The Detroit times., 1911-12-16
GETS SIXTY REPLIES TO
ADVERTISEMENT FOR Wife
Married Man Deserts Family,
Leaving Behind Much Matri-
monial Correspondence.

Following the receipt OF some 20
odd letters from matrimonially IN
clined young women from various
parts OF the United States, who an
swered his advertisement lin The
Correspondent" a matrimonial paper,
Bert f. Cooley. 81 years old, left his
home at No 449 Dequindre-st., four
weeks ago and has not since been
heard from.
His wife, who is only "a years old,
and has three children, the eldest
seven years OF age, was naturally
somewhat surprised at finding the
matrimonial correspondence. Incl
dentally, Cooley. who advertised him
self as bachelor, with social and
loving disposition, and willing TO make
good home for some young wom-
an left his wife and little ones des-
titute Timely aid from the poor CON-
mission saved them from eviction
from their humble home Saturday.
Standing in the midst OF the pow
erty and wretchedness of the Cooley
home listening TO the fretful cries
of Mrs. Cooley's half.csothed and
halfstarved babes, one reads the let
ters sent by these women to her hus-
band with feeling of disgust.
"All classes. from the lonely widow
to the pretty little stenographer; from
the fippant and saucy maid OF 22,
who writes that she lis willing TO
take a chance" to the spinster OF 30,
who trusts that Cooley will be gen.
tleman enough TO return her letter
IL he does not care TO correspond fur
ther with her"-all these are repre-
sented In the answers Cooley received
TO his matrimonial advertisement. Pho
tographs, many OF them showing good
looking women were frequently in
closed in the letters One writes that
she had a little bank account though
she is working out" but expects to
inherit quite sum OF money soon.
Another says she is a brown-eyed
stenographer in a prominent law Of
fee in Harrisburg, Pa, a member OF
a prominent family. 22 years old, and
willing to take chance with a man
with a social and loving disposition
like Bert's. A Defiance. o.. widow,
freshly. refers TO supposition that
her unknown correspondent is strictly
honorable in all his dealings with her.
A young girl in Cincinnati says she
was captivated by Bert's description,
and wants him to please take her as
the lucky candidate.
Mrs. Cooley says that she is Cooleys
second wife; that the Hrst wife is
still living in Michigan, and she is
now inclined to doubt Cooley's state
ment that he was divorced from her.
But at the time OF her marriage.
Mrs. Cooley was only Is years old, and
took Cooley's word for everything. His
grandparents, and Mrs. Cooley's faith
er were neighbors in q little farming
in Allegan county. Her
folks were poor, so she worked for
Cooley's grandparents. in return for
a home and her schooling The match
was arranged by Cooley's grandpar-
ents. Cooley came here about year
ago. and found work driving street
flusher for Garner Bros. He sent for
his family six months ago. but it was
while he was rooming alone. on Gra-
tiot-ave., that he inserted the adver-
tisement. Many of his letters were
sent to the Gratiot-ave. address, but
many more came TO the Dequindre-st.
home. The wife paid no attention 10
the letters. Her sense of justice is
shown by the fact that several letters
which have come since Cooley left. are
still unopened. She would have known
about the advertisement, ex-
cept for the fact that Cooley came
home drunk, shortly before his de-
departure. and started packing up his
He told his wife that he had no use
for a woman who insisted on raising
and that he was going to
leave her While he was busily en-
gagged in packing his effects. the liquor
overcame him, and he fell asleep leav-
ing the letters, opened, where his wife
soon found them.
He gave up that attempt to get
away. but when he did leave, she told
him she would use the letters to bring
him back. He cursed her for hiding
the letters, and left.
She says his right name is Bradford
L. Cooley. but that he has been known
as Bert all his life.