Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1870-01-21

LETTER FROM vR. COOKE


To the Editor Of tie T'rHags,
SIR VIII you give the words o. a criminal
place in your columns 30 not ask to ex.
cuse myself-Oh no I only wish the TRUTH q
be kuoNn. I'll could only write, | would '' a
plain, uuvarnishei tale 80 deliver, but my head
and my heart hurt me SO thar I cannot
On this day the young lsdy will be returned
to her home, AS pure and Is good when tirst
! saw her She has been with me As my SISTER
OF course we did not intend that, but my wretch
ell heart stung me At the beginning, and my only
desire is 10 repair { As far as cam the injury
have done 20 all my f-ienis-so good 70 me
and TO the church but the damned blot
will uerer out
wish that [ could write, but l cannot. Let
me make a few statements, and for Coils sake
BELIEvE me:
lst. did noi-I hare not seducei Miss John
ston. Ii / had, why should / bring her back :
If was villain enough 70 ruin her, would not
have been villain enough to keep hey Il il no fear
Of personal injury that prompted me, because |
could have eluded ercry50iy, if | choose, and
am hack now, and ready to pay any penalty the
family may require, only don't any body Else
come near me for Inasmuch As the papers say
am a c0lf, It must be remembered that wolves
BITE.
n. I dH not correspond with her when in
Europe.
"a l 7ercr visited the school until the lay
we left the city
4th. was never in an assignstion house with
bsr or any one else in my life.
9TH No panel thieves have blackmaiiel
me. and lefy aud chaiiru1e any living man or
woman TO lay aught against my character since
] have been Minister OF the Gospel If any
b0ly-pdhei there's or Gng07e eise-have let
ters Of mine, let them publish them. A. hope
for mercy don't hope for any; but on my
s0ui-on eserything tn1t men hold sacred even
the most depavel-l swear u is not true.
have done wckeily enough, but don't paint
me blacker than | am. What was before
entered the Ministry ought not to damage my
character or yertcity now. Many actors are
better than am and because have turned out
a reprobate, that Is no reason why such villain
Gus TRADES should be launched against the
Church If | could be five minutes in the pre-
sence Of the man who wrote the report in the
World, would be satisfied.
My chiefest anxiety is about the young lady
Oh, am certain that those who KNOW me, who
have been ultimately connected with me, a. III
beiieUe me- | never did wickedly at Mamaro-
neck or Flushing. | ion't wonder they write
SO, for man who would DO what have done, il
is very natural to suppose would DO anything
Don't understand that am trying to excuse
myself | am not | want neither pity nor
mercy. Let that be understoo4-pe.tsctly
| say, again, the young lady Is pure as snow
and am ready to DO anything that will tend to
confirm my assertion. Pardon me for troubling
you, and put this in good sh ,pe, for | can t
write-aithough | want to.
HoRtcE COOKE
Wednesday, p. m, Jan. II, 1870.
Mr.. Co,ke's appearance, on mis- examination
before the Police Magistrate, for his assault on
the Worlds editor, is thus described
OF full height, well made. with an attractive
countenance, full beard. well--hsped head and
an eye nov very much disturbed, but which
might be eloquent either IN love or argument
he added to his personal attractions by his taste
in the important accessories Of dress. All his
garments were Of late style, well made, and
tsstefully selected Instead of clerical hat, he
wore an Astrskhan cap. which admirably set off
his bearded face
His answers were as follows
Well, sir, what's your name ~
My name is Horace Cooke
g Your age, Mr.. Cooke2"
Thirty years"
Your resi1ence?'
Here there was pause. Then he jerkei out
quite abruptly
In Seventh street, near the church; I don I
know the number"
90 Your profession -
The hand of the ex-preacher "A handsome
one. by the way-was clssped over his eyes. aud
rnoaningy he replied: