Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-04-12

We patrons m ID e &c
many OF the best people in the city. Shortly
after he commenced to serve on the jury his
health began TO fail He was q robust man and
accustomed to an outdoor life. The long con-
hnement and consequent mental strain told on
him and when he was discharged he had lost
over thirty pounds in weight.
AFTER TIE VERDICT.
He was taken to his home after the verdict
In carriage and Immediately went to bed.
DIR. Marstella Was sent for and did all he could.
but at $50 o'clock this morning he died. He
was conscious just before his death and called
his wife to him and babe her an sffectionate
goodbye.
At one time during his illness he was de-
nrious and kept repeating aloud: The man
that we found guilty as indicted is guilty and
they will hang him in May or June. We have
done our duty before God and man. He is
guilty guilty guilty.
When reporter Of TIE STAR reached the
house this morning il was filed with sympa-
thiZing friends. The poor wife almost
wild with grief and her heartreuding sobs
mingled with the chatter OF her fve-months-
| Old baby. They had been married thirteen years
and had six children.
James W. Cooper, or. as he was more famil-
iarily known to his host of friends, Cooper, was
born in Goochland county. Virginia. In lS47,
and came to Washington in 1865 He was a
member OF the independent Order Of Moses
and the Good Samaritans.
| The funeral will take place from the Zion
Baptist Church next Sunday at 2 O'Clock.
ONE OF THE REGULAR PANEL.
Juror James W. Cooper was the first one
finally accepted and one of the two drawn
from the regular March panel. the other being
Robert II. Gray. another colored man. The
remaining ten members of the Jury were ee-
lected from the IS extra talesmen drawn
| when the regular panel had been exhausted.
Juror Cooper was the large colored man who
sat at the end Of the upper row nearest the
door. During the first two or three weeks OF
the jury's service he was, despite Lis large
| size, one of the most active members of the
Jury, and also one of the most jovial
His good nature was remarkable, and his
| many good stories and quaint sayings did more
| than anything else to enliyen the long and
weary confinement which the jury were neces-
| sarily forced to endure.
Juror Cooper was a deeply religious man.
and in the religious services Which, were daily
held by the jury in their room he always occu-
pied q prominent part.
WHAT THE BAILIFFs SAT.
Speaking of Juror Cooper this morning
Bailiffs Maurice A. Joyce and Edw. s. Ransdell
who had entire charge of the jury, said tina,
during the last ten days Of the jury's
service he began to rapidly fail in
health, complaining that the long confinement
was killing him. His heart troubled him
severely. and during the last three or four
days Of his service he required the united aid
of Baiiffs Joyce and Ransdell to rise from his
cot in the morning. As showing how rapidly he
failed in health, Bailiff Joyce said today that
during the first week SO Of their
confinement the Jury amused themselves by
seeing who could make the highest standing
kick and that Juror Cooper could easily kick a
hat held at the height of mani head. As the
time wore on, however, he began 10 rapidly
| lose flesh.
| cxo.L,., - A., ;,,-u p.;;r. -. Ia A. /.
in his seven or eight years service in the
Criminal Court he had never seen . more
harmonious jury or one more conscien-
| tious- Every Sunday one OF their number, gen.
orally Foreman Ros A. Fish, would conduct a
religious service. in which every member would
earnestly join. A short service of prayer and
song was also held every morning and evening.
WHY THEY REMAINED OUT so LONG.
In view Of the fact that but one ballot was
taken by the jury many wondered that they
remained out the length of time they did
ffty-five minutes But it can now be stated
| that their absence for so long time was due to
the fact that upon reaching their room
Saturday afternoon to deliberate upon their
| verdict, the entire jury, led by their foreman.
mighty God to guide and direct them. They then
took the one ballot which declared Howard j.
| Schneider to be guilty of the murder of his
wife. The ballot taken, the jury INDUCED in a
final prayer. in which they beseeched God
to forgive the man they had condemned
and asked that He might bless all who
had participated in the trial and
| those who had been wronged and sorrowed by
| the prisoners terrible crime. That done. they
notified the baiiffs that they had agreed upon
their verdict and made their way to the crowded
| court room below.
STARTING A SUBSCRIPTION.
The news of the death of Juror Cooper
reached the House press gallery early today.
and, as the statement WAS made that his family
was left IN needy circumstances, a collection
was taken up for their benefit: The sum of IS
was raised the nucleus of q fund to be given
to Mrs. Cooper. The newspaper men thought
Cooper had done his duty well and that his
death was dine to his service ON thu. iurv