The San Francisco call., 1896-05-08
Believed to Be the Fiend Who
Murdered 0utcasts in San
Francisco.
CoNFEssEs TO ONE CRIME
Says He Merely Wanted to See How
His Victim Appeared When
Dead.

PORTLAND, Or, May 7.-Detectives
Welsh and Cody last evening took into
custody John R. Cosgrove, whose arrest
may possibly establish the identity OF the
thug who recently strangled several out
cast women in San Francisco.
On the night of April %, Marie le Livie,
a woman of the town, living one door
north of Fourth and Ash streets, reported
at police headquarters that stranger had
attempted to strangle her. Her story was
to the effect that the man entered her
apartments, inducing her to walk with him
to room in the rear. There without
saying word, he threw her upon bed,
and encircling her neck with both hands,
proceeded to choke her. The woman sue
ceeded in making sufficient noise to attract
her sister, occupying an adjoining room.
When the sister entered Marie's room,
Cosgrove relinquished the grasp on his
victims throat and walked out of the
place most unconcernedly. The woman
left minute description OF Cosgrove at
the police station, and. prior to his arrest,
the women in the WhitechapeI district
have been living in terror since the attempt
upon Marie's life.
Detectives Welsh and Cody have been
working assiduously on the case until they
ran their man down. He proves 70 be a
most vicious and dangerous character.
He is 81 years of age and evidences an
extraordinarily depraved nature. To De-
tective Cody Cosgrove last night confessed
being the man who attempted to strangle
Marie lie Livie, who has already identified
him beyond a question of doubt. When
Detective Cody asked the prisoner what
his motive was for the commission of so
horrible a crime. he is alleged to have
said that he merely wanted to see how she
appeared after death.
Cosgrove has been a resident here. off
and on, for some time, and was a boon
companion of the notorious Fred Love
who a few months ago broke Jail in
Astoria, and who now is supposed to be
serving time in one of the Pacific Coast
penitentiaries. About three years ago
Cosgrove was arrested in Victoria, B. c.,
under the name of John THAR for high
way robbery. His mother, a resident of
San Francisco, furnished a large sum of
cash bail for his appearance, but it seemed
to be understood that Cosgrove Should
forfeit his bonds for it is claimed that the
charge against him was convicting one.
He fed from Victoria and never revisited
that place. Since then he has been in San
Francisco the greater part of the time.
When arrested Cosgrove had on his per-
son ticket to San Francisco. The prison
er's statement that only morbid desire
prompted him TO make an attempt upon
Marie lie LIVES life impresses the detec-
tives with the belief that he will prove to
be the strangler of San Francisco, and his
photograph will tonight be sent to Chief
of Police Crowley of that City. Cosgrove's
stepfather, Charles Wilcox, is serving a
life sentence in the Folsom penitentiary
for numbering man in San Jose.
Cosgrove waived examination in the
Municipal Court this afternoon, and in
default of bonds was committed to the
County Jail to await the action of the
Grand Jury.