The evening times., 1896-05-14
Confident OF lcQUITTAL
Cooking Claims That He Can
Prove His Innocence.
WILL BE TRIED NEXT WEEK
The Accused Murderer Thinks That
Suspicion Was Cast Upon Him AZ u
Result of u COnspiracy-Has No
Fear of an Unjust Trial-A Charles
County Jury.

Baltimore, Md, May 14.-JOseph Cooking,
who is now in the city jail, awaiting trial
on the charge of having murdered his wife
and sster-inlaw, Miss Daisy Miller, at
Hill Top, Charles county, on April %, was
notified yesterday that his trial would
likely he gin toward the last of next week
at La Plata, or during the first part OF the
following week. The court convenes on
next Monday. The docket contains only
few minor cases and these will be disposed
of within a week. When Cooking heard the
news, he said:
Il am very glad the trial is near at
hand. am sure of proving my innocence
and naturally want this trying ordeal over"
When asked whether his full line OF
defense had been laid out, Cooking said:
YES. 1 have given my attorney, who Is
Mr.. John Grayson, of TowsOn. all evidence
that will he necessary to acGuit me, and
l am sure it is sufficiently convincing to
clear me of the crime OF which l have
been wrongly accused"
WILL RECEIVE JUSTICE.
'Have you any fear of an unjust trial
at the hands of the people of Charles
county, from which the jury will be Sc
lectcd?" was asked.
mo, i haven't the slightest fear but
that all prcjudices against me brought
about, in great measure, by the untrue
reports that have been circulated against
me. will bc removed. i have always been
respected by the people of my neighbor-
hood-Hill Top, and at La Plata as well
and i am sure that no hcarsay evidence
will be considered by the jury, or have
any weight in their decision.
Il have been besicged by my friends
TO have the case moved from La Plata; but
have steadily refused to make such effort
or allow my attorney TO do so. Should
do this the opinion would be formed that
feared justice, and i am sure of getting
justice at the hands of the Southern Mary
land people. who know me and have never
known me to commit any wrong or have
even heard any unfavOrable reports about
me until / was arrested on this charge"
Your relatives and those OF your wife
believe that you are innocent
Yes and / would rather have their
kindly feelings toward me than that of
all the public. ! can talk with them and
occasionally be cheered up by their com
forting words when / hear from them.
John Miller. the brother of my dead wife,
was here TO see me yesterday. / have
turned over all my business affairs TO
him. He has been compelled to close my
store, however, as he is a farmer and
cannot attend 10 his place and my store
too. Ny mother-in-law would have been
up to see me, but she has charge of my
children, and as the elder one, Annie,
has been sick with chills she has been
unable to come as yet.
VICTIM OF CONSPIRACY. {.
MY mind is perfectly at ease so far as
this charge is concerned. l am in better
heath than at any time since l arrived
he = aad n gcn't lost one moment S sleep.
u hardest trial IS oas oHe the public gives
le- 80 Consideration Ia, and that IS the loss
Q: my wife and the terrible Cause If the
brt aiIng mp o: NV litle home"
here CocFing's e-ss flleo, aIl ne SEEM
ed uCUus affected.
"ThI- NV arroso was the result o. =
conspiracy VIII be the maiustay .: my de-
fensc- have every reason 20 believe sLs-
picon was cast re thrC. n t'.g ef-
forts ct a party who's. IA ~. VII not
ment on. but whose motive 50 aorug
l VII clearly show. hay D.. afncully
with tie party retired 20, ,r- .lIuk he
was inStrument,l in having. me pointed ogt
as the guilty one; DCt l viii Change al
preiudices against me when the trial take
place.
Cooking said he did not find his confinc-
ment very trying, but he felt the blow that
the accusation brought with it, which. he
thought, had ruined his name, and would
make his future tlfe a bard one. In all Ibis
statements Cooking was quick and straight
forward. He did not hold his head down,
but stood erect and looked straight into the
reporters eyes as he cbatted.
He spends his time reading good maya
zines and books, and says he finds no in
tcrest in reading trashy matter. He does.
not minglc with the other prisoners. and
when he is allowed to go out Of his cell he
walks up and down the corridor until it is
time to return to his quarters The jaiIers
say he is as docilc as lamb. and is an eN-
emplary prisoner. Cooking said he would
never cease to thank Warden Bailey for
the kindness he has shown him since he has
been in his charge.