The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-10-05
EXIT THE COOLEY GAHG,
The Leaders Died With Their
Boots On.
Ramsey is Captured.

USIoxrowx, Pa, Oct, Prank Cooley,
the leader Of the famous Cooley outlaw band,
was shot and killed to-day at his fathers
home By 3 posse under Sheriff Mccormick,
of Fayette County.
Cooley has been in the habit Of spending
his Sundays at.the old homestead, and Sheriff
McCormick. learning of this, quietly had the
place surrounded last night.
Thirty of the famous Cooley family are
still alive and at liberty. Jack and Frank
are dead, killed because Of their lawlessness I;
Albert is in the penitentary and Dick in the
vorkhouse.
The story of the killing of Frank by the
sherif's party yesterday Is thrilling one.
Jack Ramsey, who was lying beside his chief
in the sun jumped up and broke into run
for the woods close by, but Cooley was game
and began to shoot, showing no signs Of fear.
Sheriff Mccormick was in the lead OF his
party, and Cooley directed his FIRE toward
the seriff alone firing six shots at Mccormick.
When the last ball was fired the sheriff
was 50 close to the bandit that be was knock
ed down by the wind Of the bullet which
whizzsd within an inch Of his head, and
dropped on his knees. Not until then did
the sheriff fire. A large snag or stump was
directly between the two, and the sheriff 5
shots could not reach the outlaw.
The coroner's inquest did not develop who
shot Cooley. Other members Of the sheriff ;
posse were to the right of the two principal
combatants, firing at the outlaw, and were
in better position to hit him than the
sheriff was Il is evident that bullet from
/ the gun Of the party to the right hit the out
law, the ball that killed him being fired from
q large old fashioned smooth bore rifle shoot
! ing an extra large ball
Sheriff Mccormick testified before the
/ coroner that when he reached the wounded
outlaw be as dying and could only gasp
out: "You have done your duty"
Several letters were found on Cooley S
| person, one dated last March and directed
to Frank Pierce, Sedalia, Mo. It's contents
indicated that the letter was from his home
at Smithfield TO the outlaw himself, who
had left during the hot hunt that was then
in progress for him here and had gone under
the name of Pierce TO the west. The other
letter was a recent one written by a dentist
in the southern part of Fayette county TO
the outlaw chiefiain. Its purpOrt was a
proposition that Frank should deliver him
selfto the writer On certain conditions regard
| ing the 81 500 reward, the writer modestly
only wanting $500 for his services in making
the transfer, the balance of the blood money
to be at the disposition Of the outlaw for
giving himself up and saving further trou-
ble Il was evidently not considered very
fagorably The wound in Frank Cooley
back, which last night was taken to confirm
the story that he was the man young Prin-
key had shot at Gibbons Glade during the
raid Of week ago is now unaccounted for
in the light Of q new story that comes from
a reliable source this morning. The relaior
says that he knows that JEFF Swaney, one Of
the gang, is now lying mortally wounded al
his fathers house, above Haydentown, and
that he was the one Prinkey shot.
The posse that pursued Ramsey hunted
for him all night. They had him surround
ed and headed of from the mountains, but
in the darkness he eluded them. They did
not give up, however, and just before noon
the news eeached here that Milton Nc
Cormick, Rev. Hunter and A. j. Hicks had
captured Ramsey several miles above Fair
chance, and now have him in custody in
McCormick's house at Fairchance. He had
exhausted his ammunition, and had to sur
render. They viii bring him to Jail at once
This effectually breaks up the gang, and
the people Of the community feel freer than
the have for two years. The thanks of the
community are being showered in on the
sheriff for his persistency and courage in
the hunt for the outlaws. Secret Service
Detective Fisher is also deserving of much OF
the credit for the last scenes, for it was he
who went to the country and shsdowed the
gang until he learned their habits and enough
Of the country to plan the raid that was so
successful yesterday.
The question of who is entitled TO the re-
ward OF 81. 500 for killing the outlaw is free
y discussed, The reward was offered for
Frank Cooley alone, as he was considered
the most dangerous man Of the gang: 1t
Was not offered for him dead or alive" but
for the delivery OF his body to the jail or the
keeper Of the jail Sheriff Mccormick will
not bring the body TO jail, the body being in
his custody as keeper Of the Jail by being
/ guarded al Lutte Cooley's house The date
for COoley's funeral has not been set.