The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-07-06
MIR. COOPER ON TRIAL.

Many Objections and Demurrers-Will-
 lam r. Hansen Testiies-Mr. Cooper De-
 nies-Case Goes Over Till Tuesday.
 The case of Rev. Rufus T. Cooper was heard in the city court yesterday. Att torney Kleiner stated that the defense would not ask for g. continuance, as they had intended, as Elder Crandan J. North had changed his plans with regard to going abroad and would be present,
 Mr. Pickett then made a motion to have another judge hear the case, in sinuating that Judge Cable had been in conference with the prosecuting attor- ney about the case and that such &C., ton disqualified him. Judge Cable re- piled:
 If you are referring to what counsel for the defense attempted to say to the court you need not waste any time, Mr. Pickett, because I don't care to hear you any further. If any officer of this court Is here on trial l shall be pleased to listen to what you have to say otherwise deem myself fully quail | flied to hear the case. The motion is denied"
 MT. Pickett retired abashed and In confusion. At Ii o'clock the trial began, after City Attorney Matthewman read the complaints. The first complaint was of an attempt to commit an inde cent assault on William P. Hansen, a watchmaker at 55 Church street, Sep ' tember 15 and September 30. 1892. Alt torney Kleiner interposed objections, claiming the complaint was brought | under the statutes of 1893, alleging an offense committed in 1892. This he said was absurd. That the complaint also alleged offenses under common law made no difference. The city attorney argued the contrary. The court let the complaint stand and the defense filed a formal demurrer.
 | The second complaint alleged the same offenses, under five counts. with | Frederick P. States.
 | Demurrers were filed to this com ! plaint
 | Mr. Hansen's testimony was substan- tially that he met MT. Cooper in the fall of 1892, being introduced to him by Peter Pendleton. He talked with \ MT. Cooper on religious matters and as he had some differences of opinion he ! accepted an invitation to call at his house. MT. Cooper was to set him right. He called on him one evening
 after prayer meeting. Mrs. Cooper I was away and MT. Cooper and the wit
 ness were alone. MT. Coopers actions ! during that visit on which the com l plaint was based were described with \ care by MT. Hansen. MT. Hansen said ] that immediately after his experience ! with MT. Cooper he was inclined to ex- | pose him, but on second thought he | came to the conclusion that he might
 be the only person having had such
 an experience and In that case it would
 be difficult to prove anything against
 MT. Cooper, and he could not afford to spend the money he thought 1t would l take to prove what he thought
 After the noon recess MT. Cooper took | the stand. He gave his full name
 as Rufus Thatcher Cooper. He now resides at Norwalk, but said that previ- ous to his removal to that place he had
 been pastor of the Epworth M. B. church in New Haven.
 MT. Cooper told his side of the visit
 of MT. Hansen to his home in the fall of 1892. He placed the date a month ! later than stated by MT. Hansen. He denied that anything occurred that night that was in any way improper. He denied all of Hansen's serious alie- I gations.
 I Mir. Cooper was arrested on three more complaints yesterday morning, making five in all.
 The state rested the case in question l after MT. Hansen had testified and the
 defense called MT. Cooper, who denied
 every allegation of improper con nduet.
 He said Hansen called to discuss Chris
 tianity and stayed quite late, notwith-
 standing he CCooper) gave him several hints to depart. There was no obiec- ]. tionable language used and no improp. CT conduct.
 To MT. Goodhart MT. Cooper said he
 had spent a short time in retreat fo1 the insane.
 MT. Cooper was on the stand the en. } tire afternoon. Court adjourned abou
 5 o'clock and the case was continued
 until Tuesday, when the other cases against him will be tried and the argu
 ments made.