The New York herald., 1879-09-30

days mail. The banks letters were placed on
table to be forwarded by next mail Cooper
succeeded in purloining one of these letters
which addressed to the cashier of
the Mobile Bank. Cooper hastened to . private
room read the contents and copied the letter ini-
tating the handwriting of the cashier of
the Columbus Bank upon one of the
blank sheets he had previously stolen. After
forging the signature thereto he placed all the
checks and bills contained in the original let
ter in this one which he had made. In
addition to the contents of the original let
ter Cooper stated that the Bank of Columbus
had that day sold to Mr.. Sloan sight draft on
theni-the Mobile Bank-for $4,000. He then pro-
ceeded to make this draft for $1S 900, forging the
signature of the Columbus Bank. 1t was made pay
able to Sloans order. The forged letters to the Mo-
bile Bank also stated that Mr. Sloan was stranger
it would be Unnecessary to require Identification in
Mobile, but for safety and identification Sloan $
signature was enclosed. This pretended sigma
ture put upon corner of the let
ter. Cooper then replaced the letter on
the table in the Post Office and in due course it was
forwarded to Mobile. In the meantime Cooper pro-
cured o horse aud rode down thirteen miles to tho
main railroad leading to Mobile. Fortunately
for him the train some hours behind
time. When it arrived he bought a ticket
for Mobile. and on reaching that city found the
bank closed Next day lie presented the forged
draft. The bank officers paid him $4,000
in coin. giving him Now York drafts
for the remainder. After they had done
this the bank officials became alarmed
and tclegraphed to Columbus to know IL the drafa
were correct. The answer that no such draft
had been drawn. Cooper was Immediately
arrested. carried back TO Columbus and CON-
initted by the magistrate for Indictment by the
Grand Jury. Ho persuaded his wife to stand by him
and induced her to sell her property in order to OBJ
tain BAIL In this she succeeded and both left for
New York, whence they sailed for San Francisco.
arriving in March, 1875.
IN SAN FRANCISCO.
Cooper saw advertisement in a San Francisco
paper for q warehouse clerk. aud applied for the
situation. He was employed by Mr. j. p.
Treadwell at a salary or SG5 per month
He remained in Mr.. 1readwells employ
for some time and then formed partner ship with
Mr.. Frederick Elliott in the stock broking busi-
ness. This partnership lasted only year. when
Cooper began to speculate on his own account.
He had been perfectly straight with Mr.. Trcadwell.
and their rotations continued to be of friendly
ture. From time to time Cooper assisted mis- old
employer and was very attentive to him
during an attack of illness. When Tread
| we'll got we'll he resolved to visit New
York. and the day before his departure Cooper
visited him to If he could assist him in any way.
Treadwell had packed all his papers and valuables
| in a large tin box. and allowed Cooper to
carry it to Sather Co.'s bank and deposit it there
during his absence. 1t is believed that either during
| Cooper's connection with Treadwell during his
| visits he fitted a key to this box that
! he stopped ut locksmith's and had
| one fitted to it, and then abstracted
Treadwells bank books and certificate of silver
deposit of $4,000. Then he relocked the pox and
deposited 1t with Luther Co. This was
on May u. and Treadwen loft for the
East the next day. Treadwell had deposit
with Luther. $4,000. and with the National Gold
Bank and Trust Company $4,000. The former sun,
Cooper at once began to transfer to the Trust Com
| pany. The first check was presented to Luther
Co. May 1s. and read, "Pay to exchange accoun,
or bearer S.. .200," and signed j. p. Treadwell
| On May 25 two checks wero drawn and collected in
the same manner for s5.2O0 and 81 800; July one
| for $4,000, and August % for 900
total paesented. $4,000 He also deposited the
! silver certificate for $4,000 for collection
and this led to the discovery Of the for
geries. In the meantime Treadwen returned
to San Francisco and in about week after hi
return Cooper disappeared and succeeded in making
his way to England.