The record-union., 1896-12-12
Evidence Pointing to the Fact That
the Daughter, After Her Mother
Had Fallen Asleep, Arose and
Turned on the Gas, Taking Her
Own ife and That of Her 10ther-
Had on a Former Occasion At
tempted to Commit Suicide in the
Same Tanner.


gas All the evidence tends to show
that Miss Cooper, who suffered from
acute melancholy, 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 rapidity, caused one of the
greatest sensations that San Francisco
has ever experienced.
Mrs Cooper and her daughter nave
been prominently connected with all
charitable movements, not only in TINS
city but in the country at large, and the
distressing circumstances surrounding
their sudden taking off has caused the
qnost profound grief among all classes
of society Only Mrs. Coopers most
intimate friends anticipated even the
nnerest possibility of such tragic eli
max to the lady's worthy life. Among
those who were closest to the benevo-
lent woman it was, however, feared that
Miss Hattie's morbid nature might ul-
timately develop a more violent form of
Insanity.
DR.. Sidney Worth, the Cooper family
physician, this evening made public the
painfully sensational announcement
that on two occasions within the past
few months Miss Cooper attempted to
take her own life and that of her
mother, by turning on the gas. On both
occasions Mrs. Cooper restrained her
only after a struggle. Notwithstand-
ing the danger to which she was CON-
stantly subjected, the heroic woman re-
fused to be separated from her daugh-
ter, remaining by her side every hour
for days and weeks at time.
Last evening Miss Cooper seemed un-
usually depressed Within the hearing
of the Chinese servant she remarked to
her mother: II am tired of life; l want
to join father, and 1 want you to go
with me-" Mrs Cooper had become
accustomed to hearing such words from
the invalid and paid but little attention
to them, dismissing the subject with a
brief reproof to her daughter on the
wickedness of self-destruction.
The two women retired at the usual
hour, and We're 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 was
almost overpowered by the smell of
gas He went to the bedside and shook
Mrs Cooper. and was Mortified to find
her body cold and rigid. He immedi-
ately hurried out of the house and
alarmed the neighbors.
The house rapidly filled with horror
stricken and sorrowing friends, to
whom the awful discovery came as a
heartrending shock. The Morgue Off
cials were communicated with and per-
mission was obtained to leave the
bodies in the Cooper home until they
Were prepared for interment.
Thousands of San Francisco's most
prominent and respected citizens have
passed through the doors of the Vallejo
street residence to-day, and with tear
dimmed eyes gazed upon all that was
mortal of the noble woman who sacri-
feed her entire life in unfiagging efforts
to ameliorate the condition of her sex
and smooth the pathway of little chill
dren brought into the world under ad-
verse circumstances.
Some months ago Miss Cooper became
acquainted with the fact that insanity
was hereditary in her fathers family,
several members OF which had sue
cumbed to suicidal mania. From that
hour tie unfortunate young woman be-
lieved herself doomed. and constantly
brooded on self-destruction- In vain
her mother reasoned with her and at
tempted TO nurse her back to lucidity.
but to no purpose. Finding her efforts
in vain, the heroic woman calmly wrote
her will, and concealing her sorrow
from all save the family physician and
three or four intimate friends, she
awaited the inevitable.
The document in question bears the
date Of October 8, 1896, and bequeaths
all personal and real property OF the
testator to her two sisters, Mrs. j. A.
Skilton. 444 Hancock street, Brooklyn
and Mrs. Reese NJ. Rawlns, East Lake
Tenn.
Mrs. Sarah B. Cooper was born al
Cazenovia, n. Y, sixty-one years ago
The Ingersoll Nbnily, of which she was
a member, and which includes the IA
NOUS Colonel Robert G.. Ingersoll, Mrs
Cooper's cousin. is we'll known and
highly respected in New York State. as
well as In Ohio, where many of then
still reside Two sisters survive her
Mrs. Skilton of Brooklyn, n. Y, and
Mrs. Rawlins of East Lake, Tenn.
Mrs. Cooper's life has been that of q
representative woman of the noblesi
type. AT If years she was teaching a
district school at CaZenovia. her ma
tive town. In 1852 she graduated from
the Cazenovia Seminary. and later wen
to Chattanooga, Tenn. where she mar
Tied Halsey Fenimore Cooper, mem
Der of an old New York family, and 6
hot tfv,,a yaft1.
fishing the Chattanooga Advertiser
and his young wife took the creates
pleasure in assisting in work fol
which she had early displayed a fond