Delaware tribune, and the Delaware state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1877-18??, 1877-10-18
COOPER.

Tire San Francisco Ferger and His
Delaware History - what tho
Smyrna TimeA" Has to say Of
Him.
Under tile caption of "Bill Cooper" the
Smyrna Times publishes the following
account of William X. Cooper, whose opera
tions as forger, &C., in San Francisco
have lately been the subject of news tele-
grams, and who is a native Of Smyrna
Bill always would do 1t. He commenced
years ago, when quite little boy, and
keeps right on. Money drawers here
suffered by him, BY the time he was ten
years old, and finally he Was arrested for
robbing the safe Of Joseph H. Primrose,
(now of Wilmington) but it couldn't be
proved on him. Other tricks were
brought home to him, however, and quite
frequently, but generally . consideration
for his devoted, high spirited, highly
respected mother, (now dead, would save
his bacon. During the war, when he WAS
claiming to be one Of the most
Southern of Southerners he turned up
here in . navy uniform and war paint.
We think he was an ensign, and hand
some officer he was. He rang right in at
Washington, a. he was well able to do, and
married the daughter of the gentleman
above-named. But he WAS arrested at
Broad and Prime depot, in Philadelphia,
in '67, whilst on his Wedding tour to
Europe, with his young bride at his side,
for robbing the United States Treasury of
$40, 600 or more, by tho use of fraudulent
drafts or something Of the kind. He got five
years in Moyamensing prison and Hon. Mr..
Dufrees got q divorce for his daughter.
She had been hardly married twelve
hours when the shock came upon her.
While in prison he became model man,
as he had many times before, and charmed
the keepers aud inmates by his conduct and
brilliancy. Rev. John Ruth, the Chap
lain, also SmyrniAn. got him appointed
Secretary to the Superintendent, and six
months taken OF his imprisonment. He
was released In 1879, and after that We
think he became Baptist minister in
North Carolina. But about year ago
one of our citizens, b. A. Hazel, whilst in
Mobile, Alabama, learned that he had just
gotten out of Jail there, where he had
been confined for forgery, or something of
the kind. He charmed the jailers there
as he did in Philadelphia 80 they informed
Mr.. H. He was . great Sunday school
man when he 6rst went TO Mobile, and soon
attracted attention by his good attain
ments and fine address. He married
but his Mobile wife, like his Washington
one, was soon brought to grief by his
swindling propensities. We think he
bought his way out down there by securing
some almost worthless State securities at a
triAing cost and offering them to the
State IS payment Of his fine. The State
could not refuse it's own bonds; so he
managed to thus pay out. After this
Alabama episode he seems to have
attracted little or no attention until now.
But when he does claim attention we find
him still in the samc old rut. We have
known Cooper to be one Of the best fellows
that ever lived-until his character slipped
as it was sure TO do. He was also con.
sidered smart" handsome, companion
able and attractive In his manner, and ht
could convince the most astute person oi
his honesty of purpose, the very thins
he lacked. lie was in every good wore
and work if Il were something tina
attracted public attention; &C, for the sam,
reason, he would take part in things of
questionable character. He always like,
notoriety and money, and was neve
scrupulous az TO how he got either. On
thing seems 10 be especially noticeable
he has never travelled under an assume
name, no far a. We know. He was Away
proud of his family record, ~ well b
might, and for this reason appeared alway
anxious to hold 70 the name that he Va
10 willing 70 taxuish.