The herald., 1893-09-21
THE OLD MAN FORGOT HIS AGE,
Cooper, the Alleged Rapist
Held to Answer.
Said to Have Committed q Most
Heinous Act.
The Testimony Against the Defendant.
The Evidence Given by Witnesses
for B 9th sides-The De-
fendant Heidi


George R. Cooper, the victim of the
gold brick swindle in Los Angeles four
or five years ago, figured as defendant
yesterday before Justice Bartholomew.
Mrs. Anna Davis accused him of an
attempt to commit rape, and the exam
ination lasted all day.
1t is very curious case, the aged de-
fendant claiming that the thin, but still
young widow is attempting to blackmail
him.
Mrs. Davis appeared in a black lace
costume, and with severe expression.
Her story, however, was about as straight
as already published.
The defendant had his gray hair
cropped close, and could not refrain
from talking back to the public prose-
cutor, Mr.. M. w. Conkling, during the
excoriation which he was obliged to ad-
minister in his summing up of the case.
The assault was out OF the usual run
of such cases. Cooper is seemingly in
the sere and yellow, but the testimony
betrayed certain virile characteristics
which made it appear that even in his
case cast-iron rule cannot be drawn in
such cases.
Mrs. Davis is widow, but there was
no testimony that she has borne aught
but q good reputation. Her story, it
will be remembered. was that she met
Mr.. Cooper, who owns several houses,
and wanted him to see the kind Of q
house she occupied for SIC a month.
While he was inspecting the house sne
alleged that he assaulted her and at.
tempted to commit an assault with in
tent to commit rape. She said he tried
to throw her on bed; that he COM
mitted other indignities, but desisted
from his attempts and did not succeed.
Mrs. Davis was very circumstantial in
her account of the assault. She was
corroborated by Mrs. Lester, who lived
next door. She heard ecuffle and saw
a man following a woman into one OF
the rooms OF Mrs. Davis's house.
When the defendant went on the
stand he said the complaining witness
tried to rent his house. She inspected
it aud their talk was very pleasant when
in her house.
When he went away she called after
him and said che would not rent his
holse under any circumstances. He
was surprised and gave her scornful
look. He denied even treating her in
any way except as perfect lady.
On cross examination, which was con-
Quoted by @. @. Stephens, he said he
had had something to do with widows,
but he had found them bad-they put
up jobs.
Miss Mamie Clauson. pert young
girl about 16 years old, who wore Fair
hat, was called for the defense. She
lived near the house where the assault
was alleged to have taken place, and
said she was coming from the butchers
when she cav the defendant just ahead
OF her. She heard Mrs. Davis call to
him and ask him to come in. He said
he hadn't time. She insisted and he
still declined. She did not see what he
did as she went on home.
The prosecution examined Miss Clau-
son, and she was obliged to admit that
the defendant came to her house and
asked for needle and thread.
She went up etairs and he followed.
He asked her what there was in 1t for
him. She said she did not understand,
and he said she did. She repeated her
asseveration and she said, Il knocked
old Cooper down stairs"
Afterwards she told her brother, and
he had trouble with Cooper. This was
about q week before the alleged as
sault.
''Ien't it fact" asked Mr.. Conkling.
s'sthat you were very angry with Mr..
Cooper before you found out Mr.. Ste
phens was his attorney" 2"
mo, sir. That occurrence has moth
ing to do with this case"
On redirect examination Miss Clau-
son was confronted with a written pa
per signed by her, in which she said
that the fuss she had with Cooper was
all about charge that he had missed
wood from his house and was told by
Attorney Holcomb that the Clausons
had taken it.
The testimony in the case howed that
Mrs. Davis's story was corroborated by
the lady who saw scuffie and a man
chasing woman, while the defendant
had his story and that Of Miss Clausen,
who said Mrs. Davis invited him into
her house.
There was quite en- extended argu-
ment, and during it's course the defend-
ant interrupted Mr.. Conkling number
of times, telling him he was miHrepre-
senting the testimony.
Justice Bartholomew held Mr.. Cooper
to answer and fixed his bond at 5000,
which was given.