The weekly Arizona miner., 1879-10-17
oUs,rAK's OAA4-l.a.

tbe great American fsrgeT. His career has been most remarkable oHe. as much in its audAeity and consummate skill as in the immunity which he has, until this time at least, enjoyed from punishment for his crimes. His career As . fsrger commenced when an ensign in the |. s. Navy for ihe staff sf Admiral Lee.
 In Washington he forged the names of several paymasters to the amount of several thousand dollars. Though well known in < Washington, be went to the Fourth Aud itor's office, eooly represented himself as paymaster at Washington, got the money, and then went to the next office, represent ing himself as another paymaster, and se- cured further sum. He was at the time engaged to marry the daughter of Govern ment Printer Defrees, but was arrested for this and other fogeries on his wedding day. and conveyed to MOyamenslng Prison for five years
 The telegram next speaks of his appear anee and operations in San Francisco, Oct. lss7, wkieh most of our readers will re- member. By a seues of skilltul and fre- quent fOrgeries Of the name Of Treadwel t Co, be scooped in about f60,00o from the National Gold Bank and Trust O., and the bank of Sathcr & Go. He escaped with the money, snd for two years the detectives of the world have been on constant, but fruitless search for him, when he suddenly turns up m London, where he has been operating in his usual brilliant and suc- cessful manner.
 In reviewing the life of this bold and successful forger, blank occurs between the time of COoper's release from Moyamens- ing Prison and his appearance in San Fran cisco, which the writer of his may in part supply: He lived in Columbus, Miss, from 1869 to 1875, where he was we'll known to the writer of this, who can, now, even elfim the distinction of having dined and hunted frequently with him there. He had married Southern lady, widow, possess. ing some property. and appeared at this time in the role of a popular and success planter. Cooper was a man of striking and very intellectual appearance. He Was as well man of enviable literary attachments, and was unusually esteemed there as Ii gentleman of great culture and refinement, and of established integrity. We can never forget the excitement and coBsternaiioa which filled that town when Cooper Was ar rested for daring forgery in Mobile, Ala It had been noticed, but the tact had never before attracted much attention, that Cooper was intimate with the clerk oi the post office at Columbus. His friendship had secured him the privilege of entrance behind the delivery, where he was frequently to be found conversiBg with the clerk. Having matured his plans while conveFsing with the clerK, he stole letter frem the mailing table written by the cashier of the C"lum- bus bank. to bank in Mobile. Taking this to his room, he opened it by steaming the envelope, and finding it an ordinary business letter, he added in an admirably executed hand, postscript which ran some thing as follow.
 F. S.-Mr. John Erskine, citizen of this place, viii be in Mobile, in day or two on business. His check on this bank is good for any amount less than $20,0o0. All courtesies shown Mr. Erskine will be ap- preciated by
 
 Sealing this letter again, Cooper replaced it in the office in time for mail, and taking the next train for Mobile, he presented him- self at the bank in Mobile with another forged letter of introduction, and was greeted cordially by the officers of the bank He drew a draft on the Columbus Bank for $l5, 900, and it was paid partly in currency, and the balance in a certificate of deposit. Cooper then went to the general office of the Mobile & Ohio R. R., and in troducing himself as a Mir. Dowd, wealthy planter living just above Columbus, he chartered a special train to carry him home 10 his sick wife. What his purpose was in planning this bold move has never been known, but it was probably to stop his train some point near Columbus, and slip ping quietly and unobserved from it, to get back to his home SO soon that his absence from Columbus would not be noted. This was bold conclusion, but its accomplis- ment was prevented by his arrest before the special train, already making up, had left. His anxiety to get cash for his certificate of deposit, aroused the suspicion of the bank, and telcgTaphing to Columbs, the truth was discovered. Coopers devoted wife depos- ited the money for Cooper's bal, and he, of course, quit the country, and next appears at San Francisco.
 The moral ofall this we an better enunci ate when the length of time he shall be held for punishment is known. Our knowledge of the mans boldness, brilliancy and won- derful luck which always attended him, moves us to predict that he will soon escape , green fields and pastures new