Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-10-15
A BOGUS CONTRACT.

VIM. II. Cooper, one of tho sons Of Adj
miral Cooper, Of the United States Navy,
stands charged By his friend, Avian II. Sin.
derland, lawyer of New York and Brook
Ign with, fraud and forgery of an cxtraor-
binary character, something akin to the
methods devised By Ward, of the firm of
Grant s Ward, to fleece his numerous vic
tins. Sunderland has fled an attachment
in Kings county clerks office against any
property of Cooper which may be found.
The papers issued upon the application Of
the complainant set forth the following al
legged facts The plaintiff, who had been in
mate with the defendant for the past live
wears, received letter from him in July
last, asking him to call at his office, saying
he wished to see him. The defendant did
business as an engineer, chemist etc. lie
called, and the defendant said he had been
awarded contracts by the United States
Fish Commission for pumping engines for
the sum of $50 900, and that he bad made
sub contract for $50 900, which would leave
him profit of $4,000. 1t was necessary,
however, for him to deposits certified check
for $4,000. If the plaintiff would loan
him that sum be would furnish the other
half and he would pay him $500 as his
part of the profit for the completion of the
contract He, as alleged, exhibited con
tract dated Washington, D: e., June ~,
1885, marked on its face "A contract for
pumps, form A 3, No. ,oo5,' signed w.
l.. Bailey. Engineer in Chief Fishing Com
mission United States government" He
showed also the sub-contract, dated July
%, with the Davidson Pump Company, Of
No. 50 Keep street, Brooklyn, signed by NJ.
Il. Davidson. Relying on the statements
made by the defendant. plaintiff paid him
$4,000 on August s. 1885, and, it is alleged,
received in return the contract and sub con:
tract. which were TO be held by him until q
settlement was reached. He also received,
it is alleged, promissory note from the de-
PENDANT, dated August 1st, at two months,
and made payable at the Gallatin National
Bank of New York for S13, 800, and the re-
ceipt for the 1000. On August 18th the
defendant reported that he had deposited
the S24 900 with the Fish Commissioner,
and on September 10th he delivered to plain
tifa paper as voucher purporting to be
from the Fish Commission, setting forth that
the treasury department Of the Fish Com
mission had received from VIM. II. Cooper
the sum of $24, 900. This was signed by
VIM. J. Mexican, treasurer. On September
I'd the defendant handed plaintiff the sum
Of $500 on account of his share Of the profit
to date On September 30Lh he received
the following letter from Mr.. Cooper:
II have only few minutes ere tho steam.
er sails to write to you. The papers you
hold are null and void, and are of no value
as I told you they were. thought they
were all right, but have been swindled by
man named Stone, and will never be
able 10 look you or any one in the face
again. Some day will return aud pay you
in full. The agony of this awful affair has
nearly driven me crazy. I do not know
what to do or say. Only, for Gods sake
spare my dear father and mother. Now ii
will do you no good to apply to them. My
father has nothing but his pay, and my
mother is at the point of death. lam going
down to certain port where have money
owing me, and will return in six months
and pay all. God grant me sane senses
until that time w. H. COOPER"
The plaintiff on applying at Washington,
found, as alleged, that no such contract had
been issued, and the Davidson Pump Com.
pany said that so far as they were concerned
the sub contract which plaintiff held with
| them was forgery.
Cooper left the Clarendon Hotel, in Brook
| Ign, about three o'clock on the morning OF
the 25th of September, and has not been
seen since.