The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-06-28
DESERTED IN STRANGE CITY.
Mrs. j. II. Cooper. Forsaken by Hus-
band, Tells Pitiful Story.

Odnu. IC1S
Deserted by her husband without
money and without friends, Mrs. j.
H. Cooper, of Charleston, S. c., with
a fve-months-old baby, is an object
of pity and compassion.
At the Alhambra Hotel last night
the forsaken woman said that she
had no means Of any sort, but that
she had made up her mind to work
until she had accumulated a sufficient
amount OF money to take her back to
Charleston.
When asked if she had any idea
where her husband had gone, she said
that she supposed he was in Ports
mouth, for he had told her that he
had secured a position there. 81 don't
know where he is" she said, "and
have made up my mind to work for
my living
Mrs. Cooper, who is slight and del
icate looking, tells this story: My
name before married was Ethel L..
Johnson. I am from Charleston, S. C.
and I met Mr.. Cooper there. He is a
locomotive engineer and he has work
ed for the Atlantic Coast Line and for
the Seaboard.
Three years ago we were married
and he told me at the time that he
was a widower. I don't know what his
first wife's last name was. He always
called her Lillian After we had been
married for some time l found a copy
Of a divorce decree in his trunk and
then knew that his first wife had di-
vorced him. I went secretly to see a
lawyer in Charleston and asked him
to explain the matter to me, but he
told me that as there were no divorce
granted in South Carolina, he did not
know and advised me to write to the
clerk Of the court in st. Louis, where
the divorce was granted. I did this,
but I never got a reply.
"Some time ago Mr.. Cooper got a
place with the New York, New Ha-
ven and Hartford Railway and I went
to live in New Haven.
eve reached Richmond Friday af-
ternoon and Mr.. Cooper left me in the
station, saying he had to go and see
a man on business. waited but he
did not come back.
after a long time man at the
station told me that I could go to the
Wonan's Christian Association on
Franklin street between Seventh and
Eighth He put me in a cab and
drove there but the matron refused
to take me because I had baby and
sent me here to the Alhambra Hotel.
I telephoned the railroad people and
the Masons. The railroad people did
not come to see me, but a gentleman
came from the Masons. He looked
at Mr. Cooper's card and then said:
'sHe has not paid his dues and there
fore you have no claim upon u.s.
"I told him I knew it, but that I
didn't have anyone else to go to-"
Mrs Cooper is only % years Of age
and is girlish looking. She is well
dressed and is an intelligent talker.
When asked if she or her husband
were church members she replied
that they were not, but that she was
a regular attendant of st. Paurs Epis-
copal church in Charleston, and that
H. Cooper is a member of the Broth
erhood of Locomotive Engineers. He
has been employed on several rail-
roads, such as the Atlantic Coast Line,
the Seaboard Air Line and the New
York, New Haven and Hartford.
Amongst his papers is a certificate Of
insurance in the Brotherhood Of Lo-
comotive Engineers for $1,000. This
uncollectable asset and 50 is all the
missing man left his wife when he
disappeared.
Mr.. S. L. Thomas, SECRETARY of the
Railroad Young Mems Christian AS
sociation, said last night that he took
interest in Mrs. Cooper's case because
he felt assured that she had been very
badly treated and because she was
young and inexperienced.
Mr.. Thomas stated that the police
first called his attention to Mrs. Coop
ers helpless condition and that he
then went to see her.
Everything is all right now," said
Mr.. Thomas. 81 have transportation
for her to Charleston and she will
leave in the morning for her home