Mexico weekly ledger., 1908-08-06
PECULIAR CASE OF FRANK COOP
Err. coLoRED. WHO is BEING
HELD IN THE COUNTY JAIL
ON THE CHARGE OF PET
TY LARcEEY-sToLE
ovERCoAT FROM oS-
CAR CANTERBERRY
DESIRES 70 Be SENT 70 PEN
Writes Article on Jails and Treat
ment Accorded Him Here Has
Evidently had an Education
Of More Than Ordinary
High School in Better
Days. IA

Under arrest for a crime, the max
imum sentence for which would be
but a short jail sentence, Frank
Cooper, colored, has written letter
to Judge Barnett, Of the Circuit Court,
requesting that he be given not less
than two years in the states prison
Cooper is negro of education, speak
ing several languages and evidently
the graduate OF some eastern univer'
sity.
His story is peculiar one and oi
more or less interest. Several weeks
ago Sheriff johnson and his deputy
VIM. Barnett, were on the lookout fol
suspicious characters when they cam,
upon Cooper intoxicated in the rail
road yards. He was taken In custody
to be held for Investigation.
The day following his arrest the jail
physician was called to see him as hi
condition was very bad. He had beer
on a protracted drunk. After fulll
recovering his senses be confessed L
Sheriff johnson Of being guilty o
petty larceny. He told Of having
entered the city hall here and taking
an overcoat, the property OF Osca
Canterbury.
After telling OF his crime he asked
lMr. johnson II IL would be possible Il
get a prison sentence for the theft
When asked why he wanted such ex
treme measures taken he replied h
thought year or two in prison nigh
Icure him OF the liquor habit. Th'
stealing Of the overcoat is q crime o
Isuch small calibre that only shor
ljail sentence could result II the limi
be given.
Cooper wrote Circuit Court Judg,
Barnett asking him to act on his cas-
as soon as be could and tosentencl
him TO two years in the state prison
Sheriff johnson states Cooper Is on
Of the best prisoners he ever ha
lcharge of. The man has evidentl
been well educated as the followin
article will attest. 1t was written fc
the Ledger in bis cell at the count
jail and is of no little interest;
Cooper desires a sentence In priso
because it will break him OF th
whiskey habit to which he attribute
all Of his trouble.
BY FRANK COOPER.
Naturally every good citizen of
Christian community, regarding thoi
who through crime or other caus'
become inmates Of a place OF th
kind, will say or think within hin
self that such men who have violate
I the laws Of the State are wholly vi
: worthy Of the least consideration,
q This, however, is an error on Il
Q part of those who maintain such a b
lief. For there never is a man
woman so bad but what they ha'
= some good qualities, nor is any, one
:, good they do not possess some bi
!, qualities. And otttimes . friend
! shake OF the hand or word In kin
ness spoken will do more to convin'
man Of his errors, than all the pu
t. ishment that a court Of Justice can
10 fiict.
s. l have learned from personal expe
% ence during my incarceration hel
se that such is fact.
The kindness and general treatme
accorded the inmates Of the Coun
jail, by Mr. and Mrs. Price JohnSt
to have manifested themselves in t
It. minds Of every intelligent man GO
fined here.
II And the mere fact that a man !
=, fallen from his proper sphere throu
" intoxicating drink does not make b
lnone the less q man.
or ltis not the rough and uneduca'
as only that the drink demon claims
uS bis victims. From pole to pole OF
man life he holds his ruthless sw
{ There is no depth Of moral wick
, ness he does not plumb, nor height
Ter intellect he does not scale. From
on maudlin creature in the lowest slu
nm nm to men Of worldwide fame, whose
i'd MUS has shown starlike In the heav'
os- Of lofty thought, no rank or class
~, ~ capes him. What names on histol
err dead roll are stained by the vice
Icn taa drunkenness.
% are Among the older poets Parnell, O
inc lev and Prior were slaves of the c
,T snt Addison's powerful brain reeled un
ing the influence Of strong drink. II
'nS dore Hook was wrecked and ruined
:lfa his criminal indulgence.
nd The giant memory of Kean 9
,, ne- way beneath it; Richard Brin'
q Sheridan, orator, dramatist, sta
''N' man, wit, with q gift and 1aculty
5 most divine, the friend of princes,
aS Ty idol Of peers, died in a garrett a D
am: en- down, miserable wretch, the
MAJ isa if waiting only until the breath
me- lout Of his storm-beaten body to ar
v.. the corpse, and that was the del
, 10 drink,
dis Charles Lambs deplorable serVit
XIII XIII has been told with a disgusting 4
ers' ity by himself.
ren. 'ers, Such evidence as this is proof
tion itive that q man who sows to
un- m. flesh must OF the flesh reap cor
tion.
eTy; cry Then too, If the demon Edrink
sub such men of ACKNOWLEDGMENT
,Ility, what will it not do for "a man "
tms's sT mind Is far less DEVELOPER Su
yous some Of US who possess weak ana
'HTs liz educated minds, and when