Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-10-02

LONDON, September 30.--The inhab-
itants of the Isle OF Man were recently
thrown into state OF great excitement
by brutal murder committed at Doug
las, the principal town OF the island.
Murder is not often committed on the
island, this being the first case THAI
'Aas occurred in seven years.
The|vlctim was Mrs. Edith Anno
Cooper, q remarkably pretty woman,
about twenty-five years old. She and
her husband, George Barker Cooper, =
merchant, OF Manchester. arrived IN
Douglas in the latter part OF August
and took rooms at the Regent Hotel.
They had been there but short time
when cee Sight one of the chamber
maid L84ff the couple Quarrelling, aud
then she heard slight scream.
The chambermaid testified that she
peered through the keyhole In the door
OF the room occupied by the Coopers
and saw Mrs. Cooper, almost nude,
lying on the floor. Cooper was kneellng
beside her with towel in his hand.
MURDERED HER AND LIED ABoUr IT.
Cooper subsequently left the room
aud notified the hotel people that his
wife was dead. A constable was sum
moned and when he entered the room
he saw Mrs. Cooper on the door dead.
The policeman saw that the woman
had been stabbed, and he asked Cooper
whe had committed the crime. Cooper
replied that he did not know, he
added that he had been 90 a bank and
when he ruturned he had found his wife
In faint on the bed. He placed her on
the floor and poured water on her, but
his efforts to resusciate her were OF no
avail.
He afterward said that he must 90
down stairs and get drink, but the po-
liceman. whose suspicious were aroused.
told him that he could not 60 out Of the
room. Cooper exclaimed, ~ must go,
and made for the door, but WAS stopped
by another officer, who had arrived In
the meantime.
Cooper was placed under arrest, and
as he was led away in custody be ex-
claimed: "0h, my Godl oh, my Godl
Let me 60 back and kiss her before ! am
taken away"
HELD FOR TRIAL. .-
The coroner's jury that texamiuodlnto
the case returned verdict OF wiliini
murder against Cooper and he was held
for trial. The case has been proceed
ing for several days. and the cour, room
at Douglas has been crowded With per-
sons from all parts OF the Island eager
to hear the testimony.
Among the evidenct introduced by
the prosecution was the night dress
worn by Mrs. Cooper at the time OF her
death. One OF the sleeves had been
torn out. A knife with which IL IS
claimed the stabbing had been done was
| also put In evidence.
The constable who was first sum-
moned testified that the sheets, pillows
and bolster on the bed were smeared
with blood nearest the side where Mrs. /.
Cooper lay on the floor. The cuffs Of
the shirt which Cooper was wearing 70
the time had blood on them. There
was blood. too, on the wardrobe f0or.
and all attempt had apparently been
made TO wash away the stalns, Tor
some towels and bandkerchiefs and .
portion OF the deceased's under gar
ments seemed TO have been used 70
wlbe the floor. A garment found under
the bed had been used as mop.
cooPEB ALLOWED TO TESTIFY.
Under the Manx law person accused
Of a CAPITAL crime can be sworn ia his
own defence, and to-day Cooper was
placed in the witness box. A most de-
cIded sensation wac caused when be
confessed that be had had quarrel
with his wife, and that he had killed
her by stabbing her with a penknlit,
He said be did not intend TO XII her,
but had stabbed her in the beat Of pas
sion.
The murdered woman was Coopora
second wife, and they had only been
married about year. About ten years
ago Cooper was charged at the Chester
AssIzes with shooting az his first wife,
intending to kill her. The charge arose
out of an intrigue in which he had Oeen
engaged with woman named Ditch
field.
He was acquitted. and subsequently,
bis wife secured a divorce from Diin
and married again. On the day follow
ing the marriage Cooper married me
woman whose murder. be has now con-
fessed.
MRS. COOPER 20. 2.
Mrs. Cooper's maiden name was also
Cooper, though she was no relation -
her husband. She was the daughter of
Mr.. William Cooper, gent>Ean Of IN =
dependent means, residing AZ Ins 5aks,
sherley. She was highly accomplished
and was educated at private 1cboo' 3,
Shirley. She was great iavoriSe spp
had very pleasant disposition. fos
some reason that has not been expialne9
she took an engagement e. = nafma'9
at the Central Hotel In Douglas e~n :
here, Il Is believed, she hrst made 'no 2
acouaintance OF Cooper.
Cooper was frequent visitor % ,'y.t
las. where be was well known an' w.
connected. She soon gave up her P'-s. of
IN the hotel and went 70 reside wisp ts.is,. y.
atives iu London. About elghtee -. q
months ago she returned % sbiriey : 9.
remained AZ home Until her ms.s.,4
with the man who will nov, 10 az P'e'' $
ability, be hanged for killinS net. .,..-,~
Cooper Is considerably over M -.
wears Old. He claimed that bis vie 49, -
drunk a. the time the murder vas M .s
mitfed. but the statement 80, ., ..k-
by several witnesses from 'ns '',. e..'.s
ssw her shortly before she N-' ~'''--
- /.