The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-07-21
MOUNTS A TRAIN
IN FAST MOTION.
Tom Cooper, the Burglar, a Bold and
Desperate Man.
coNFEssEs TO MANY CRIMES.
He Could Not Identity HUBBARD as One
of His Pals in the Robbery Of Mr..
Pizzini,s Honse-Bis Rew9sd
offered Tor His Capture.
cONFEssEs TO MANY CRIMES.

In the capture of Tom Cooper alias Joe
Rill!alns. the negro who burglarized the
residence of Mr.. w &. Pizz!ni. on Park
Avenue. early in the morning Of July 18th.
and carried away several hundred dollars
worth OF s!lverware and other things. the.
detectives have bagged big prize. Cooper
is a desperate man, who has been N TIE
habit of taking all kinds of chances tie
has performed some physical feats in the
pursuit of his nefa-ious profession which
would astonish almost any trained athlete
and for months he terror to a large
district OF country IN Goochland county
The prisoner is about six feet two incnes
high straight, powerful, and weighs lei
pounds. There is not an ounce OF sur ius
flesh on his bones. he IS nearly al sinew
and hard muscle. He is q light ginger
bread negro with a keen eye. roman
nose. and quick. nervous inahnef-sue-i
a man as one would not like 10 mix up
with in rough-and-tumhle fight.
DESPERATE CHARACTER
Cooper IS what might be termed dare
devil negro who is not afraid of running
saw-lnill, and would shrink from scarce4y
any danger IA order to carry out MS plans.
He is an ea-conyict, having served one
term in the penitentiary already for rob-
berry. It is said that he has committed a
large number OF robberies in Goochland
county, and kept several neighborhoods
there in great alarm lest he should appear
on dark nights and rob their houses or
stores He is also said to be able to mount
q freight train when running at almost
full speed. rob a car. throw off what he
wants while the train is in rapid motion,
tani then jump off unhurt- This has made
detection very difficult, and is believed 10
account for q number of mvsteriou2 ROD
berries which have given the railroads
great annoyance.
When sem in the Jail yard yesterday
evening Cooper confessed to having COM
united Tobberes in Goochland county, ana
said he got lot of goods from man who
wtole them al Sabot, in Goochiand county,
several months ago. lie admitted that ne
Broke open the store of Mr.. 0. 3. Taylor,
at Sabot, and hauled away large quantity
of -four. which he sold 10 storekeepers in
the county.
BIG REWARD FOR HIM.
So bod and desperate became the negro
that a large reward was offered by cit-
zens who subscribed the money for this
purpose. The amount of the reward was
S14o.
Cooper claims that he came TO Richmond
to live several years ago. He could not
give much account of his movements, and
claimed that Willie HUBBARD, who worked
at the home Of Mr.. Pizzini planned the
side and helped 10 carry away the silver
after HUBBARD took Il from the house. HUI
bard had been arrested on suspicion He
was taken out of his cell at the jail, and.
with half a dozen other negroes. carried
out 10 stand up before Cooper for him to
pick out the man who helped him commit
tbs robbery.
COULDN'T IDENTIFY HIM
Cooper looked over the whole bunch.
and declared that a yellow negro who had
been a prisoner at the jail for two months
was the man who co-operated with him
in the robbery. This settled the question
in the jail officials mind that Cooper was
as big a liar as he was a thief. Cooper III
trying TO explain the thing away, declared
that when the robbery was committed
There WAS a very hazy light, and he could
mot remember distinctly how the fellow
looked 1t seemed that all coons looked
Tlike to him. At least he failed ~ identify
Elis side partner In the robbery out Of that
group Of prisoners,
II is believed that HUBBARD is innocent,
and it is understood that Mr.. PiZZini has
written a letter to Justice Crutch1ield.
asking that the prisoner be released from
further custody.
The entry On the docket showed that
Joe Williams alias Tom Cooper alias Sam
Jones was charged with being sus-
piclous character.
]. Weinstein, the pawn-broI1er, who re-
ported the offering of the goods 10 him by
The negro, Mr.. Clarence Muire and Mr..
James NJ Allen, who narrowly escaped
bricks hurled by the negro in Thursdays
mad chase after him; Officer Holdcraft,
who stopped the prisoner and other wit
E1esses We're present at the Police Court
yesterday
HE CONFESSED.
Detectives Gibson and Wren testified
that the negro frankly confessed to the
robbery Of Mr. Pizzini's house, but de-
clnred that he was an accompl!ce and no,
the principal in the crime; that ne stood
IN Mr.. Pizzini's yard while Willie Hub
bard. who planned the robbery. went in
side with another man and got the goods.
very little other testimony was taken
except the negro's confession and a war
rant, charging him with burglary, was is
sued and the prisoner sent on to the grand
jury for tina September term
There Is an interesting question in
VOWED IN the case, as should Tom Cooper
BE taken to Goochland for trial. those who
assisted him in the robberies there and
those who bought the stolen goods would
likely also be indicted, but if he should he
tried here first II IS not likely that he will
ever be taken to Goochiand.
HEAVY PUNISHMENT.
The highest penalty for the offense Is
death. though judge Witt said YESTERDAY
morning that man had ever
fbeen put to death in Virginia
dor the crime. AT any rate.
Tom Cooper's crime and his mast
record as a convict insures his getting a
term OF years almost equal to a life SEN
fence.
Mr. o. 3. Taylor, the merchant at Sa-
POT. who was robbed of the -four. was here
yesterday and Identified the negro. Joe
Williams. as tom Cooper of notorious
reputation IN that county.
Sheriff Crouch is expected here. and 1t
Is thought the Goochland authorities will
saake strong effort to secure the negro
Tor trial in that county.