The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-12-12
Prominent San Francisco Women
tiOn Of Rev. DIR. c. o. Brown.
LOST MANY OF THEIR FRIENDS
AND BROODED UNTIL THEY CHOSE
DEATH BY AFFIRMATION.
Matte Ovreman, Who Is Now n Sal
walton Army officer, Excoriated
by the Disgraced Preacher.

DAN ftANClS0O, Dec. li.-lne Qedt0 Dy
asphyxiation of Mrs. Sarah b. Cooper and
her daughter Harriet this morning has pro-
duced profound sensation in this city No
woman in San Francisco, or on the entire
Pacific coast, was so prominent as Mrs.
Cooper, who devoted her life to religious
and philanthropic work, and was actively
connected with every reform movement.
She was a cousin of Col. Robert Inger-
soil, with whom, despite their op-
posite religious views she main
tanned a warm friendship. Mrs. Cooper
was president of the kindergarten Associa-
tion and her daughter was deputy SUPER
intendent. Mrs Cooper had lived here
thirty years and was widely known as an
educator and for her philanthropic work
She was president of the Women's Press
Association, president of the Woman's Suf-
frage Association and prominent an off,
Ger of the Womans Christian Temperance
Union For many years she taught the
largest Bible class in the city, in the First
Congregational Church, her class number
ing several hundred members. She was
assistant pastor of the church under the
pastorate of Rev. DR.. c. o. Brown. The
Coopers had lived alone, except for Chi
nese cook, who had been in their employ
found. 1t is expected he can throw some
light on the tragedy.
When the scandal concerning DR.. Brown
was first talked about Mrs. Cooper stood
by her pastor and expressed confidence in
him. Later developments caused her to
change her mind, and she and her daugh-
ter became his most prominent opponents
and accusers after Mrs. Davidson. Much
in, oir
by Mrs. Cooper's statements on the witness
stand at the church trial. Miss Cooper was
even more pronounced than her mother
in opposition to Dr. Brown. This action
estranged many of their friends, and the
suicide of mother and daughter is ascribed
TO the brooding over snubs from former
and of late has been much worried over the
illness of her daughter, who has been suf-
fering from nervous prostration, caused by
No woman on the Pacific coast has been
so prominent for generation as M =.
Cooper. who has often preached in Con1re-
gational pulpits and had been engaged in
all departments of Christian work. She
formerly resided I'm New Orleans and acted
as nurse during the war. Her husband and
tragic end has caused an immense sensa-
ton in this city. The room in which the
bodies were found was full of escaping gas,
which, the physicians said, had undoubt-
edly caused asphyxiation.
Later developments indicate that Miss
Cooper was responsible for the deaths OF
states that Miss Cooper had been suffering
for months from melanchOla, with hom-
cidal and suicidal tendencies. Her father
cousins nephews of her father, also killed
themselves. Harriet Cooper had made sew
eral previous attempts to end her life, once
attempting to jump from a ferryboat, and
several times announcing to her mother
that she longed to turn on the gas at night
SO that she and her mother could pass
away together Mrs. Cooper concealed her
daughters condition from all except few
intimate friends. and had arranged to take
her daughter East soon to place her in the
care of relatives. hoping the change might
restore her health.
Harriet left note to the coroner request
ing that the bodies might not be removed
to the morgue. AT first the coroner re-
fused to accede to the request, but through
the intercession of many friends the
corpses were allowed to repose side by side
dated two months ago, refers to the proba-
bility of her early demise. and also alludes
to the possible death of her daughter. All
her beauests are made with the idea that
her daughter would not survive her, as II
she anticipated double death.
It is known that during the past few
weeks Miss Cooper attempted suicide by
asphyxiation, but was detected by her
mother. D,,ring the, past three nights Mrs.
supposed that last night she fell asleep
from exhaustion. Her daughter then took
advantage of the opportunity, and after
turning on the gas lay down beside Mrs.
Cooper.
Mrs. Cooper was born i'm New York. six
ty-four years ago, and before the war was
prominent advocate of abolition. She was
in Memphis during a smallpox epidemic,
and did effective work as a volunteer nurse.
Two of her children died during the epi-
demic She and her husband worked as in
structors to the freedmen after the war,
and came to San Francisco in 1870, found
ing the kindergarten system in this State.
She was prominent as a director of the as
sociated charities, was at one time preSi-
dent of the Pacific Coast Woman's Press
Association, the WomanS Suffrage Asso-
citation and the Woman's Christian Tenn
perance Union. For twenty years she mad
been a contributor to the press, part of the
time engaged editorial writer on
local paper. She was especially prominent
in CONGREGATIONAL churches Of the State as
a delegate to the conferences, and OFTEN
occupied the pulpit of churches of the de-
nomination. She organized a new congre-
cation and built a new church in an out
side district few months ago.