Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1908-01-03
JERE COOKIES TALE
Once Popular Minister Says He
Has Sinned and Suffered
WORKED AS A DECORATOR
Has Been Living In San Francisco
With Heiress With Whom He Eloped
couple and Young Son Disappear
After Identity Is Discovered

q
After Identity Is Discovered
San Francisco, Dec 31.-In pelting
rain and before day break, Rev Jcre X.
Cooke, formerly pastor of the fashion
able st. Georges church at Hamp-
stead L. l., and Floretta Whaley, the
1I-year-old heress, with whom he
eloped eight months ago, deserving ii
wife to whom he had been married for
nine years and creating sensation in
church and society circles, stole away
yesterday from the little fiat which
they had occupied in this city, where
they were discovered Sunday living I'M
der the name of Mr.. and Mrs. Gerald
Balcom, taking with them their baby
boy, born two months ago.
They left behind all they had man
aged to save for their worldly comfort
during the eight months that search
for them had been made throughout
the country. Whittier they went has
not yet been ascertained. The police
say that no request has been made to
them to apprehend the couple
The discovery of Cooke and the girl
was made through the fact that Cap
tain Cleary of the Morse Patrol agency,
who had met them as "NIr. and Mrs.
Balcom" when they arrived here last
June from Los Angeles, recognized the
girls picture when it was published
last week IN connection with IL dispatch
from Louisiana stating that Cooke
mad deserted Floretta Whaley and had
given her away to a family there who
was educating her"
Sunday afternoon a representative
from local newspaper called at the
home where Cooke and his companion
lived under their assumed names.
Cooke, Yale graduate. worked at
painting and decorating, and when that
was not abundant he did any manual
work that he could get When the in
terviewer called Cooke admitted his
identity. but sent the young mother
and baby into another room. asking the
reporter too lower his tone that she
might not learn of the discovery of
their identity.
MY God. what an awakening from
our happiness" exclaimed Cooke. "All
| want is chance TO get away. | don't
mind Sing Sing or he'll, but it is she.
The child was born two months ago
and discovery and apprehension would
kill the mother
Pacing back and forth, Cooke told
the reporter the story Of his life and of
his elopement with Miss Whaley. THE
inexorable law must be maintained"
| he said. Il have preached 1t so often
ought to know. For ten years have
kept silent. For the last eight months
| have borne without a murmur all the
abuse, the vilest lies that newspapers
could concOct"
Cookies father died when Cooke was
years old. He was adopted by an
uncle and learned the trade of paper
| hanging and decorating He worked
his way through Yale and finally en-
! tered the ministry. Cooke told OF his
marriage and of his unhappy married
| life. He declared that his wife admit
ted to him that she had married him
for no other reason than that it would
prove convenient stepping-stone for
! her social ambitions.
Then | awoke TO love and every
thing else was worthless" he con
tnued. You know the end. On the
one hand was a loveless life with honor
and position and wealth, and on the
other love and poverty. | chose this"
He pointed to the scantily furnished
room. II don't praise myself for the
step | took. 1t was weakness. it was
unmanly; but | am only human and, as
am to be judged by human beings, it
is but right that they should know
that gave up all that had fought for
and won. Now all | ask is to be let
alone. | am doing mans work. l
have sinned. but have suffered
Now | beg the world to let me alone
with my wife and child. | can live the
life of a good citizen. They say am a
good decorator. | was kept at work
long after the other men were let go
during the financial stringency | ask
the world to let me be painter. moth
ing more to do "A mans work and en-
joy the average society and happiness
of the average man"
Cookies neighbors spoke in the high
est terms of the pair. Mrs. 5. NJ. Miles,
who lives in an adjoining apartment.
said that she saw them leave their fiat
early yesterday morning and go out in
the storm. The man had few pieces
of baggage and the girl carried the
baby closely wrapped. All efforts to
find the pair yesterday We're in vain.
Wants to extradte Cooke
New York. Jan. III will immedi.
stely ask for the extradtion of Jere IL.
Cooke, who eloped with Floretta Wha-
ley of Hampstead l.. l., Just as soon as