New-York tribune., 1902-01-24
A ST LOUIS MURDER MYSTERY
A. DEAN COOPER DIES FROM INJURIES
RECEIVED AT TURKISH BATH ESTAB-
TJsHMENT-sKULL FRACTURED
WITH SIEDGE HAMMER.

CT Touis Ian 23-A Dean Cooper. treasurer Of
.he Graham Paper Company, died here to-day az
the result of injuries sustained IN mysterious
manner while in the Vista Turkish bath establish
r,ent AT No S5lS Franklin-ave., last night Will
lam A Strother. the colored man in charge OF the
hath who tells conflicting stories about the analr'
Is under arrest, and a diamond ring worth SLOW
and valuable pin belonging TO Mr. Cooper nave
been recovered from their mulhg pldce III 'iie
cellar of the bathhouse
Mr. Cooper's injury consisted or fractured
skull A sledge hammer. covered with blood was
also found in the cellar, and taken possession OF
by the police
strother made statement to the police that
about midnight the boy brought Mr. Cooper
note which he refused 10 answer. The boy went
.way and soon after a and two women en-
tered when be returned from the cellar. where he
had gone fix the fires, Strother says ne louho
Cooper on the couch unconscious.
a few minutes after midnight Theodore Cooper
known as Tod" Cooper, son OF A Dean cooper
answered the doorbell at the family home NO Sf1o
Washington Boulevard. strother was at the door
your fathers been hurt" said the negro TO young
Cooper Hes at the bathhouse now Win
put stopping to question the man cioseiy' SouAs
Cooper hurried &c the Vista Block. In the COOLING
room Of the bathhouse, on a cot in the mioole OF
The long compartment, he found his father covered
with a sheet. Doctors were Immediately ca4ieo
and the police informed The doctors operated on
Mr. Cooper and removed pieces of bone that were
pressing on his brain. but the injured man aleo
without regaining consciousness
Mr.. Cooper the owner OF the hathhouse
shere the assault was committed. but 1t was not
managed in his name. He was Interested IN various
ines of business. and was considered one OF the
wealthiest in st. Louis -
Strother later told the police that the TWO women
and man, who had called 10 see Mr.. Cooper came
N a carriage He said that he had admitted them
70 the cooling room, and had returned TO the base
nent. He did not know. he said. when they De
parted. Strother also said that two coored women
Josie Houston and Florence BanksIhad visited
aim in the basement earlier last night
Erastus Fountain. tanitor Of the Vista BLOCK
says that the two women were In Strother's com
pany al $50 O'Clock when he made his last visit
10 the premises. The police that there is no
srher evidence than Strother's statement TO prove
the visit OF two women and a man 10 the oath-
house The police made investigation, and dis
covered the blood-stained 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 innocence.
Fountain the janitor. was taken to the police
station but was released after telling about the
presence Of the two colored women in the bath
house when he left
TOD Cooper stated the police that his father
had practically closed deal for the sale Of the
oathouse property and that the transfer was
10 have been made to-day, but did not state the
hame of the prospective purchaser.
The Houston and Banks women were arrested
to-day and closely questioned by the police.