New-York tribune., 1896-12-12
KILLED BY AN INSANE GIRL
TRAGIC DEATH OF A MOTHER AND
DAUGHTER IN SAN FRANCISCO

HAD TURNED ON THE GAs-TWo PRE-
vIoUs ATTEMPTS TO DO THE
SAME THING-MRs. COOPER's
WORK FOR CHARITY
San Francisco Dec 11.-Mrs. Sarah B. Cooper
famed throughout the entire United States be-
cause Of her untiring zeal in works OF charlty
and her daughter Mis- Hattie Cooper. were
found dead in bed at the Cooper house, NO
l. 9O2 Vallejo-st.. this morning. both having been
csphyxiated by gas. All evidence tends to show
that Miss Cooper. who suffered from acute
melancholia arose after her mother had fallen
asleep and with suicidal intent turned on the
gas When discovered both bodies were rigid,
death having occurred several hours before
The news Of the tragedy which spread with
great rapdty caused one Of the greatest sensa-
tions San Francisco has ever experienced
Mrs Cooper and her daughter have been
prominently connected with all charitable move
ments not only in this city. but the country at
large. and the distressing circumstances sur
rounding their sudden taking off have caused
the most profound grief among all classes of So
cletv. Only Mrs Cooper's most intimate friends
anticipated even the merest possibility OF such
tragic climax to her worthy life. Among those
who were closest TO the benevolent woman 1t
was however, feared that Miss Hatties morbid
nature might ultimately develop more violent
form OF insanity. DR.. Sidney Worth. the Cooper
family physician. this evening made public the
announcement that on two occasions within the
last few months Miss Cooper attempted to take
her life and tina, OF her mother by turning
on the gas on both occasions Mrs. Cooper re-
strained her only after struggle. Notwith-
standing the danger to which she was constantly
subjected the heroic woman refused to be sep
arated from her daughter. remaining by her side
every hour for days and weeks at a time. Last
evening Miss Cooper seemed unusually depressed
Within the hearing of the Chinese servant she
remarked TO her mothe.: II am tired OF life
want to join father and want you to &c with
me-
Mrs Cooper had been accustomed to hearing
such words from the inv llid and paid little at
tention to them. disinissing the subject with a
brief rcproof 10 her daughter on the wickedness
Of sclfdestruc,ion. The two women retired at
the usual hour. and not disturbed until
this morning, when the Chinese servant knocked
at their door and announced that breakfast was
ready Getting no response. he opened the door
and almost overpowered by the smell OF
gas. lie went to the bedside and shook Mrs.
Cooper. and Mortified to find her body cold
and rigid He then hurried out Of the house
and alarmed the neighbors The house rapidly
filed with sorrowing friends. The Morgue Of
hcias were communicated WITH and permission
was obtained 10 leave the bodies In the Cooper
home until they were prepared for burial.
Thousands Of san Francisco's most prominent
and respected citizens have passed through the
doors Of the Vallejo-st house to-day, and with
tear-dimmed eyes gazed upon all that was
mortal OF the woman who sacrificed her entire
lifr In unnagging efforts TO ameiIorate the con-
di,on OF her and smooth the pathway OF
little children brought into the world under ad-
verso circumstances.
Some months ago Miss Cooper became
quninted with the fact that insanity he
rodiiary in Der fathers family. several mem
hers OF which had succumbed to suicidal mania
From that hour the unfortunate young woman
believed herself doomed and constantly brooded
on self destruction. In vain her mother rea-
soncd with her and attempted to nurse her back
10 lucdiiy but 10 no purpose. Finding her ef-
forts in vain. the heroic woman calmly wrote
her Will. and concealing her sorrow from all
save the family physician and three or four
friends. she awaited the inevitable. The docu-
ment in question bears the date Of October y.
1880: and bequcaths all real ana personal prop
crtv Of the t-stato- to her two sisters Mrs
+ 4. Sklltor. OF Ne ~ Hancock-st.. Brooklyn.
y Y and Mrs Reese NJ. Rawlings, OF East
Lake. Tern.
Mrs Sarah r.. Cooper was bern nj Cazenovla.
A. Y. sixty-one years ago. The lngersoll family.
Of which she was a member. and which includes
Colonel Robert q. Ingersoll. Mrs Cooper's
cousIr is we'll known and highly respected in
New York state we'll as In Ohio, where many
Of them still live. Two sisters survive her Mrs.
Skilton, of Brooklyn. and Mrs. Rawlings, OF
East Lake. Tenn
ha.p at pfa
sentative woman OF the nobest type At four
teen years Of age she teaching n district
school at Cazenovia. her native town. In 1852
she graduated from the Cazenov.a Seminary.
and later went to Chattanooga. Tenn. where
she married Halsey Fenimore Cooper. member
of an old New York family who at that
time publishing "The Chattanooga Advertiser"
In 1869 Mr. and Mrs. Cooper with their little
daughter Hattie, removed to San Francisco. For
a time fortune favored them. but later Mr..
Cooper became broken In health through worry
regarding business reverses. and on December
g. eleven years ago. he died by his own hand
The shock to the widow and her daughter a
terrible one but Mrs Coopers strong spirit
abled her to rise above her sorrows.
In 1879 she organized the Golden Gate Kin.
dergarten Association. Aside from the work
for the children, Mrs. Cooper took the greatest
interest In the culture and uplifting OF women
She was n member of the Womens Pacific
Coast Press Association. Of the Suffrage Or
ganization the Womens Congress and the Cen
turv Club. In 1894 Mrs. Cooper was elected
treasurer of the Worlds Federation of Women's
Clubs In May last Mrs Cooper. attended by
her daughter went East to be present at the
convention f the last-named organization
which was held at Louisville. Ky. After the
return from the East both were busy for time
getting the kindergarten work In order for tho
openIng term Very soon however, Miss Hat
tics condition became serious that she was
obliged TO rest Her trouble was nervous pros
tration and fits % depression were frequent.
Nrs Cooper recently expressed the fear that
the worst might be expected in Miss Hattie's