New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-03-20
4 MURDER TRIAL.

STEPHEN COOPER ARRNGNED FOR SHOOTING HIS
OWN soy-THE KILLING ADMITTED, But THE
PIE. OF sFIF-DEFENsE INTERPOsED-TnE PRIs-
oNER's STORY.
lFR0M An OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF HE TRiBUNEJ
PorGuKEEPsIE, n Y, March 19.-The trial OF
stephen Cooper tde murder 81 his son was beSuh al
the Circui, Court in this city this morning Justice Jo
seph f. Barnard presiding. On the bench also we're AS
sociate Justices Case and winans. The details OF the
crime have already been published. Alter The jury was
sworn n the opening address for the people was made
by DsrictAtorney VIM r. Woodin and at its close tue
court took recess until y. IN.
After the recess several witnesses were called who did
not answer to their names.
Henry White testified to knowing the prisoner; wit
ness lived not than quarter OF mile from aim IN
Doyer the first he knew of the being shot was when
the prisoner down the road ana said TO him, 81
shot that young fellow up there; 50 up and see to HIM.
aud Tn going down TO give myself up" witness said,
"YOu hadn't ought 10 have shot him, had yOnf prs
oner replied, "My life is sweet as any ones ana
passed on; went up to the spot where the son
Law the son said putting his hand his stomach, Die
now" witness said Maybe not" the son again sad,
ayes, die now :" the wound seemed to be in
the lett groin and the blood running down the path
the boy died in about half an hour; before he died
the father back; the boy taken INTO the house
by the mother and witness and TIE boy asked TO see his
father mother told tie father, lie Ia dying, ana
] wish he was dead now the boy hadn't sound
mind but on common subjects he knew what hc was
talking about; ten days before the occurrence witness
WAS with the prisoner, and tde son overlook them;
aerward the same day witness heard prisoner say I"
his wife, Z" II he back TO the house again VIII
shoot hing that day the prisoner and his sou had
quarrel and the young Cooper hit his father making his
lp bccd witness referred 10 another time when the two
had trouble and the old mans were blackened by
his SON. heard Of the time the whipped his grand
father and was sent the PenitentiaTy never knew
of the prisoner fighting; never was called ugly;
the day the overlook witness and his father the
father told the to go back or he would boot him
Boot ell !" said the boy, when he aud TIE old man
clinched, and witness had to part them the old man
snid witness, Hcn give me knife will rip him )"
the boy replied, Rip, eh and he too, reached for
kBc had heard the boy threaten TO strike his
mother-knOck her down; saw him one Gay with cane
in his handtw0 years ago; said he would hammer ms
father; the hard wood, four feet long; the
father seemed To br always afraid OF the son.
The first witness called for the defense was the prisoner
Stephen Cooper. He testified Am 81 years of age; re-
side at Dover, and have yc there since was years
old this boy was % years old last June; he yed al ms
erandfithers mile off, two year, ago last Spring
went before squire Tonpkns, and complained against
HIM for pitching INTO me WIN cane the poy was Wen
built and stronger than after the trial before the JUS
the boy about to be committed to jail when W.T.
ness agreed that If the boy would before TOmpks
lac would hereafter keep away from me- lac would let MN
go the boy kept away Tor awhile after that but later on
whipped his grandfather some three years before ne
had trouble with him while chOpping wood In the woods
during which Young sieve RAISED an no
the son had attacked him; he seemed TO have an
tpa against him after h ont of the Penite nary
because he said witness hadn't helped 10 yet him OUT,
in fact witness doing all he could to that end
the Sunday before lie shot he struck witness; fad
also struck his wife and MOTHER the latter 90 Years OF
age; very feeble and unable To get here he smoked III
his mothers face and she said he didn't stop she would
knock his ppc out OF ms mouth; then he hit her and
nos aud witness out and got help TO put
him out OF doors the Sunday before he was hhoi
WE Wines mterfered when the boy ciiuched him
on the fatal uonday witness was taking ladder out oi
an apple tree when the boy approached; witness told
HIM to 90 away; the boy replied that liz would stamp
his liver out; witness went ia the honse ana tue Doy
followed and cluchcd him ana threw him on the noor,
and the two women were standing over MN iially NC
got up and Ind IN the cellar and pretty soon the women
told him the boy had gone this was a. NJ; witness
then OUT he got MS gun. thinking 10 go coon huh
ing that night the gun had been loaded some tiIe anu
he thought he would fire il Of and had trouble do
ing it, hut finally got IL on and loaded II again win
pigeon shot then sitting down in the door; the
"a eway was about IL ret from the dOOrsil aud on
either side OF the gateway stone wall
saw I" Young steve" coming cursing aud swear.
the same time he pulled of his coat; witness waficu
him not 20 in; the boy replied " I'll stamp your
old liver out; I'll split your brains OUT ana then maue
for with piece Of thili two feet long; witness
told aim II he did come nc would shoot hm he kept
coming, when witness, Thinking TO scare hl urea on
barrel, not al first intending to hit him, aud the boy
fell aud witness himself up; witness Thought tne
boy meant 10 kill hiIn-was afraid OF his life Thought
sure he struck HIM with that stick II would XIII MN
on doorstep right in front OF the gun as IL WJs nreu
witness had seen the boy strike his mother number o
times; time he saw the boy tear nearly al OF her
Counsel for defense called to prove the gen
eral good character aud peaceful disposition Oi the prs
aud the violent temper OF NE son. HG nn a
defense rested and the prosecution called Daniel enn
testified that the prisoners reputation was thaa
q ouaIrelsOme and ugly man Reuben DENNIS esilheu
thai the prisoner quarrclsome and had been mis-
clef-naker for 20 years. Witness was knocked down
Is or 20 years ago with hoe by the prisoner, but forgot
h. "a Al FIR