were
attracted bv the unusual movements Of a
dog which accompanied them, to a spot
where he was paving up the earth in a
frantic mananer, and barking violently.
Reaching the spot, the children were hor-
ror-stricken on behoIding the face Of a
dead woman exposed to view where the
dog was scratching. The citizens having
been notified of the fact, fastened to the
scene, and IN a short time had uncovered
the body of woman, over whose remains
an inch or two of dirt had been scat. ered.
1t was found that the body was frightfuAy
mutilated, and had been sprinkled with
| quick-lime, 10 aid in its decomposition
previous to being covered with earth. The
body was conveyed to the village, aHG
there identified as the remains Of Mrs
Cookson. The mother and sister of that
lady positively identified the body, not
only by lis general appearance, but by
certain marks. Mrs. Cookson's hair was
somewhat singular in its color, and her
manner of wearing it was peculiar. She
had lost one of her front teeth, and an
other had been filled with composition
These marks all appeared on the body OF
the dead person, and the mother and sis
ter were not only positive on these points,
but also identified the clothing with which
the corpse was discovered. The fact OF
the quarrel between Cookson and bis wife
became known, and the dead body of the
woman found in the woods being recog-
Dized as that of Mrs Cookson led to the
belief that the lady had fallen victim to
her husbands violence. The despatch TO
Capt. Leonard and the arrest of Cookson
followed.
When the prisoner arrived at Seaconk
The indignation Of the citizens against him
was most intense, and for a short time il
was feared that lynch law would be called
into requisition. Good sense, however,
guided the citizens, and the prisoner was
confiped in Jail to await the action of the
Grand Jury. This body soon met, and
with little delay found an indictment
against John NJ. Cookson for the murder
of his wife. Additional evidence of a
circumstantial nature was adduced calcu
lated to remove all shadow of doubt as to
the guilt of the accused. 1t was shown
that, after the quarrel with his wife, the
accused had come down to Providence and
there purchased barrel of lime, which
had been sent on board his schooner.
From this time he was lost sight Of for
several hours, and the next that was known
he had boarded his schooner and sudden
ly put 10 sea. The prisoner explained
that be certainly did quarrel With bis
wife, and, leaving her in anger, had deter
mined to start upon his voyage as speed
lily as possible. AS he was going to a
Southern climate, in hot weather, he had
purchased the lime to be used as a dis
infectant on board his schooner. lie
could suggest no possible place where his
wife could lave concealed herself, and /,
indeed, had no doubt but that the body
found was her remains. His explanations,
Of course, were disbeI;eyed, and his fate
was considered settled. The prisoner
himself thought that there was no posi-
bic way by which to establish his limo
cence the evidence against him aDueare1