Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-02
RAN away WITH GIRL NEGRO ASSAULTS GIRL
His Wife Returns to the Home Mayor Strikes Brute When He
- Of Family. gs Hears Of Outrage.
ACTION BY THE VESTRY lcAPTCRED BY FOUR BOYS
Of he Similar 06enaes in
Sound Mind Other Cities
SCANDAL AT HEMpsTEAD YOUTH HEARD CRIES FOR HELP
Miss Florence Whaley Has Written Young Very
Home That She VIII Not CrueT She
! Return
ACTION BY THE vEsTRY
idea is That Dr.. Cooke l. Not Of
Sound Mind.
SCANDAL AT HEMPSTEAD, L. I.
Miss Florence Whaley Has Written
Home That She VIII Not
Return.

NEW YORK, May 2.-Members of the
fashionable st. Georges Episcopal Church
at Hampstead, L. l., were astonished today
when they learned that their pastor the
Rev. John Knode Cooke, had departed from
Hampstead, and that Miss Floretta whaley
beautiful GIRL also had left her home and
had written letters saying she would not re-
turn. The Rev. Mr.. Cooke is married to
Matilda. daughter OF Rienzi A. Clarke of
Hartford. Conn. She left Hampstead some
time ago and is now at her fathers home.
May Take Action.
That official cognizance is to be taken of
the mysterious departure of the pastor Is
evident from a formal statement which was
issued today by Bishop Burgess of the do
cese Of Long Island He says that immedi-
ate action will be taken by the vestry Of St
Georges Church to fill the vacancy caused
by the departure Of Mr.. Cooke '"The vestry
Is overwhelmed by the unexpected calam-
ity," said Bishop Burgess, "and is at a loss
to account for It, 1t is inclined to the belief
that DR.. Cooke cannot be of sound mind.
Three years ago. with Mrs. Cooke and a
party of Sunday school children, he was in
2 trolley car collision, and he has been
fervous wreck ever since. He obtained a
leave Of absence a year ago and went to
Europe to recuperate, but his condition
since his return has been poor. The church
and its property are in the best of condi-
ton. The funds are intact. The vestry will
take immediate steps to fill the vacancy
caused by the departure Of Mr.. Cooke"
Why Mrs. Cooke Left.
According to stories which were circulated
freely in Hampstead today the infatuation
of the minister for Miss Whaley has been
apparent for some time. and was the direct
cause of Mrs. Cooke leaving for her fathers
home. 1t Is said that the young woman's
grandmother, with whom she made her
home, became aware Of the infatuation
some time ago. and asked the minister to
cease his visits to her home. Miss Whaley
left her home several days ago, saying she
intended to visit friends in this city. A
little later the grandmother received a let
ter saying that when 1t was received they
would be out of the country. Mr.. Cooke has
not been seen since the letter was received.
Popular in Hampstead.
Mr.. Cooke was popular during his pas
torate in Hampstead and also was very
successful in a financial way. In the five
years since he came to Long Island from
Grace Church. Baltimore, where he had
been as a curate, he had raised nearly
| 100000 In his parish. With this money
| he built a parish house. made extensive
improvements In the church edifice and had
begun improvements on the Sunday school
building He is man of pleasing presence
and good talker.
Miss Whaley. the missing young woman,
has fortune said to amount to $125. 600,
which came to her at her fathers death.
Another Side Perhaps.
Rev. John K. Cooke was assistant rector
OF Grace Episcopal Church. Park avenue
and Monument street. Baltimore. for five
years. going from here to the Hampstead
| church as rector. He came from Hagers-
| town. Nd, and was educated for the min
| istry at the Theological Seminary at Get
tysburg, Pa. and at Middletown. Conn
His first charge was in East Haven. Conn
| suburb of New Haven. From there he
came to Baltimore about ten years ago
and remained here until he became the rec
tor of st. Georges at Hampstead.
Rev. DIR. Arthur c. Powell. rector of
Grace Church. today expressed his disbelief
! In the charges. His conduct here was per-
feet" said DR.. Powell. There mEst be
| another side to the story which. when told.
must clear him.
| Howard Hubbard of 2105 Mount Royal
| avenue, an intimate friend of Mr.. Cooke.
/ today said he visited Mr.. and Mrs. Cooke
at their Hampstead home last week and
/ that Mr.. Cooke promised to visit him here
yesterday. He insisted there must be some
| mistake. Neither he nor DIR. Powell have
| heard from Mr.. Cooke, however.