The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-12-12

nxw ynH1pCI0CO. Dec 1.-The death
- e.phvxiat1on Of Nrs sATah b. Cooper
"a ~ daughter Harriet this morning
m esodueeA . profound sensation Ia this
~s,v 40 woman "a San Erancfsco or on
~ ent.rs paeide coast was - prominent
- Mrs.. Cooper. VINO had devoted her life
- reairiouS and philanthropic work. and
- actzvsiy connected with every re-
farm movement 6ns Was cousin OF
col. Robert o. Inssrsol, wfsh whom. de-
erutts fhsir opposite religious Views. shs
9eantainsA . warm fr1sndship. Ths
wother and daughter were found lying
1end In the same bed shout O'Clock ~
their Chinese servant
Mia Cooper had wrapped the clothes
nnxefully about her, but Mrs. Cooper had
evidently attempted to arise. when shs
Astscted the escaping gas. and was TOO
much overcome TO leave the bed Two
Gas Jets were turned on full and al The
windows and doors were carefully closed.
The coroner and police detectives made a
careful examination, and concluded ina,
Ohils her mother slept Miss Cooper had
Arisen. turned on ths gas Jets. clesed the
hoors and windows and then calmly re-
turned to bed. Ths olficiaIs are now con-
Sss.ced that IL was = case CT matricids
and suicide
DIR. worth. the family physician. states
mat Miss Cooper had been suffering Cot
oonfhs from mslsncholIa. Her father
committed suicide ten years ago. and i've
eous.ns. nephews Of her father. also com
nftted suicide. Harriet Cooper had made
several previous attempts to end her life.
snos attempting TO jump from ferry
boat. and several times announcing 70 her
mother that "she ionxed 70 turn on the
gas at night. 80 thar she and her mother
souid pass away together"
- 49, IA 4nf :
condition from all except a few intimate
friends, and had arranged to taks her
East soon to place her in the care OF rel-
atives. hoping the change might restore
her health.
Harriet left note to the coroner re-
p.iesting that the bodies might not be re-
moved TO the morgue. Al nrst the core
per refused TO aecede 20 the request. but
Through the intercesslon OF many friends
ahe corpses were allowed 10 Iepose side
~ side In the death chamber.
Mrs. CoopeT's Will. dated Two months
ago refers 10 the probability Of her early
demise and also alludss 20 the possible
easth OF her daughter. Ali her beaaests
ore made with thu idea that her daughter
would not survive her. as II she antici-
Dated a double death.
Mrs. Cooper has for many years been
ut the head or the free kinaergarten sys-
tsm In tssis city. While her daughter has
haen her secretary and deputy saperin-
ke.rdent Of the kindergarten schools.
The Coopers wsse prominent Ia the proH-
ecu ton OF Rev. c. O. Brown ia ths famous
trial IN thu First Congregational church.
whast DIR. Brown was accused Of immoral
lty with Miss Matte 0verman Many OF
tho Erown faction bitterly denounced
Mrs. Cooper. and more especially Miss
Cooper, for thsir action IN joining the
ranks af Browns oppoasnts. Mrs. Coop
or had been Browne assistant pastor. and
caught IN adult Bible eisss with an aver
q re attendance OF 100. After the trial the
Aibia class waS conducted for a time In an
on tslde hall. and many % the CoopeTs'
fcrms friends bscams sstransed- This
developed RsiaEc hoiin In Nlas Cooper. and