The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1870-01-20
It seems that on Friday afternoon as Miss

| 1t seems that on Friday afternoon, as Miss
Johnston was returning from school, She was
met by Cooke, who joined her and walked
with her some distance. talking with her as
usual. Finally he proposed that she should
go to the Everett House, and by various rep
reservations and threats induced her to ac-
company him. Miss Johnston states that
educated as she was to regard her pastor with
reverence and to look upon him as her spirit
ual and temporal guide, she accompanied him
unhssitatingly. Arrived at the hotel Cooke
registered Miss Johnston as his sister, under
the name of Miss Mary Campbell, and she
was assigned room.
Mr.. Johnston, upon whom our reporter
called last evening, states that at present he
is disinclined to mako public the facts in the
case which have come to his knowledge, but
that he has every reason to believe that MOTH
ing has. transpired which affects the inno-
cence or purity Of his child. He says further
that the proprietors and employees of the
hote! assure him that dnring the time of his
daughters absence from home Cooke has only
called at the hotel once or twice, each time in
the day, and remaining but few moments at
time. He was at the hotel yesterday morn
ing, and it was then probably that he wrote
the letter referred to above In regard to
the failure Of his daughter to notify her pa
rents Of her whereabouts, he states that. having
once taken the fatal step, although innocent,
she was afraid to communicate with her home,
not knowing how her parents would receive
her. 1t is his impression that Cooke, from
the various accounts which appeared in the
public press. was forced, by the pressure Of
public opinion and failure to accomplish, his
infamous purpose, to take the step he did, and
disclose his own identity and the hiding place
of his victim.
+ Since Friday, and, upon leaving the girl
at the Everett House, Cooke has been, as
stated by Mr.. Johnston, 6 floating around"
He visited Jersey City, and Railway, New
Jersey, and was several times in this city.
He was unable to remain quiet in any one
place, and ever since the abduction has
been in a most unhappy frame of mind
Strange as it may seem, he was unrecog-
nized by any one who previously knew him,
and it was not until he voluntarily courted
publicity that his whereabouts were dis.
covered.
After giving the particulars of the par
sons belicose visit to the World Office, the
Times adds:
At l o'clock this morning Cooke was
visited by representative of the Times at
his cell In the station house of the Second
Police Precinct. When the visitor enter
ed the prison he was standing at the gra-
ting. He appeared in an excited state of
mind, but was rational on all points: Du-
ring the interview he paced the cell, al
times pressing his hands to his brow and
crashing his teeth. As the witness ap-
preached he heard him ask the station
house keeper for a penknife.
COOKIES sTATEMANT.
The story told by Cooke was as follows
"When was Is years old [ was engaged to
be married to girl about my own age. |
loved her devotedly, and had every reason to
believe that my affections were returned. An
aunt Of hers broke the engagement, how, 1 do
not know. but villainously. The girl went to
the West Indies, and have never seen her
since. Her image faded from my mind, and
when about 20 years old married my pres
ent wife. She was and always has been the
best of women, and We have never quarrelled
during our long married life. Before enter-
ing the ministry was an actor and for six
months was upon the stage of the Old Bowery
Theatre Up to the time of my coming to
New York my life was happy one, and as
pure as be6tted Christian man and minister
of the gospel. was never unfaithful to my
wife ia the slightest degree, even in thought
or deed, and the story in regard to my visit.
ing places Of bad repute is a fabrication base
ly false. When We moved to Seventh street
became acquainted with Matte johnson.
In form and feature she was the counterpart
ofmy first love, resembling her in all respects.
l became infatuated beyond control, and it was
utterly beyond my power to resist the tempt
tation to try and make her mine. But al
though loving her to desperation, I never had
any criminal intercourse with her; and SO
help me God, she is as pure and innocent
this night as an angel in Heaven. Oh! l
was fool to do such thing. [ intended to
flee from the country and would have done SO
but for that Internal article in the Worldyes,
terday 1t was a clear tissue of lies from
beginning to end, and could not forbear ia
cling him and seeking vengeance upon him.
But for this would never have been found
out. 1t was this object alone that forced me
from my hiding place. I have not done with
the writer Of that article yet and if ever get
out of this place (here tho prisoner gnashed
his teeth, and clenching his fists struck them
wildly against the iron bars, adding at the
same time with emphasis) will wreak a
terrible vengeance upon him. Don't, don't
tell any lies about me, but don't palliate my
crime. Oh fool, fool that was My head
is wild, | shall lose my reason. God help me,
| am miserable man."
The prisoner thus stated his case. In his
excited frame of mind it was utterly impossi-
BILE to gain from him any connected story of
the abduction, or the means which he had
used to induce the unfortunate girl to take
the course she had.
| WASHINGTON, Jan. 14.-SENATE-Vir-
GINA was then resumed, when a recess &C.
cured a,G,
+ The Senate adopted Mr. Edmunds' amend.
ment, by 145 to ID, which exacts the oaths
of the fourteenth amendmen: from legislators
and State officers. 81. !.
HousE-All day was consumed on Vir-
ginia. 49,
Mr.. Bingham's substitute was adopted, SO