The San Francisco call., 1906-03-25
SENTENCE
ON A FUGITIVE
Court Martial Fixes Punish
ment for Private Cook,
Who Is Still Uncaught
THOMAS READY TO SAIL
Transport Will Carry Large
Number of Passengers to
the Philippine Islands

Private William !. Cook, the prisoner
who escaped from his guard on March
while awaiting medical attendance at
the post hospital at the Preside, was
yesterday found guilty Of larceny and
burglary by a general court-martial
and sentenced "to be dishonorably dis
charged from the service of the United
States, forfeiting all pay and allow
ances due him, and to be confined at
hard labor at such penitentiary IS the
reviewing authority may direct for
seven years" Should the prisoner be
found he will be sent to Fort Leaven-
worth, Kans., to serve his term, to-
gether with an additional sentence for
his escape
Cook has been considered a desperate
character in the army for some time
and not long ago he was before the
civil courts to answer a charge OF man
slaughter for the killing of George
Webster, a private from the same COM
pany, who was found dead at the foot or
the stairs in a Market-street lodging
house. Cook admitted having fight
with Webster, but denied any knowl-
edge of the killing and was acquitted
because of lack Of evidence.
Shortly after his acquittal he broke
into the company quarters at the Pre-
sidio and made away with several army
reYolvers, and, going near the gate,
held up several people before the guard
finally located him and placed him un-
der arrest. Although several people
were held UP, he took nothing from any
OF them and the authorities are at
loss to know his motive.
Upon this charge he was taken be-
fore general coIrt-martial and while
awaiting the decision of the court he
f1F- cfo
seven other prisoners, to the post hos
pital for treatment under an armed
guard of four While awaiting his turn
at the hospital Cook slipped through
back window and escaped unnotfced. A
thorough search of the reservation and
city was Immediately made. but no
trace of the prisoner has ever been
found The sentries Were arrested, but
as the board of officers chosen to in
vestigate the case failed to establish
the blame on any one they were dis
charged.
Lieutenant Burton j.. Mitchell. aide
de camp to General Funston, returned
from Monterey yesterday, where he has
been inspecting the construction of
target range.
The army transport. Thomas will sail
at noon tomorrow for Manila, having on
board large number of officers and
men for Philipptpe. service. Following
is the list of passengers:
Lieutenant Colonel F. West, Captain G.
n. Purdy, Captain T. ]. Powers. Captain
Wade L. Jolly and wife. Captain w. w.
Simms and wife, Lieutenant L. s. D.
Rucker Jr. and wife, Lieutenant G. NJ
Lee; wife and infant Lieutenant Frank B.
Edwards and wife, Lieutenant George E.
Nelson, Lieutenant w. c. Whitener, Lieu
tenant Ira Longanecker. Lieutenant
James G. Boswell, Lieutenant Everett d.
Barlow Jr., DR.. Stephen M. Long. DR.. ].
r. Mount and wife. Marguerite Salter,
Christiana Bauer, Mrs. Robert s. Welsh
and child, Miss Florence Henry. Miss
Marion Lake, Miss Laura Thompson, Miss
Agnes Mclaughlin, George M. Offender
fer, J. c. Thomas. wife and child, Mrs R.
T. Ballard, Mrs. Henry Steere and four
children, Carlton M. Baker, Mrs. c. A.
Hedekin and two children, j. R. Flynn,
wife and two children, Chester z. Boiler
and wife, Julian w. Hayden, Thad w.
Stanley and wife, Mrs. Ella K. Dinwid-
die, Mrs. E. H Klamt, Mrs. Harry s.
Robinson and child, Mrs. Harry Chance
and daughter, Mrs. Otto II. Herb, Mrs.
William D. Evans, Mrs. w. H. Faringhy
and mother, J. H West, Guy L. Sullivan
and Homer L. Fisher