West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1893-08-24
Surviving Mem Der OF the Cooley Gang
Who Escaped From the Kingwood
Jail Last Night.

One of the prisoners who was in Jail
hero awaiting trial at the comingterm
OF Circuit Court, which begins next
week, was Samuel s. Yeagcr, whose
picture we give above. 1t is claim
ed that he was member of the
famous Cooley Gang, and he is un :
der indictment here for participa-
ting in one of their many depreda-
tons. The indictment was found
at the March term of Court, 1892,
when the Grand Jury returned a
true bill of felony against Jack
Ramsey, Frank and Jack Cooley,
Rufus Myers and Sam Yeager, for
robbing the house of George q.
Reckard, who lives down in Grant
district near the Pennsylvania line.
1t Is alleged that the FIVE men en-
tered the house at night, with
masks on their faces and drawn re-
volvers, and while part stood guard
over the inmates the others rifled
the premises, securing considera-
bile amount of booty. 1t is said
that Yeager's mask dropped off and
he was recognized by Reckard.
The robbery took. place on the
night of December 18th, 1891.
Since then Jack Ramsey and Frank
and Jack Cooley have been killed
and Rufus Myers is serving an
eight years senterce in the Penn
tertiary at Mouudsville for robbing
old man David Yohee, and the
indictment for robbing Reckard
still hanging over him. Yeager,
as his name indicates, is of German
descent, and is good looking
young fellow about % years of age.
He is very muscular, we'll built and
we'll developed and weighs about
165 pounds, although he looks
smaller. lie says he was born at
New Orleans, but has roved all over
the country and came from Idaho
to Fayette county, Pa, and met
LYDIA Cooley, sister of Frank aud
Jack, and fell in love with her and
visited hor regularly, and that he
did not belong to the gang, but
got identified with them through
counting the girl. He has her pic
ture, which he showed the writer,
and she is fairly good looking
young woman. lie also has lot
of letters from her, which he car
ries with her picture. He says that
he left Idaho about two years
ago and came to Fayette county,
Pennsylvania, September, 1891,
and has been in hard luck and
"durance vile" ever since. Says he
never was IN prison before, but
seems like he can't keep out of Jail
in this country at all, and that soon
as he can get free he will certainly
try a change of climate for bis
health. He was brought here June
9th last by ex-SheriH DR.. jackson
and Attorney N. j. Fortney from
the Work. house at Allegheny City,
where he had just finished serving
six mouths term, having been
sent up there feom Uniontown, Pa,
as will be explained by the follow
ing account from the Evening
Standard Of that place
YEAeER GETS SIX MONTHS.
Sam Yeager, formerly a memb Der
Of the Cooley gang and through
whose betrayal the outlaws were
brought to their death aud Justice.
was called up for sentence. Yeaeer
pleaded guilty to the charge Of car
rying concealed weapons. When he
was called for sentence Judge Ew.
ing said "You have pleaded guilty
to the charge Of carrying concealed
weapons. You were lucky in not
being charged with the other mem.
bers Of the gang with the depreda--
tions charged up against them. II
/ the reports are true, you could east
~ have been convicted along with
them. You are wanted in another
State for a similar odense and will
be taken there when the sentence j
/ impose has expired. In order that
we may the sooner sec IL you arc
guilty Of those charges ] will make
your sentence for this offense a.
! light a. possible. ! therefore sen.
toncc you TO pay the costs Of prose-
cution, q fine Of six cents and inn
prisonment IN the Allegheny Go.
/ Work house for SIX months"
Sam Yeager was caught at Hop
wood by Sheriff Mccormick while
fl.r,ro ia fCr,a many tVfff Rrtrf TO-.