The New York herald., 1879-11-08
COOPER'S LAST CRIME.
LORD, RODE TO HOUNDS, DAzZIED THE
NATIVES AND swINDLED THE rRADEsMEN.

HOW THE CONVICTED FoRGEE LIVED LIKE
LORD, RODE TO HOUNDS, DAzzIED THE
NATIVES AND swINpLED THE rRApEsMEN.
LONDON. Oct. 25 1879.
The trial and conviction of William Ringgold
Cooper. alias Randall Cooper. to-day. at the Old
Bailey. ends interesting chapter in the life of this
daring criminal. Itwould be dangerously prophetic
to call 1T the last chapter for il he survives
his sentence he will surely be heard of again IN some
part OF the world in some guise To look at him in
the prisoners box would never imagine him to be
anything but handsome, frank. careless young fell
not at all fast looking fop his Dress yet
with the carefully neat appearance and courtly
manners of a perfect man or the world. The sensa-
ton which this man has created in Hemel Hemp.
stead the neghboring towns is acute to a degree
of painsulness. For two years lie lived in that town
a noted figure among the best people. and doubtless
created q prejudice in favor OF Americans which
English country people are not usually guilty OF.
He rented furnished house of Mr.. Day. solicitor
of thirty years standing in Hemol Hampstead and
through this gentleman extended his acquaintance
gradually until ne thoroughly established himself. He
spent his money freely and everywhere honest
IN his dealings, Mr.. Day, who did much business
for him in the way OF selling and buying stock for
him. testified. His wife good entertainer and
they gave frequent dinners. and in turn enter
pleased his fancy to call himself the grandson of the
famous novelist. whose books doubtless had in
creased circulation i'll the local library account Of
the supposed relationship
IN THE HUNTING FIELD.
For two seasons Cooper hunted with the gentle
men farmers. and WIS noted as a dashing rider. lie
wonderful stories told OF his rare feats III the
saddle He astonshed the small boys aud stable
by trick familiar to Mexicans and Indians.
that of suddenly sliding side of his
horse out of sight. and thus riding considerable
ground while his horse was on a full gallop. He
of those active. nervous individuals
prefer Da s" Il Is saS that gate to
used to collect at the railway station to see
him take the train to London. for he invariably
late and had to rush for it. Randall Cooper
has missed his train. -. ncighboring shopMan would
say the railway whistle shrieked out its signal
for startng but before the words all spoken
brougham dashes up in front of the station be-
tore it fairly stops little figure springs out and
bounds through the door and up the long stairs.
six steps at time. out the platform
as only the end OF the retreating train is
seen: He catches it just ut the bottom of the
platform, springs anywhere. holding on
by the door HANDLE safety rail. anything,
opens door aud climbs in amid cheer from those
of the buffers ut the tail of the train. but he
clung and walked around to the side and got into
the guards carriage. He attended church with great
punctuality and was generous giver to the parish
poor, and in fact for two years maintained stand.
ing Of the highest respectability. In May last he
it himself His landlord. Mr.. Goodwin spent
the stable of the estate alone before his fas
tidious tenant would sign the lease but he did 1t
more willingly because of the wealth and hberality
of the American gentleman. Then there came up
from London nearly $4,000 worth Of furniture, OBJ
tanned at of the largest and most fashionable
manufactures in the English metropolis. To be
sure it has since turned out that Cooper obtained
the furniture on the ..time system (which is taking
article and paying for 1t in insalnents and that
he only paid about sl5oo on the whole, so that It
London firms were less fortunate for Cooper
completed the fitting of his house and
the hands Of the baiis. and his butcher. baker and
greengrocer wondering whether they will ever
Of $3.50 in the Bank of England. where he opened
account last June, soon after his forgery there.
Besides this amount Giyn. Mills 90. nave con-
which will be handed over to American owners X
they tho proceeds Of the San Francisco.forgery
in 1877.
WEAVING HIS PLANS.
There is no doubt that Cooper formed deliberate
plan of wholesale forgery when he went to live in
Hemel Hampstead. Getting into business or friendly
relations with a large number OF the wealthy resi-.
familiar with their handwriting and was thus able
to carry his infamous trade at leisure. One OF
his sublime audaciy. In Washington i'll 1865 he
tinued to live in that city for months after his
forgery at the Navy Department right under the eyes
of the police and in such "rapid" style that that
alone finally led suspicion to his door. After his
San Francisco venture he came almost directly to
1S77-at Hcmel Hampstead, only changing his name
from William H. Cooper to Randall Cooper. He
boldly the stolen STOCKS at WI ro
he became very well known In subsequent fors r.
les he placed implicit confidence in his wigr and
false mustaches and whiskers. which ho recklessy
bought at fashionable wigmaker's near Oxford
regulated thief would have done. The
wigmaker not only knows his Customers
face, but his and address, 30 that
the defence of mistaken identity fell to tho ground
And finally. at the last moment, when he knows
that his forgery has been detected, and when the
detectives despair because their bird has flown.
Cooper calmy enters Glyn's bank and attempts to
face down. He would probably have succeeded too
had not the detectives been at hand to resist his
| indignant protests. Convicted week ago his
sentence was not passed until to-day when he re-
| ceived only five years. have told you by cable
about his speech to the magistrate To
not knowing his previous history of hardened crime
| 1t would have been most touching. From beginning
to end there not word of truth in his piteous
| story of temptation and shame. But one could but
admire his remarkable acting Every sentence was
| delivered with dstinctness and force and every
with his life must have been thunderstruck by his
shameless audacty it could not be said that he
| did his part II was simply perfect. do not know
whether the Sergeant was acquainted with Cooper's
formers life, but If he not have doubt that
| the forger's term of Imprisonment consider
ably shortened by his appeal.
THROWING THE SPONGE.
It Is certain that had not the HERALD printed
Cooper's record he would have made good Defence
but in the words of the lawyer who informed me OF
the fact Cooper "threw up the sponge"
he heard from his wife that the HERALD had discov
cred his identity. In tho same connection much
credit is given to Mr.. Aloysius j. Kane.
the gentleman who recognized Cooper ct New.
gate. Lord Salisbury had the extraditon papers
made of them in consequence OF difficulty which
at the last having been ruled that criminal
must be identified by person who has personal
vious conviction. But those who wish Cooper In
San Francisco will now be able to arrest him A. soon
as he has served his sentence.
THE LECTURE PLATFORM.