Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-12-31

COOKE TELLS WHY He.
RAN AWAY WITH GIRL
vnIF0eked Clergyman lhgalsd h
Sac Francisco and Thea lie
and Woman Disappears
FIRST CONSIDERATION FOR GIRL
One Time Rector of a Fashionable
Church on Long Island Opens tils
Hear, to Newspaper Man-Has
Been True to the woman--Has
Worked Hard.
ny Associated presul

SAN FRANCISCO. CAL. Dec. 40
In n pclting rain and before daybrouk
Rev. Jere *. Cooke, formerly
pastor of the fashionable St. Georges
church ut Hampstead, l.. J.. and Flor
eta Whaley, the II years old heiress
with whom he clipped eight months
ago, deserving a wife to whom he
had been married for nine years. stole
away today from the little fiat which
they had occupied at 1899 Greene
street In this city, where they were
discovered yesterday living under the
name of Mr.. and Mrs. Gerald Bal
com, taking with them their baby
hoy, Gerald Balcom, born two
months ago. They left behind
all they had saved during the
eight months that search for
them has been made throughout
the country. Tho police declare that
no effort has been made to locate
them or apprehend the couple.
The discovery was made through
the fact that Captain clcary OF the
Morse Fatrol Agency. who Ind met
Mr.. and Mrs. Balloon when
they arrived here last June from Los
Angeles, recognized the girls picture
published last week in connection
with dispatch from Louisiana stat
Ing that Cooke had deserted Flor.
eta Whaley and had given her away
to n family there who was educating
her"
Yesterday afternoon to repre-
sentative from local newspaper
Cooke admitted his identity and
asked the reporter to lower his tone
so that the girl in the next room
might not learn of the discovery OF
their identity.
MY God! What an awakening
from our happiness" Exclaimed
Cooke. "All want Is a chance to
get away. | don't mind Sing Sing or
hell. but 1t is she. The child was
born two months ago, and discovery
and apprehension would kill the mo-
ther'
Cooke Tells His story.
Pacing back and forth, Cooke. told
the reporter the story of his life aud
Iof his elopement with Miss Whaley.
THE inexorable law must be main
tanned" he said. II have preached
1t so often ! ought to know There
is nothing that will paint black
sheep white. But have my reasons.
For ten years have kept silent.
For the last eight months l have
borne without murmur all the abuse
the vilest lies that newspapers could
concoct."
Cookies father died when he was
five years old. He was adopted by Ill
uncle and learned the trade of n
paperhanger and decorator. He work
cd his way through Yale and finally
entered the ministry. Since his dis
appearance he has been working at
painting and any other work he could
get
Cooke told OF his marriage and of
his nnhappiness after that time He
declared that his wife admitted to
him that she had married him for
no other reason than that 1t would
prove convenient stepping stone
for her social ambitions. He added
that 1t would be "caddish to dliate
on my marriage troubles"
Then awoke to see everything
else was worthless he continued
you know the end. On the one hand
was n loveless life with honor ana
petition and wealth. and on the
other love and poverty. / chose
this He pointed to the scantily
furnished rooms. 81 don't praise my
self for the step took 1t was weak
ness. 1t was unmanly, but am only
human, and as am to be judged
by human beings. It Is but right that
they shall know that l gave up all
that had fought for and won.
Has sinned and Suffered.
All ask Is to be let alone. am
doing a mans work. 1 have slnned.
but | have suffered. Now beg the
world to let me alone with my wife
and child, can live the life OF
good citizen. They say I am a good
decorator. was kept at work long