The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-19
CAPT COOPER HAS RESIGNED.
HE SENDS HIS RESIGNATION TO THE
GOVERNOR.

Leaves Brunswick on a Seven Days
Leave of Absence Pending His
Release From SerVice-His Action
VIII stop Court Martial Proceed
ings Against Him-His Company
Feels Relief, as They Feel That He
tiOn-NO Doubt of His Resignation
Being Accepted.
Brunswick. Ga, Aug. 1s.-Capt. Cooper,
commanding Company NJ. Second North
Carolina, has resigned. Seven days leave
of absence was granted him and he left
last night for his home. HIS resignation
viii be accepted by the Governor of North
Carolina, and this acceptance will close
Capt. Cooper's career with the volunteer
army of the United States, a career which,
though brief has been marked by a series
of escapades which has brought grief and
modification to the Second North Caro-
lima Regiment.
From the regiments inception Capt.
Cooper has caused trouble and this has
been brought about by his fondness for
drink His latest escapade was Tuesday
night, when he was carried bodily to his
tent in a drunken condition. Wednesday
he was to have been officer of the day,
but not being able to respond to the CALL
he brought quick trouble on his own head.
His resignation was the immediate result.
and when it was generally known that Ii
was in, the men in camp felt better. The
resignation being accepted, will dispose of
the charges preferred by Lieut.. Conrad
and others of the North Carolina officers,
as they have never been sent on, due to
unavoidable delay in the preliminary In
VestigatiOn of them.
The court martial proceedings against
Capt. Cooper are thus called off, but it
seems that his leaving does not dispose of
those preferred against Lieut.. Conrad, his
second officer. The investigation into these
charges will go on, but il will be with
out Capt. Cooper's evidence. There are
some witnesses at present in camp, Who
were named by Capt Cooper in his charges
against Lieut.. Conrad and these will be
examined.
First Lieutenant Johnston of Company
NJ returned to-day from Raleigh, and
he viii command the company
pending the appointment of Capt. Coop
er's successor. The enlisted men in Com
pany Nj express the utmost relief over
Capt Cooper's resignation, as they feel he
has brought all their trouble on them, and
continually kept the company in bad
light.
Capt. Cooper, however, has some friends
in the regiment, who speak good word
for him. They admit his fondness for
drink but attribute it to an uncontrol-
able weakness.
They stale that his father is a very
wealthy North Carolinian, who has spent
much money on his son. Cooper himself
had considerable influence politically
among the mountaineers, and when the
regiment was being formed, he brought
down eighty-hve fines specimens of
manhood who wanted to serve under him.
His fondness for drink was known, and
this caused some hesitancy in mastering
in the men, but finally it was decided TO
give Cooper a trial and he was commits
stoned. He personally spent large sums or
money in getting up Company NJ and
his friends thought the position would act
as q check on his wild career. 1t devel-
oped, however that he was for some
reason in bad odor with the other Off
GERS of the regiment, and they held aloof
from him. This seemed to prey on his
mind, and he let the drink habit gain an
other hold on himself. He missed the
boat last night and left the island camp
in a skiff. His departure was an I'M
usual ending for a military career that
could have been made bright and praise
worthy. er