Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-11
COOPER STILL AHEAD.
If the Normal School Principal Is a
Thief He's a Very Deep 0ne,
BEYOND A SLY DETECTIVES KEN.
he Still Presides Over Loyal Students in
Spite of Trustees,
DEFYING ARREST, COURTING A TRIAL

ESPECIAL TELEGRAN TO THE DIsPArcH.1
ERIE, Feb 10-While the day passed at
Edinboro without any change in the status
of affairs in the State Normal School, the
situation, is bristling with possibilities.
Prof Cooper whom the trustees have at
tempted to depose, won't be deposed. He
directed his classes to-day and held chapel
this evening as usual.
The trustees had intended to bring the
new principal, Prof Benedict, with an Off
Ger to eject Prof Cooper and induct the new
principal. This part of the progromme they
did not carry out, and as soon as the chapel
exercises were over the students, both ladies
and gentlemen, numbering over 300, paraded
the principal streets with fife and drum
wearing the Cooper" badges.
This evening committee of students
again asked for Prof Cooper's immediate
trial or withdrawal of the charges. The
trustees told them they would see the build
ings rot before they would rescind their ac-
tion.
Students Ready to Leave in q Body.
The students then appointed two dele
gates to meet the State Normal Schools at
Slippery Rock, Mercer county; California,
Washington county; Clarion and Indiana,
and secure propositions for their admission
at once. 1t is the intention of the students
to stand by Cooper it he is not given an
opportunity to defend himself in court
against the charge that he had stolen 81 300
from Financial Manager /. R. Reeders
safe
The remarkable part of this story is that
Reeder claims after missing $400 of the
State money, he and other trustees and as
sistants watched Cooper's actions under
cover for months. In spite of their vigils,
they say, the money kept slipping away.
They then hired detective, and the person
chosen to ferret out the thief was Frank
Boyd, of Washington county. Boyd was
the pitcher in the Scottdale Baseball Club
for two years, and then PLAYED with the
Erie club last year. Boyd came from
Washington county as an ex-school teacher
who wanted to "brush up" so as to teach
school this winter.
Couldn't Unravel the Mystery
He matriculated and began to srbrush
up in the day time, and watched Cooper
from secret hiding place, covering
Reeder's safe and desk, at night. After
two months watching Boyd gave up his
job, failing to detect Cooper or anybody
else.
The trustees circulated the report that
Cooper had taken 81, 300, but they could not
prove it, as they could not catch him. DIR.
I. H. Taylor, one of the trustees, made
this statement to the students in Assembly
Hall last Saturday. Cooper called meet
ing of students and citizens, denied the
charges and wrote the trustees letter de-
manding that they investigate at once.
The singular feature of the situation is
that the trustees who are now trying to de-
pose Prof Cooper were elected and ap-
pointed through Cooper's influence.
It is reported tonight that the trustees
will take another tack and have Prof.
Cooper arrested tomorrow for trespass, and
have an officer arrest him as often as he
enters the school grounds or building
Cooper is prepared to furnish bail as often
as he is arrested.
a Cooper Assumes the Offensive.
Hearing that the trustees had made in
formation against him at Erie under the
more serious charges he came out tonight
to give himself up and offer bail; but find
ing no proceeding against him he has gone
home and will be on deck in the morning to
direct his faithful teachers and loyal stu
dents.
Cooper is now turning hunter, and the
trustees will have to fish or cut bait. The
trustees brought their books to Erie to-day,
but admit that they cannot find that
Coopers accounts were crooked. The trus-
tees are all men of property, and number
of them are directors in the Edinboro Say