The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-03-24
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THE COOPER CASE.
Jacksonville Metropolis.
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The Metropolis Saturday published
the result Of the third investigation
made by the grand jury of DeSoto
county into the assassination of J..
H. Bowman by l. E. Cooper at Pun
II GOrda, Fla, three years ago. Coop
er was convicted more than two
years ago. and three times the death
warrant was issued for his execution,
but through the appeals of his attor-
neys the execution has been stayed.
Last week the attorneys were given
another chance by request of the gov
ernor and by order of Judge Wall. to
produce any new testimony, showing
that Cooper was assisted by others in
this murder or that he was entitled
to any clemency. The unusual privi-
lege of allowing witnesses summoned
for the defense to testify before the
grand jury and to be questioned b.
the attorney for the defense was or:
Gered by Judge Wall, indicating a de-
sire to give the accused every posi-
bic chance to eXculpate himself.
Twenty-Five witnesses gave testi-
mOny, and here is the conclusion of
the jury last week:
We have left no stone unturned in
our examination. We have spared
neither time nor money, and we beg
leave to report that we have not
found anything eXculpating l. E.
Cooper. In short. We leave the case
lust where we found it.
In the face Of this report will the
State Board Of PardOns now step in
and rescue Cooper from the death
penalty? It has been said that he
would never be hung. and there may
be some foundation for this assertion,
but If he is not il will be a disgrace
to the State of Florida and an insult
to the courts which have pronounced
him guilty and shown that there is
not a scintilla of evidence to prove
that he is not guilty of the crime he
was convicted Of perpetrating. No
man in the State Of Florida ever be-
fore had the chance to clear himself
that Cooper has had.
Judge Wall and the States Attorney
have afforded the defense every OPP
pOrtunity possible to dispTOve the
charge of murder. They have even
granted the defense unprecedented
privileges in criminal practice, and
Notwithstanding all Of these cppor-
tunities Isaiah z. Cooper stands as
guilty to-day Of assassinating J. H.
Bowman as he did the dark night ne
fired the fatal load of shot into the
body Of the city marshal of Puma
GOrda while he (BOwman) sat in his
house enjoying the society of his
wife and children.
Ii is not creditable to the State of
Florida that this man Cooper should
have so many more favOrs extendeI'
to him than other criminals. The
Circuit Court and the Supreme Court
have declared him guilty of the high
est crime known to the law. and yet
Bowman has been in his grave three
years, his wife made a widow, his
children robbed of a loving father
and protector, and Cooper still lives,
and may continue to live by cOmmu-
tatiOn of sentence as other bloody
criminals have thus been favored be-
fore him-some of them even pardon
ed. while the blood of their victims
was still fresh on their hands.
The Punta GOrda Herald, which has
ever cried aloud Tor justice in the
case of Cooper, says that Cooper was
not convicted entirely on circumstan-
tial evidence. as many people seem
to imagine. Two witnesses, the Her
aid says. saw the man and heard tue
report Of the gun he fired.
More certain punishment and less
chance of escape will lessen crime. a
view The Metropolis has advocated
for WARS. If man thinks he can
escape punishment (prObably as
Cooper did he will not long hesitate
II commit crime. but if he knows the
chances Of escape are very difficult
he will hesitate and refrain from do
ing a wrong thing.
We do not know Cooper nor dfdi We
know Bowman, and never did we see
either of them. All The Metropolis
has ever said about the case was in
defense Of the courts and for the vim
dicatiOn of the majesty of the law,
believing the viOlatOrs of the law
should be punished. and life and
property made more secure. This we
believe is best for the people, and for
this We shall ever contend.