Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-12-29
COOLEY REFUSES TO
DISCUSS HIS CASE
Man Arrested for Murder of Van Pelt
in 1898 Arrives in Custody of sher-
iff at Roseburg.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY BARS
ATTORNEY FROM INTERVIEW
Admitted Cooley viii Be Represented
by Some of Ablest Lawyers of Ore
gon and California.
UNITED PRESS LEASED wrRn.1

Roseburg, Ore, Dec. 29.-Calm, delib.
crate, and refusing to discuss his ar.
rest, Riley Cooley, charged with the
murder of Thomas Van Pelt in the iso.
lated Chetco valley, in Curry county,
IA years ago, arrived here early yester.
day from San Francisco in custody of
Stephen Doyle, the Spokane detective.
Cooley will be held in the city Jail
until Tuesday or Wednesday, when he
will be taken to Curry county.
District Attorney Brown, who will
have charge of Cooley's prosecution,
reached the Jail soon after the pris-
oner's arrival and cautioned the off.
GERS against admitting interviewers. So
strictly did the officers enforce the Or
ders of the district attorney that Meth.
er Attorney W. W. Cardwell, of Rose.
burg, or the nonresident attorneys re-
tanned by the defense were allowed to
converse with the prisoner
Lawyers Barred.
A close watch was maintained at the
Jail all day and night.
Attorney Cardwell, who made repeat.
ed efforts to interview the prisoner
yesterday, announced that he would to.
day ask Circuit Judge Hamilton for an
order admitting him to an interview
with Cooley.
The district attorney says Judge
Hamilton is without jurisdiction in the
case, as the prisoner is in charge of a
state agent, and has not yet reached
his destination.
Persons closely identified with
Cooley's prosecution say the state has
a strong case. It is said that the state
has startling evidence, indicating that
Cooley was employed by more well.
known persons of the Northwest to
commit the crime.
Tt is believed here that the district
attorney will make an effort to induce
Cooley to turn state's evidence and
thereby furnish the facts upon which
to base an action against the prominent
men alleged to be involved in the mur.
der.
High-Priced Attorneys to Defend.
1t is admitted here that Cooley will
be represented in court by some Of the
most able attorneys in California and
Oregon. One or moro of these attor.
neys, it is claimed, were employed by
persons other than Cooley,
William Cooley brother of the prs-
oner, and Edward Marsters, ex.sheriff
of Curry county, arrived here yesterday
and employed Attorney Cardwell to act
for the defense.
While refusing to discuss the case
at any length today, Attorney Cardwell
admitted that the defense would ask
for a preliminary hearing as soon as the
prisoner arrived at Gold Beach, Curry
county.
According to Curry county citizens
here today, sentiment is divided in that
locality, and there is some doubt as to
whether an indictment can be obtained
against the prisoner.
Will Remain Silent.
Cooley, who employed attorneys in
San Francisco, with a view Of institut.
ing habeas corpus proceedings, refused
to talk today He said he had been so
instructed by the California attorneys,
and would remain silent until the trial.
Cooley is about 4s years old and is
well dressed.
The district attorney interviewed the
prisoner briefly today, but refused to
discuss the status Of the case. The
chief development expected in the ease
by the prosecution is a complete con.
fession on the part Of Cooley and in.
volving the higher ups who are alleged
to have knowledge Of the crime.
Judge Childs, Of Crescent City prob.
ably will figure prominently in the de.
rnuga 90 tba ,v,,aua-