The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-10-19
A HEARTLESS BROTHER.
SERIOUS CHARGES AGAINST A WASH
INGToN STREET SHOEMAKER.
He Takes Possession of His Brothers
Estate and Appropriates the Rents,
While the Heirs Are Living in Eng
land In Poverty and Want.

The case of Martha Cooper and Hannah,
Emma and Elizabeth Ann Cooper, all
residents OF Great Britain, against Samuel
Cooper, OF No. l49 Washington street,
Memphis, filed yesterday in the chancery
court, ii the allegations in the bill arc sub
stantal, indicate that the aforesaid Samuel
Cooper is O heartless kinsman and a dis
honest man. The following extracts
from the bill show this Enthusiastically:
On the oath day OF October 1917, ono
George Cooper, ST., an Englshman then
residing in Farnworth, married one Ann
Housley, by whom he had but one sur
yiying child, born in 1850, and whose
name was George Cooper, IT,, and who
subsequently became the husband Of COM
plainant, Martha Cooper. In the same |
year the elder George Cooper left England |
for America and became domciled in the |
city OF Memphis, He afterward became |
naturalized citizen of the United States,
by the decree OF the common law and |
chancery court OF the city of Memphis.
His family remained in England and never |
visited the United States. He was an ac-
complished artifcer, a laborious, prudent
and thrifty man. He earned remunerat-
i've compensation, saved his money which
he from time to time invested in real and
personal property in and around Mem
phis, taking titles to himself. Then fol-
lows description of the property, which
is OF little interest to the readers OF Tie
APPEAL
In the year 1878 George Cooper, sr.,
died intestate in the city OF Memphis,
leaving Ann, his said widow, and their
49,, tho o,iI Eaoroa Cnapar In hig only
heirs at law.
The defendant, Samuel Cooper, was
brother TO George Cooper ST., and at the
time OF the lattcr's death resided in the
State OF Mississippi. After that event he
removed to Memphis, where he discovered
that person surprising herself to be the
widow Of George Cooper, ST., had made
application to the probate court OF this
county for letters OF administration upon
his estate, and which, in fact, had been
awarded TO her.
Affecting an interest, which subsequent
events proved to be wholly insincerc, he
filed a petition in that cause, alleging that
she was not his wife, but that in truth and
in fact his brothers only wife and child
were then alive across the water in Eng
land, prayed the protection OF the court in
their behalf and TO that end that the let
ttIN OIL NNllllulNluNlbu ~ EidiANN' hA'h'sN ~
recalled, and administration granted 10
him as next Of kin in America.
He opened correspondence with his
sstcr-in.aw. advising her OF the situation
OF matters here, protesting undying devo-
Son TO their interests and heroic purpose
Co champion their rights, and TO see his
brothers family come to their own.
Many Of these letters are In the posses
sion OF compliments and will be produced
nj the hearing Proof was taken which
clearly established the right Of Ann and
George Cooper, IT., and the court decrced
accordingly on the 9th day Of February,
1881, reyoking the former letters, and
according administration 10 defendant,
- Samuel Cooper, upon condition oil his
giving bond, etc.
Complananis charge, upon information
and belief. that defendant never qualified
rs such administrator. or that letters wer'
in fact ever issued to him. and that he Ia,
no right or authority 10 act rs such. New
ertheless. he presumed 10 enter upon tn
same, and not only took possession OF tn,
personalty Of the estate Of said inicslaic
hut also his real property. They charg
that, in any event. M TO said real properV
and household, he Is q mere trcspasser
without shadow Of claim.
Pending his application Tor adminisrn
ton defendant continued the correspond
enco with his sislor-in-l,w, describn
the situation aud progress OF the suit, ans
encouraging her in every way TO belicv
that il She died her son would short
triumph and come into the complete po;
session Of their property.
After ~ taking possession oil the estai
the tone Of Defendants letters was altered
and he began TO tell about the gre.
~ In fUaN Ia
made no offer To deliver the property
them. Il was then TINT the purpose Z
his gushing affection began 81 NANTES
itself lie was IN full possession OF all Z
his brothers estate, receiving and enjoy
ing the rents. The house ON Nashingto
street be occupied and keeps as his hom'
and las thus cJOlly and comfortably W
tied himself in the scat Of his BROTH
without the least ollcr or intention Ol ~
iIr the same over 30 the nghtiul heirs q
cent a. hereinafter shown.
Ills sistcr-in law In England continue
10 whit 10 expect 10 beg Tor their esiai
and finally the hope which 'makcih q
heart dck' gave way to despair, and pc
nilcss and IN poverty she passed out
this world into the next, on the lJ'h III
Of May, 1851.
Her son, the said George Cooper ~
NINuA her NNN on AWaAHA ~ 800 ~ -
The comp'ninnnt Martha were married
Inc parish church Of farnwoth, IN q
county o, Lancaster, England. Ihcinla
complainanis, Hannah, Emma aud Eii'
hath Ann, woro the fruit II this unig
aud were al born IN England.
Their father continued the correspor
ence with his uncle IN America, who e,
tinucd 10 put him of upon various y
teVts. lie still chung iothc hope Of rccc
ing his palrmbny, hut Gicd intcstaie o
i'm bitter disappointment on the 2plh d
OF February, 1857. leaving complainant
battle with the world and the rapaciy
their uncle. The complainant mother
pcnnilrss worker IN an English cot
mill. aud her fcaut earnings furnish
only resource for their food aud uimc
but l1r The rrmorscic-H injustice OF the
PENDANT thcy might enjoy somo OF
comforts VI lie Of which they arr now
pHvcd. ..,-,
They arc advised and ~ chargr tai
,hc death Of George Cooper D., ml
lille TO the property OF Grur 90 cooper
dcarcndgd 10 and became vested ~
infant compliments, % his only hem
law. subject 10 thp dover 0l complain
Martha. That as such they are 'nuuc
the immediate pos .Cs,ior, use nnN en-
mont of the Famc. That defendant
now in possession aud has been =
February, 1851, but only us iho unalc
those camplainauis. lie has oncic