The morning call., 1894-05-26
TWO MRS. COOPERS
Why an English Lady
Ended Her Life.
WAS HAUNTED BY A DOUBLE.
Mrs. Fanny Cooper Was Not a
San Franciscan.
WAS HAUNTED BY A DOUBLE.
SHE ONLY STOPPED HERE.
Then Went to Yokohama, Where She
Died-f1er Strange Story of Mrs.
Cooper Number Two.

A story was brought from Yokohama
by the officers of the steamer Gaelic tell
ing of the strange suicide Of Mrs. Fanny
Cooper. whom The Japanese papers de-
clared was a San Francisco lady of
wealth.
Since the publication Of the few lines
quoted from Oriental exchanges, efforts
have been put forth by all the San Fran
cisco papers to establish the identity of
the mysterious lady who met her death
in a tragic manner by drowning.
The mystery of Mrs. Fanny Cooper has
been solved. The story of her brief stay
in San Francisco is known, and the lady
has been identified as Mrs. Fanny Cooper
of Dodington, England, the sister of q
wealthy EngIshmaD, person of aristo-
cratic ancestry and a woman Of fortune.
Her family is one If the oldest in Great
Britain, and her brother is a member of
one of the largest manufacturing firms of
that country.
Mrs. Cooper came to this city on the
2Sth day of last February and stopped for
II while at a private clearinghouse on
Suffer street From there she went to the
Occidental Hotel. She left the city on
March on the steamship City OF Rio
Janero. arriving at Yokohama on the 25th
day Of the same month. where she regis
tered at the Hotel Metropole.
Mrs. Fanny Cooper left England, and
subsequently New York City, for San
Francisco a perfectly sane and healthy
person. When she reached San Francisco
she was stricken with a most peculiar
form OF insanity. She became possessed
of the idea that she was haunted in the
shadow by another Mrs. Cooper, who
trailed her relentlessly in all of her
travels. connecting dark plots to deprive
her of her inheritance. She c0nfided TO
those she trusted the story of how the
second Mrs. Cooper followed her out of
New York City around the country TO
Chicago. thence over the Rockies and the
Serras to this city.
Surrounded by every comfort that money
could purchase. with unlimited credit TO
fall back upon and numerous friends who,
knowing her family position and standing,
were only too proud 10 do her service,
Mrs. Cooper was as unhappy as a human
being could possibly be.
| In every turn of a hallway, in every
| streetear and in every reception-room the
sad-faeed little EnglishwOman thought she
saw the haunting shadow of her double.
She rOamed the streets of the city in
vain endeavor TO escape from her tor
mentor and finally wandered into the
ticket Office of the Occidental and Oriental
Steamship Company and purchased
ticket from Yokohama, remarking that
she desired TO get away from San Fran
cisco as soon as possible. She left an
order with the Pacific Transfer Company
to call for her trunks and two days later,
on March s, she went on board of the Rio
Janeiro and hid herself away in the cabin.
The Rio Janeiro is now on her way here
from the Orient, so the statement of her
officers could not be secured. but Captain
Smith remarked 10 an acquaintance before
leaving port, II had a queer passenger
with me last last trip out, Mrs. Cooper,
who was, to all outward signs, perfectly
rational. with the exception that she be-
lieved that second Mrs. Cooper was
haunting her wherever she went"
| When Mrs. Cooper arrived at Yoke
hama abe went straight to the Metro
pole and registered her name. The follow
| ing day she spoke to the proprietor about
cashiDg an exchange on the Liverpool.
| London and Globe Insurance COMPANY.
and also one CD the Hong Kong ana Shang-
hal Bank. She said that she could not
stop at the Metrepole because there was
another Mrs. Cooper there who insisted
on claiming right to recognition as the
legitimate brother of the English manu-
facturer. She was becoming depressed aud
dOwnhearted.
Shortly after this interview she left for
Toxic and took up her residence at the
Club Hotel, the most fashionable and ex-
pensive resort in the city.
She told Mr.. Benney, the proprietor of
the club. that she wanted to see Captain
Smith of the Rio Janeiro. as she had told
him about her family troubles at home.
This was the first intimation of any
domestic discord limited of by the lady.
In the meanwhile 800 was wired TO
Mrs. Cooper care of the hotel. 1t came
from Liverpool, but the woman would
not touch it. She seemed TO fear that the
spiritual Mrs. Cooper would get the coin
away from her il she cashed The draft.
On the evening of Arril 81 Mrs. Cooper
disappeared. At O'Clock the following
morning her body was found floating in
the bund close to the hotel. 1t was ar
rayed III plain black dress. 1t must
have been in the water several hours.
On the table in her room at the hotel
was found 500 05 in money, two rings and
letter addressed to Mrs. Rebecca
Cooper KiOto." No letter of explanation
was left behind; no last good-by to friends
in England. The Coroner returned YER
dict OF suicide atthe public inquest.
In Investigating the case at San Fran
cisco to decide whether the lady was
really a California woman the reporter
came across the following cablegram re-
ceived by one of the local banks the first
day of last March
DoDINGToy, England.
Can you tell the whereabouts Of Mrs. Fanny
Cooper?
Yes-the story is told now. She is buried
at Toxic in the modest little English cem-
etery.
THE OCTOPUS AGAIN.