Smyrna times., 1899-07-19
COL. COOPER'S SAD END.
DIED WHEN THE HOPE OF PARDON WAS
DISPELLED.
Victim of an Unkind Fate-Fiis Public and
Private Career in
Delaware.

We published last week the startling
news that came from Trenton that Col.
E. t. Cooper had died on Tuesday
night in the penitentiary, of hiccoughs
and stomach trouble, brought on it is
believed by nervous anxiety in refer
ence to his pardon, which had not
reached the President, because Judge
Bradford and Prosecuting Attorney
Vandergrift believed the sentence was
just. Hewas in his 41st year. He was in
a few weeks of having served out his full
term of imprisonment for conspiracy
with Boggs in looting the National
Bank at Dover.
Ezekiel L. Cooper was the son of
Samuel B. Cooper, who was Speaker
of the Delaware State Senate in 1888.
He was born near Willow Grove, in
North Murderkill hundred, Kent
county, in 1858. He attended the
University of Virginia from 1876 to
1879; began studying law with the
late ex-senator Eli Salisbury, and
completed his studies with the late ex-
Chancellor Wolcott, jumping into
Democratic politics from the beginning.
In 1881 he was reading clerk of the
House of Representatives, and in 1887
he was clerk of that body.
For many years Colonel Cooper was
editorial writer for the Dover hader,
the organ of the Wolcott faction of the
Democracy, and at the time of his arrest
for connection with the bank cases he
was editor of the Milford Herald. For
some years he was chairman of the
Executive Committee of the Peninsula
Press Association. He had travelled
all over this country, in Europe and in
Hawaii.
He had the example of his father,
who was good man, before him, and
with bright intellect and every in
centive to virtue, it is a wonder that
his life was misspent and in the direc-
ton of the wrong from the first. His
genial nature had mnch to do with it,
but death throws faults both grave
and small in the background. Thus
the influence over young associates in
bad habits including a disregard of
the sanctities of the Sabbath, the
scandal in connection with another
lawyer over the National Guards ap-
preparations and the Delaware build
ing at the Columbian Exposition, to
say nothing of the conspiracy in the
bank case.
But the weakness of his nature
proved to be his downfall. Becoming
involved with Teller Boggs of the
Dover Bank, he found his way to
prison. His misfortune followed him
while he was in prison. Only a few
weeks ago his name was stricken from
the list of lawyers in the State and he
was disbarred from further practice in
the state. Soon after his imprison-
ment his aged mother died. On Mon
forts to secure his pardon had failed
and on Tuesday his property in Kent
county was sold by the sheriff. Then
came word of his sickness and late on
Tuesday night he died.
This, in short, is the story of mis-
spent life. 1t is sad to reflect upon
what might have been the fortune of
this young man. He had rare oppor-
tunities to make a record of which
any man could be proud.
The body was moved from the Tren-
ton penitentiary on Thursday, under
the charge of Mr.. James Lord and
Undertaken Graham, of Camden, to
his sisters, Mrs. Jolls, in Wyoming,
preparatory to his burial on Friday.
Rev. j. E. Graham, of Wyoming, con-
Quoted the services. A number of
prominent men from different parts of
the State were in attendance at the
funeral. The remains were deposited
in the family plot on the Cooper farm
near Willow Grove.
The principal address and eulogium
was made Rev. l.. W. Layfeld, of
Smyrna Circuit.
He said 81 have known the deceased
for many years, and L know him to
love him. 1t is true he fell, but as was
said by my brother in his prayer, (Rev.
W. M. Green) he had great virtues,
and many of them, as his friends
know. L believe he was one of the
many victims of circumstances, in our
very day, where chain of misfortunes
seemed to surround one least expect
ing it, and finds himself drifting with
the current of adversely unable to stem
the tide