Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-01-15
CHIEF OF DESPERADOES.
The Famous Bill Cook Safely Lodged
Behind the Bars of New Mex
icO's Penitentiary.
An Innocent Looking Lad-Account ot
His Crimes-His Smooth story
Protests that He Was Not
Disappointed in Love.

William Cook, probably the most noted
desperate, train rebber and murderer il
the United States, landed in Santa Fe this
morning at 7 O'Clock in charge of Sheriff
c. G. Perry, of Chaves county, New Mex
| leo. Soon after the accused was lodged
in the penitentiary for safe keeping await.
| ing extradition papers.
CHIEF OF DESPERATE GANG.
1t is alleged that Cook was the chief OF
gang of 100 or more desperate men who
sought to gain livelihood by holding up
the possessors of money wherever
| found whether on horseback or on rail
road trains. shooters and Wlnches
ters were freely used to gain the desired
ends regardless of the finer senslbilities
of the coupon cutters. Finally the Cook
gang gained fame as expert shots and ac-
complished robbers. They hesitated at
nothing. "Give up your surplus cash,
gold watches or diamonds or die at the
muzzle Of this deadly gun," was their
motto. Most every one gave up as soon
do pOSSlDlO. lHOoO WIZ uCClAiCu w w SU
and undertook to draw guns
SLEEP IN NAMELEss GRAVES.
The saints are now praying for the re-
pose of their souls.
At last tho climate Of Oklahoma and
Indian Territory became too warm for
Bill Cook. He fed to New Mexico with
the hope of evading his pursuers. He
reached Roswell in safety with one of his
partners in crime. He was trailed that
far by L. d. Love, sheriff Of Borden coun-
ty, and R. D. McMurray, sheriff of Mitchell
county, Texas, and there conference
was held with G. G. Perry, sheriff of Chav-
les county, N. NJ. A plan was instantly
matured to capture Cook. 1t was known
that he had parted with his partner at
Roswell and had gone toward Fort Stan
ton. Sheriff McMurray went in pursuit
of the wanted man and Sheriffs Perry and
Love after the other.
COOK WAS LOCATED
at a ranch about fifteen miles from Fort
Stanton, where he slept and had break
fast. After breakfast Cook went to the
stable to feed his horse with a view to
saddling and riding away. He walked
into the barn, and, much to his surprise,
the two sheriffs, who had been in conceal
ment there for hours, pulled down on him
and ordered him to hold up. Cook sur
rendered without a struggle and was
PROMPTLY PLACED IN IRONS.
Such is the story of the capture of the
celebrated Bill Cook, effected about day
light on last Saturday morning. 1t is
probably the most important arrest ever
made in New Mexico and much credit is
due to Sheriff Perry, the new sheriff of
his county, for the activity and courage
he manifested in the premises. He was
on the trail four days with Sheriff Love
and and it must be conceded that the
errand of the two was fruitful Of good re-
suits.
Sheriff McMurray is still on the trail of
the missing man Of the gang. He has
not been heard from for several days.
INTERVIEW WITH COOK.
BY permission of Superintendent Berg.
mann and U. s. Marshall Hall New
MEXICAN reporter was this morning per-
nsitted to interview Bill Cook at the peni-
tentiary. The noted criminal named
above is a beardless boy about 21 years
old. His eyes are as blue as blue birds
wing and he looked the reporter in the
face without fear or trembling. He is
about five and half feet high, we'll built,
smooth spoken, and the last man on
earth you would pick out for desperate.
he might easily be mistaken for Pres
byterian Bible class teacher.
COOKS STORY.
After quite conversation Sheriff Per-
rys prisoner admitted that he was the
identical Bill Cook wanted and that there
weEe men in Santa Fe' who could easily
prove his identity. He told the reporter
that he was not nearly as bad man as
he had been represented and declined to
talk until the reporter made solemn
pledge that he would not give the ac-
cused the "worst of it," Cook does not
appear to be bad man. Possibly he is
not half as bad as he is described.
WHERE HE SAW LIGHT.
He relates that he was born In the
Cherokee nation, on Grand river, about
ninety miles from Fort Smith, in the
early part of 1879 At the age of IL he
began work as "cow-puncher," and fol-
lowed that pursuit for three years. At
the age of 18 he sought an easier way OF
making money, and began selling whisky.
His troubles then began. He became bel
ligerant and SO did the people in front of
the bar. Like many other Ishmaels he
concluded that every human hand was
against him, and began fighting with
whatsoever weapon came to hand. "This
caused hard feelings" he says, "and l
concluded to go away for while. was
afraid there was writ out for me, and
consequently left the country. came to
New Mexico, believing that the politicians
here would protect me if 1 Joined their
party, but after looking the situation
nvnr copc1pdad to roturn IN Eort ;+h