The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-12-10
Soldier Victim of Theft Relents
When Thief Is Caught.
Sergeant Confess Finds He Is
An Old Friend.
TOOK WATCH AS JOKE.
Afraid to Return Timepiece and
Sold 1t.
Corporal Cooper I'm Jail in
Topeka.

Sergeant Major Basil v. Confess Of
the Sixth artillery stationed at Fort
Riley spent one of the busiest days
in his life yesterday in attempting to
secure the release Of Corporal James
H. Cooper. young soldier now con-
fined in the county Jail, at his instiga-
ton, charged with the theft of a gold
watch valued at 500.
Young Cooper was a clerk in the
office of Confess at Fort Riley and
one day last July the officer was calle1
out of his quarters suddenly and left
his watch on his desk. When he re-
turned a few minutes later the time
piece was missing and the theft was
laid at the door of some one of tho
three men employed in the office.
though Cooper was considered above
suspicion.
Each of the clerks were questioned
and they denied knowing anything Of
the missing timepiece, Cooper being
one of the office force was questioned,
though not suspected, and denied all
knowledge of the theft. Circulars
were sent broadcast by the officers
offering a reward of $25 for the re-
turn of the timepice and as the men
left Fort Riley for other posts a watch
was kept on them and their actions.
Corporal Cooper left Fort Riley
with his company in August and was
stationed at Des Moines, Iowa, when
he with his squadron was ordered 10
South Dakota to put down an uprising
among the Ute Indians and il was
while he was with his command at
this point that his arrest occurred.
Sergeant Confess had given up all
when a negro ives arrested in Leaven-
worth in November, just after he had
pawned the timepiece to a bartender.
and in the course of the sweating pro-
cess he told the officers that he had
purchased the watch of Corporal
Cooper, paying IS for 1t.
The officer of Cooper's command
was notified and the young corporal
was placed under arrest for the theft.
and a week ago was brought to this
city and placed in jail by United States
Marshal Mackey. This was the first
knowledge that Sergeant Confess had
and he was dumbfounded when he
found that it was his young friend
Cooper.
From the time of the enlistment OF
Cooper a strong friendship had exist
ed between the young soldier and his
superior officer, Sergeant Confess.
After his arrest Corporal Cooper con-
fessed the theft in penitent letter
which he wrote to his old time friend.
and imme ediately Confess began efforts
to secure his release and since that
time has been untiring.
The soldier thief is hardly more
than a boy and comes of one of the
oldest and best Ohio families. and II
is this with his friendship for the
youth which has caused the officer To
redouble his efforts to secure his re-
lease. The enlistment of Cooper was
of the runaway kind and his Old
mother has counted the days since
that time when her sons term of en-
listment would expire; FOR ne had
too 10. rot 70
ing learned all that he cared for of
the soldiers life.
Cooper does not plead the baby act,
or drunkenness as a cause for his act.
could not resist. Il took the watch
as a joke he said to his superior Of
fcer. yes terday. land then was afraid
to return it and finally sold 1t to n
negro for SIS when 1 knew what it was
worth. L was the most mirerable man
on earth when had II in my posses
sion and hid 1t. but 1 could not for,
since then 1 have suffered the tor
lures of the damned
The young man by his actions and
manners indicates the opportunities
which have been his, and breeding far
above that usually seen in an enlisted
soldier His term of enlistmenE
would have expired on the day that
he was arrested and he had written
his mother that he would return
home at once and now his greatest
concern is that she will learn of the
trouble into which he has fallen.
Sergeant Confess is a six-foot speci-
men of gruff manhood and every inch
the soldier that he appears to be but
his efforts to secure the release of his
young friend who wronged him be-
speaks a tender heart under the
rough exterior. He is of Scotch-Irish
parentage and this possibly accounts
for the determined effort which h9
made to run to earth the man who
robbed him of his watch, only to find
that it was his best and closest friend.
"Yes, 1 can forgive him." he said
Yesterday, for he is only boy and
II he is sent to the penitentiary 1t will
kill that poor old mother of his.
spent much more than the watch is
would willingly give all of that and
much more if 1 can but save the boy
from the penitentiary. 1 had no idea
hat it was Cooper who took my prop
erty for if / had / should never have
made an effort to have him captured
He is just a poor weak boy, and 1 am
sure that this was his first crime and
ne is as penitent as a boy could be-
He did not ask me to intercede in his
behalf, but 1 could never feel that l
am much of a man If 1 did not do so.
Sergeant Confess spent most of yes
.erday in consultation with the fed
sral authorities in this city and Is
willing to make almost any sacrifice
f he can but keep his young friend
rom being sent to the penitentiary.
rhe matter is now in the hands of
United States District Attorney HI. J.
Bone who has taken ii Under advise
n ent and in the meantime the anxiety
s shared alike by the aggrieved officer
f,r1