The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-01-24
bedroom. John cooper 10y on the bed un.


When the authorities came to inqire in
to the case, 1t was ionnd that Cooper had
: been straugled with a kerchief, which lay
twisted upon the floor. A strong oaken
chest, which usually lay under the bed,
had been drawn out and broken open.
From It was missing large sum oil money
which the couple had been saving for
years, SO that when their unfortunate son
and only child-who, as may be already
inierred, had broken the laws and been
transported across the seas-returnedf from
his long imprisonment, provision might
be made for his future comfort.
Before the coroner Mrs. Cooper related
the facts already In possession OF the
reader, respecting the employment OF
Jones. the coming Of the peddler, and the
conversation overheard by Cooper be-
tween the two men, showing that they
were old acquaintances and
ASSOCIATES IN SOME DREADFUL cRlnE.
The words, "we strangled the old
wretch, seemed to bear directly on the
killing OF Cooper, showing that the men
had already perpetrated similar crime.
Mrs. Cooper also remembered that Jones
had once helped her husband to put q new
lock on the oaken chest, although The
money was not visible and never re-
ierred to.
Still 1t was natural TO suppose that Jones
would not believe that SO strong box
with secure lock was required merely
for the sake OF keeping q few old.fashioned
garments which lay on the top OF the con.
tents, and were alone visible to Jones.
| ful Mt n tE,A nm
was obtained, and officers were sent for to
Leeds to go inpursnit Of them. Atapub-
lie house just outside OF Pontefract, on the
way to the great North road, the officers
heard tidings OF them. They were there
when man brought the news OF Cooper's
MURDER but almost Immediately quilted
the place and went up by the castle to.
ward the country.
The same night the officers were upon
their track, but had to give up the search
and seek shelter in farm house till next
day. Early in the morning they arose
just at dawn and heard commotion out.
side. Hastily dressing, they went out and
found the farmer and his man in state
OF great alarm and establishment. One OF
the men said that on going into the barn
they found man lying on the straw with
u broken leg. The officers saw the man,
who said that his name was Strong,
and that he belonged to Castletord; that
he was formerly in the employ OF
Cooper, but enlisted, and had Just been
discharged; that he had saved some
money, and was on his way to his
former home when night came on, and
HE SOUGHT SHELTER IN THE BARN.
He said that he was reused out Of his
sleep by two men whom he described, and
who were evidently Jones and the ped
dler; that they questioned him as to who
he was, and then attempted to rob him
that he had a struggle and was thrown,
aud that his leg was broken. He said that
as he lay hall insensible the two men |
riled bis pockets, took from him all he had,
and decamped.
The constable OF Castleford, who was
with the two officers from Leeds, recog- |
nized Strong, and bore outhis statement as
to having been in Cooper's employ and en-
listed. The man was removed to the house
and medical aid procured. Then the Off.
GERS returned to their pursuit OF Jones and
the peddler, and finally got wind Of them
in coppice skirting the road. They at
first offered resistance, but were captured
and secured. On Jones was found over
el 100 in Bank OF England notes, the sum
which was missing from Cooper's strong
box. They were conveyed to Castleford
and committed by coroner for the will
full murder OF John Cooper. They were
then removed to Wakefield on July Dist, to
await their trial.
1-a laItr nAf
der OF Cooper, and Jones said that Cooper
was aware OF his departure as he informed
him Of his intention before they retired on
the night OF the murder, and received from
him the amount OF money due to him, for
which he wrote q receipt. This receipt
was actually found, in the money drawer
in Cooper's bar-room.
The story told by the two men OF what
happened after they quilted Castleford was
singular. 1t was about l o'clock in the
morning when they left the premises OF
Cooper. They observed light in the bed.
room, and remarked that the old man was |
awake. Just then the light was extin-
guished, and the next instant the window,
which was an old-iashioned lattice, OPEN
ing down the middle, was thrown open.
FIGURE OF A WOMAN
emerged. The person dropped to the
ground, scaled the fence close by, and dis
appeared. Jones said to his companion
that he supposed Cooper had taken advan:
tage OF his wiie's absence 10 receive one OF
hislady friends, though he never thought
he was man OF that sort. The peddler, in
reply, said she was nimble girl to climb
the fence as she did. The two then went
on TO Pontefract and remained there In
public.house until late in the day.
On hearing OF the murder OF Cooper
they were astounded, and saw at once that
suspicion might rest on them. They re-
solved, therefore; to quit the neighbor-
hood as speedily as possible. They took
refuge in the barn at the place where the
officers stayed, and while in the act OF so.
ing to sleep were aroused by the entry OF
third person. This man struck match,
and shading 1t >carefully from outside
view, took out package OF bank notes
and counted them. The impression seized
both Jones and the peddler that this man
must be the murderer OF Cooper. They
resolved simultaneously to get the money,
and, waitingan opportunity, they sprang
on him. He resisted, and his leg was
broken by fall which the long.armed
peddler gave him. Then the two men
gathered up the money and quilted the
place. They were in doubt as to what
course to follow; but at length, being
short OF funds, resolved to appropriate the
money and go TO London.
In corroboration OF this strange story,
calico dress was found thrust into drain
in field adjoining Cooper's, and this
dress was identified by Mrs, Meek as one
which she missed from the line in her
yard the very day after the murder.
AS to the man Strong, he stuck TO his
original story, but remarkable fact came
to light. He swore that the two men rob-
bed him Of all his savings, which an entry
in his pocket-book showed were E27 los.
In leathern bag found In his jacket pock-
| al that nrarisa ailm WAS discovered. and