The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-07-27
JACK COOLEY KILLED.
N OF In a Battle with OFFICERS of the
a.v but as a Common Thief.

| ~ OF IN a 6dtrfe with OrftCerS OF the
Law. but as Common Thief.
Jack Cooley, one of the notorious Fayetis
county Cooley gang, was shot Thursday
night while attempting 10 break into Thomas
Golfers milkhouse, near Fairehance. and
died from the wounds Friday morning.
Jack Cooley. in company with his brother
Frank and Jack Ramsey, were trying to
effect an entrance into the milkhouSe when
the accident occurred.
When Jack forced the door open the gun
which Mr.. Collier had placed inside as a
trap for thieves was discharged, and the load
struck Cooley in the abdomen. The wound
ed desperate was picked up by his comrades
and carried to his fathers home three miles
away.
But little is known ofthe accident or Of
the subsequent events at the Cooley resi-
dence. None but the Cooley gang and their
near relatives knew that Jack had been
shot. They did not think the wound was
fatal, and they hoped to conceal the fact that
be had been sho. to avoid arrest. 1t was for
this reason that it was not until O'Clock
Friday morning two hours before the out
law breathed his last. that DIR. Holbert was
summoned When he arrived at the house
be found the wounded man past all medical
aid.
Old man Cooley went to Fairchanoe Sat
uEday morning and secured coffin. The
old man was nearly overcome with grief,
and he wepi bitterly as he related to few of
his friends the occ lrrence that led 10 his
sons death. He related the story Of the ac-
cident substantially as follows;
The boys were away from home Thurs
day nigh:, where | did not then know.
Along about O'Clock Friday morning they
returned, bearing the bleeding form of Jack.
The poor fellow did not seem 10 realize that
the end was so near. ! wanted to go for a
doctor, but he and Frank would not let me.
They said the wounds were not fatal, and
that to bring doctor would be TO spread
the alarm and cause their arrest / finally
agreed not to 80 for doctor, and we spent
al day Friday in doing what we could for
the poor boy. Shortly before midnight Jack
became unconscious, and then went for
Holberi, but when he arrived IL wass too |
late. Jack died about 4o'clock this morn
ing.
The old man then gave Franks version Of |
the shooting. The three boys were trying |
10 get into Mr. Collier's milkhOuse. Jack |
opened the door and the gun was discharg- |
Ell He uttered groan aud fcll back. The |
boys were terrified.
They thought they had fallen into tie |
hands Of the Sheriff and his posse. With
out waiting to return the fire or TO see who |
had fired the shot, they picked up the |
wounded man and bore him 10 his home
Thomas Collier was seen Saturday. |
He said his milkhOuse had been robbed sew
eral hmes ard he was determined TO catch |
the thief He placed the gun, which was
loaded with buekshot, in the miikhouse |
with the muzzle pointing toward the deor.
He tied a string 10 the trigger so that who |
ever opened the door would be shot
About o'clock at night his wife awoke |
him and said the gun had been discharged. |
lie did not 90 down until the morning, |
when he found the ground in front Of the
milkhouse covered with blood. lie also |
found two large loaded reyolyeTs, which in
dioates that the Cooleys had fed precipiiate-