The San Francisco call., 1897-09-07
HIS FRAUDS
ARE EXPOSED
How DR.. Harry Cooper Swim
died His Landlady in
Chicago.
She Had Implicit Confidence in
Him and She Proved
an Easy Dupe.
The Charges of Obtaining Money by
False Pretenses Against Him
Will Be Heard To-Day.

When Dr. Harry Westwood Cooper was
arrested last Tuesday night Chief Lees
wired to the Pinkerton agency in Chicago
asking if he was wanted there and re-
ceived reply the iolowing day that he
had passed a worthless draft on Miss
Mary E. Murphy, 529 Dearborn street.
Yesterday the Chief received a letter
from the Pinkertons in which full details
of Cooper's dealings with Miss Murphy
are given.
In the early part of last June Cooper
and his wife secured lodgings in Mis-:
Murphy's house. He soon succeeded in
winning the confidence of his landlady by
telling her that he was a man of means
and social rank and had fallen heir to q
fortune left him by titled uncle in Aus
tralia.
He first succeeded in getting $500 from
her, giving her draft for f140 on the
Bank of New South Wales as security
Soon afterward he induced her to part
with $500, and the bank notified her attor-
neys, Dunn & Byron, of the fact. One Of
the partners called upon her warning heI
against Cooper, but he was CURLY told to
mind his own business as she was sat
isfied "Sir" Harry was all right.
Cooper had the effrontery to call upon
the attorneys and told them that he ex-
pected s2S4O from the Supreme Court OF
him by his uncle. They expressed sur
prise that the sum was not in round num-
bers and Cooper went away. He subse-
quently returned and said the amount was
9I7000. This confirmed their suspicion
and they wrote Miss Murphy again, warn
ing her, receiving an insulting reply from
her.
Cooper had so impressed his landlady
with his importance that he had no d1tt-
Guilty in getting $500 more from her, max
ing S1400 altogether. She also showed
him The letter she had received from her
attorneys, which made Cooper decide to
to leave the city.
When Miss Murphy's attorneys heard
that Cooper was to leave they communi-
Gated with the police and advised them to
place him under arrest as a suspicious
character, but no action was taken and
Cooper came to this City.
Miss Murphy is said TO be woman OF
considerable means, owning property in
Chicago and Detroit. The Pinkertons ad-
vised her attorney in the latter city to
counsel his client to prosecute Cooper.
While in Chicago Cooper had SIX steel
dies made at the shop of Anton Schwen-
seal of the Probate Court of New South
Wales and the others of New South
Wales treasury notes for different
amounts.
The Pinkertons further say that they
had information that, on arriving here,
Cooper deposited a draft for f17,000 wi th
the Crocker- w oolworth bank for coilec-
ton, upon the Merchants Loan and Trust
Company OF Chicago The local bank
wired to Chicago asking if the draft was
good, and received a reply that 1t was
probably counterfeit, as Cooper originally
had deposit of only 1910 with the Trust
Company, and only $40 remained to his
credit
Last Wednesday the Metropolitan Ma
tional Bank of Chicago received the draft
ana notif,d the Trust Company that il
was worthless. The Trust Com pany, on
the same day, received a letter from
Cooper that he had drawn on them fol
$1,000, and inclosed power of attorney
so that they could collect the money that
was coming to him from the Supreme
Court of New South Wales.
Pinkerton's letter closed with the in.
form alton that Cooper was undoubtedly
dangerous swindler, and that his con
viction here or IN Chicago was much TO be
desired.
Chief Lees said yesterday that be had
Tot been notified OF an officer having lef
Chicago with the requisItion papers FOL
Cooper's e1tradition. He thought tn,
dispatch was in error, as he had wired
Chicago Saturday morning that he couIC
hold Cooper bere and if they wanted hin
there they would made have formal de
manu upon him. As they had not done so b.
inferred they were satisfied to have Cooper
stand his trial here.
The hearing of the charge of obtainins
money by false pretenses preferred by
John P. Gallagher agaist Cooper will tax.
place before Judge Low to-day.
The complaints on the TWO forgery
charges will be filed this morning and the
prosecution will be ready to proceed whel
the cases are called tomorrow.