New-York tribune., 1912-04-03
ADMITS H0LD-UP A FAKE
Cooper'S Wild Tale of Highway
men Meant to Hide $500 Loss.
POLICE RIDDLE HIS STORY
Employer Blames Much Family
Illness for Mans Nervous
Breakdown.

Breaking down when confronted with the
glaring Inconsistencies Of his highway
robbery story. Robert H. Cooper the en-
ploys OF the United Produce Company who
claimed he had been robbed OF $3.50 at
Fifth avenue and 65th street. Brooklyn. on
Monday. confessed to the police yesterday
that his remarkable story of a daylight
hold-up was faxed for the purpose Of
providing him with an excuse for having
lost $500
His first story TO the police was that he
had been attacked by two thugs. who
bound him. gagged him and then threw
him into a cut at s5th street and Fifth ave-
nue.. Brooklyn. after having taken from
him $500 in cash, which he said he had in
his pocket
Captain Coughlin. Of the Brooklyn De-
tective Bureau, with two detectives, went
to Cooper's home about o'clock yesterday
morning TO question him and get at the
truth of the matter Cooper broke down
then, and within a half hour the detectives
reported back to Brooklyn Police Head
quarters, with the following signed con-
fession from him
l. Robert n. Cooper, thirty-three years.
or NO. SO Decatur street make the follow
ing voluntary statement, for which no
promises have been made, that the state
ment that | was bound and gagged and
I.3c stolen from me is false The true
statement is as follows: | did not have
81, ,00. ] had somewhere around $500. which
had discovered had lost from my pocket
In some unknown manner between leaving
the ONCE al 4Ith street and Second ave-
nue.. Brooklyn, and the Bridge street ele
vated station, TO which l went on a Fifth
al fl1 ira in az hart IN,
discovering my loss | went TO New York
70 see Mr.. Shuts. ! rode TO 42d street,
got off at Broadway and 42d street where
STAYED around for while. and then went
10 Central Park. / stayed there for
while. walking around. and returned 70
Brooklyn about 7 o'clock. I went TO the
place where I was found, took a small
pocket knife which I had in my pocket
and made cut through the breast pocket
Of my undercoat, perforating a small book
which was in the pocket | then stuck
hole through my vest pocket, but did nor
around my mouth, making gag, and tied
another across my eyes. making oandage.
After that tied my hands behind my back.
The rope used was one found az the 18th
street elevated station when ! went there
10 take the train. The handkerchief and
knife used we're my own. am not ac-
nuainted with the neighborhood where /
Was found The Impulse to tell the first
story came 10 me suddenly, and | can only
explain II hy saying that n was the re,
suit OF my recent nervous breakdoWn ana
the shock caused BY the discovery OF the
loss OF the n1oneY. with my fear Of facing
Mr. Shuts. which J lad intended to DO
on my trip 10 New York.
Cooper told the police that his accounts
would not be found short, except for the
100 he mentioned. He is bookkeeper and
collecting agent for the company.
Fellow employees Of Cooper in the United
Produce Company were surprised when
thev learned that he had faxed the
thrilling hold-up and robbery. D. W.
schults, president Of the concern, said that
he always regarded Cooper as entirely
trustworthy.
He is suffering from nervous prostration