The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1885-07-18
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
LETTER FROM BALTIMORE.
The Lynching Of Cooper-A lawyers
View of the Affair-A Success
full Builder, &c.

BALTIMORE, July l4th, 1900.
Messrs. Editors Howard Cooper, the abomi-
nable negro who has been confined in your Jail for
several weeks under condemnation and sentence
of death for an assault of an outrageous character
upon highly respectable young lady, was taken
from the Jail on last Monday morning and hanged
to a tree until he was dead Without saying much
more upon SO repulsive subject or bringing it
again before the public, assert most heartily
and emphaticay that those engaged in avenging
the wrongs upon one so innocent, SO unprotected,
SO comparatively weak in physical nature, de-
serve all praise and commentator for what they
did. Whoever the lynchers were without hesita-
ton say they were right and deserve high praise.
I take pleasure in asserting that they did noble
act; one that might not have been sufficiently
reached otherwise owing to the laws delay and
other causes. have no hesitancy in believing
they were all gentlemen, whose appreciation OF
female innocence rose higher even than law and
justice as occasionally administered through the
courts, though have for them the highest re-
spect. / speak thus as a lawyer who has prac-
ticed before the bar in Baltimore and elsewhere
for many years. Hence speak whereof know.
The chief regret is that the offender could not
have been made to suffer longer and more severe
~ for his offense. / would be glad to see even
those who attempt such assaults or outrages served
precisely in the same way as the negro Cooper
was. Punish them to the EXTREMIST extent that
they may know, Enthusiastically, what to depend
or other rabid animals wherever seen upon the
face of the globe. So pure thing as female inno-
cence and female rights cannot be measured by
any standard save that of unalloyed innocence and
justice. The one therefore, who grossly encroach-
es upon it, as has been charged in the case above
named, should have no respect nor protection
This should be understood the world over. When
the law fails through legal subterfuges in such
cases, make just punishment take its place in
some other way.
To encroach thus upon unprotected female in
nocence and subject it to the baseness of over
powering physical force has counterpart nor
excuse. 1t should be annihilated wherever found
so that we may feel secure in their guardianship
and innocence Let us think of our mothers, sis
tiers, wives and those connected with us by tender
ties of love, and we may and learn there is no
power beyond that which seeks to protect them
inviolate, that of absolute force combined
with q high degree of masculine judgment, stern
Justice and rightly directed intelligence which
enlightened world must and will ever approve, no
matter when or how administered. Let
cept gladly what the law gives us, but when
brutal desperadoes, possibly, may escape, justice
must rise higher and demand Arrangement in some
other way. There must be possibility of es-
Gaping whilst life remains. pure female is too
apt to suffer in character and feeling through such
an ordeal, but it should not be. She has only
been made to endure what she could not possibly
prevent, therefore she stands before society and
the world, before God and man and in her own
conscience as she ever was, pure as the gltterlng
diamond or the icicle. | would most gladly have
the world come to such an estimation OF virtue,
and those who risk their lives in its defense are
entitled to the highest praise and honor. Be it
understood that no such inhuman monster as
would rob of these jewels be permitted to live
no matter by what means he is put out OF exist
ence. The courts and law first, If they can be
awaited of, and if not, in broad daylight, wherever
found, and if necessary without masks. Moral
homilies do no good after the deed is done. They
should forfeit their existence by the surest means
say, therefore, without apology, that the gentle
men who ynched Cooper have my thorough ap-
probation. No such creature in the shape of
humanity should be allowed to breathe anywhere
on the broad face of the globe 1t is an offence
which ranks even above murder; the one killing
only physically, the other both physically and
mentally. There should be no spot of the earth
wherein such an inhuman creature ought to be
permitted to stand for even so vile an attempt
ply even the pretence of some sham moralists
who would let such monsters off from punishment
by occasional slips of the law. l am glad the
thing is over with Howard Cooper and hope that
others who would act like him may be summarily
dealt with and that speedily. | have no sympa-
thy with him but praise for those who took ven
geance upon the abominable monster and all others
of his kind. No man among them-regardless of
what may be said or done-but is entitled to the
appellation of gentleman and defender of wo-
mans innocence.
The weather is now very warm and not much
disposition to NEEDLE In politics. People want to
get to the country, the mountains or the seaside
and enjoy themselves. So they should as there is
only short time for such healthful amusements.
I observe that Mr.. L. F. Bowen, carpenter and
builder who has built some thirty four very hand
some residences on Greenmount avenue, Lanvale,
Townsend and other streets in north Baltimore
and in the Belt, will commence erecting eleven
more fine houses Third street, in the Belt about
the 1st of August. Mr.. Bowen is much esteem
cd resident of Calverton, Baltimore county, where
he also does considerable amount of work. 1t
is possible he may get the building of No. pub
lie school house, in that place, where one is very
much needed. The county, I learn, owns quite
fine lot there on which it might erect a commodi
Gus school house.
I see the entire crop of wheat of the United
States for this year is put down at 33O,OOO,OO0
bushels. The yield Of corn promises to be very
good-also oats and other products
Mr.. John FL. Hewitt, so well known as poet
and writer for the press, was 80 years OF age last
Saturday. He enjoys remarkably good health.
The livery stables on Oak street and North
avenue near the Maryland Central railroad depot,
when finished will be the finest in Baltimore
They are progressing rapidly.
The report q few evenings ago OF the sinking OF
one of the excursion boats to colchester Beach,
filed with excursionsts, produced painful alarm
all over city until it was contradicted as false.
Quite a number Of persons are now going to
Boston and other parts of the North on summer
excursions. It is among the chief excursions
which 60 out of the city far as sea voyaging is
concerned. Our best citizens partake thereof.
Mr.. James L. MoLane has been elected presi
dent of our North Baltimore City Passenger Rail-
way. The cars again run out to barley Park,
Halls Springs and other points on the Hartford
road NEsToR.