The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-01-24
BLOODY SLtDGE HAMMER
Diamond Ring and Pin Are Found in
the Cellar.
THE BATH HOUSE ATTENDANT ARRESTED
He Tells Of Two Women Who Came TO See the
Man Who Was Later Discovered in
Dying Condition. His Skull
Fractured.
lBy the Associated Press.l

ST. Louis, JAM 23.-A. Dean Cooper,
Treasurer of the Graham Paper Company,
died here today as the result OF injuries
sustained in a mysterious manner, while
in the Vista Turkish Bath establishment
at 351S Franklin Avenue last night. Will
liam A. Strother, the colored man in
charge of the bath house, who tells con-
dieting stories about the affair, is under
arrest and a diamond ring worth 81, 800
and a valuable pin belonging to- Mr..
Cooper. have been recovered from their
hiding place in the cellar of the bath
house.
Mr. Cooper's injury consisted of frac-
tured skull sledge hammer covered
with blood was found in the cellar and
taken possession of by the police.
Strother made a statement to the po-
lice to the effect that about midnight a
boy brought Mr.. Cooper note, which
ne refused to answer. The boy went
away and soon after a man and two wo-
men entered. When he returned from
the cellar, where he had gone to fix the
fires, Strother says he found Cooper on
the couch unconscious. 4
Strother later told the police that the
two women who had called to see Mr.
Cooper, came in carriage. He said
that he had admitted them to the cooling
room and had returned TO the basement
He does not know. he said. when they
departed.
Strother also said that two colored
women-Josie Houston and Florence
Banks. had visited him in the basement
earlier last night
Erastus Fountain, ianitor of the ista
block says that the two women were in
Strother's company at $50 o'clock when
he made his last visit to the premises.
The police say that there is no other
evidence than Strother's statement to
prove thee visit of two womn and a man
to he bath house.
few minutes after midnight Theo-
dore Cooper, known as Tod" Cooper,
son of A. Dean Cooper answered the door
bell at the family residence 3713 WaAh-
ington Boulevard.
Strother was at the door.
Your father has been hurt" said the
young negro to young Cooper. "He' s
over at the bath house now
Without stopping to question the man
closely Cooper hurried to the Vista block.
In the cooling room of the bath house,
on cot in the middle OF the long COM
partment, he found his father covered
by a sheet. Doctors were Immediately
called and the poice notified. The latter
made an Investigation and discovered the
bloodstained hammer. Young Cooper
told the police that the ring usually
worn by his father was missing and they
made another search. finding the ring
and pin in the cellar
Strother stoutly maintains his inno-
cence. Fountain the anitor. was taken
to the police station, but was released
after telling about the presence of the
to colored women in the bath house
when he left. The women were arrested
and closely questioned by the police.
Tod" Cooper stated TO the police that
his father had practically closed deal
for the sale of the bath house property.
which he owned and the transfer was to
have been made today. Mr.. Cooper was
considered one of the wealthiest men in
St Louis