The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-11-17
MIR. COOKS STRANGE DEATH.
Warned of His Coming Dissolution by
Visit from IA Partridge.

HOl IA IaFJF1uBes
Lewiston tMe) Journal,
Further investigation of the strange death
of Lafayette Cook, of Auburn, emphasizes the
remarkable features of the case. Coroner
Brooks has made a careful examination and
finds the medical facts to be as first stated. He
found the body lying as Cook had laid him
self out, and the most life-like corpse he had
ever examined. Death was shown to have
been from natural causes, and yet there was
no disease. Mr.. Clark and Mr.. Gates, who
watched with Cook on Sunday night, say the
only movement they saw was the slight ex-
pansion OF his chest occasionally. The death
tiutter was noticed at five minutes before 8
o'clock A. NJ, on Monday. OF the genuine
ness of the old mans prophecy there is
abundant proof. Mr.. B.. N. Chesley, of Au-
burn, is a brother of a recently deceased
daughter-in-law of Cook. Mr., Chesley was
standing in the mayors office in Auburn on
Tuesday morning, when some one remarked
the peculiar manner of Lafayette Cooks
death. Mr.. Chesley had not heard of it.
Cook dead?" exclaimed he. There is some
thing singular about that. He had been say
ing for two weeks that he was going to die on
Monday morning. Two weeks ago he went
into a trance and made the announcement.
My sisters child came over to our house last
week and said that her gra dlather was get
ting ready to die, and that he was going to
die on Monday morning"
About two months ago Cooks daughter-in-
law died. Among the most sincere mourners
was her father-in law. He accompanied her
remains to the grave, and expressed the ten
derest solicitude towards his grandchildren.
1t was Just after the death of Mrs. Cook that
Cook made his first statement in regard to his
coming dissolution. 1t was 10 o'clock IN the
morning. A %grandchild came running into
the house, with the story that a partridge
had come into the shed and couldn't get out.
Mr.. Chesley says that Cook manifested great
concern. The little girl says her grandfather
turned pale and was afraid" At first he
DELAYED going into the shed. The
partridge rut1ed up its feathers
at the children and at Everett
Cook. The latter went into the house after
a gun. Upon that the old gentleman came
out into the shed. He didn't want the bird
shot. The singular part of the story, that
Mr.. CheSley vouches for, is that the moment
Cook appeared the whole behavior of the
the bird changed. TIL partridge flew at Mr..
Cook and wheeled around in a circle about
his feet. She few to his shoulders, pecked
at his face and alighred on Ills hands. The
bird was placed on the floor and repeated
the operation. Finally it was given to one
of the children and placed in an apple tree;
it flew back. The bird stayed half an hour,
all the time showing the utmost affection to-
wards Cook, purring and piping in partridge
fashion. When it left it few in a direct
course towards the burrying- ground where
Mrs. Cook was buried. The effect of the
birds visit was very great upon Cook. He
returned to the house and went into a
trance" which lasted two hours. When
he recovered he made the statement that he
should die. He talked freely OF it. There
after he said that the first W rning was the
visit of the bird. He was a man who had UNI
limited faith in such omens. He frequently
had what he called frances, and was quite a
believer in spiritualism.