The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1898-02-05
LESLIE COOK CAUGHT.
He Was Arrested in Washington
City on Thursday.

The Washington Post yesterday said:
Leslie Cook, well-educated Baptist
nilnister,wfth refinement and good breed
ing showing in his face, despite it's cover
ing of Struggling, unkept beard nd Its
ill-washed condition. was a prisoner last
night in an iron grated cell at the police
station, held on a charge of being fugI-
tive from justice. Prosecuted, as he
claims, by enemeis who brought false
charges against him, 0bsessed and fol.
lowed by efforts of the police to recapture
him after his escape, ne stole into Wash
ington after darkness had settled over
the city last night, with the intention Of
visiting his wife. When heir reunion
WAS almost an accomplished fact he was
betrayed to the police and arrested
Cook, who Ia alleged to have been born
the alias of Edward Severne, is 38 years
old, and has held several charges in Vir-
ginia, notably at Roanoke, at Ieesburg,
and at Staunton. He lad always born n
high reputation, but after he lett his
last charge, which was at Roanoke, Va,
little over year ago, there were hints
Of dishonesty. He and his wife came to
WASHINGTON, but he did not remain long
In the city, spending most of his time IN
Virginia. Mrs. Cook a short time apo,
secured employment in a milliner's estah.
H.,
where she is now employed.
On December 81 last, Cook was arrest.
ed while at Orange Court House, Va, on
n charge of forgery. Vainly protesting
his innocence, he wax taken to Roanoke,
and placed in Jail there to await trial
His confinement, however, was of short
duration. On January 81 he made his
escape. How he would not say last night,
limiting, though, that the way was made
easy for him by those who believed in his
innocence. Since then he has been a
tramp, making his way slowly tow ard
Washington, afraid TO stay long in any
single plsce lest he should be again ar.
rested. Footsore, ragged, and unkempt,
he reached Washington last night.
Long before his arrival, however, dis
patch had been received by Inspector
Mattingly from Chief of Police Dyer, of
Roanoke, asking him to have his detect
ives keep lookout FOR Cook of whom he
sent picture and description. The
message WAS placed in the hands of De-
tectives Gallagher and Boardman, and
thew succeeded in finding out the address
OF Mrs. Cook. She lives at 204 o street.
in house occupied by a family named
Collins. The detectives expected that
Corl; would attempt to communicate
with his wife, and arranged to secure an
early notification OF his arrival
Shortly before Q O'Clock last night Il
telephone message was reccivedeat police
headquarters, announcing that Cook was
in the city, and the two detectives hur-
ried to the house on o street. Standing
near the house they saw n man who, in
vague way. answered the description of
the person for whom they were looking.
The picture they had. though, was of
man of handsome intellectual features,
health The man they saw was appar-
emily IL physical wreck, ami his clothes
were tattered and rusty. The face in the
picture was smoothly shaver: that of the
mans WAS covered by q weeks grow tn of
short, bristly, red beard. But the picture
was of the man, taken in better days.
1t was Cook, waiting on the corner for
an answer to the note he had sent to his
wife, but which had not been delivered.
The detectives asked him his name, and
when he told them he was placed under
arrest and taken 10 police headquarters.
Inspector MI ttingly questioned him
briefly before he was sent 10 the station
house. He male no effort to conceal HIS
identity,and readily admitted that he had
escaped from the Roanoke Jail. After
short examination he was sent to the
police station.
The prisoner was unwilling to discuss
his case last night when seen by re-
porter, but protested that he was limo
cent of any of the charges made against
him. He said that from whs { he under.
stood OK the charges brought against him,
he had been accused Of having committed
forgeries in places where he had never
been. He knew nothing, he said, Of the
specific charge on which he was arrested,
but had been told that it was for forgery.
He said he would procure Il lawyer to-
day ard eDdea?or to fight the case.
Cook said that he had not seen his wife
since last November, and from the fact
that she had not called for him mt the po-
lice station he thought she had not been
made aware of his presence in the city.
He arranged to communicate with her
early this morning, and she will pioba.
bly, be- present in court when his case is
heard. 1t was said at the detective Office
last night that the minister is wanted in
several cities for alleged forgeries, al
though nothing definite was known of
them.
TERRJICYC XVEADIIIrt,