Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-25
JOHN COPE CAUGHT,
ADMITS KILLING
Continued from FAre one
HIS MUsrAcHB sHAvBN OF

NNhNulNNu INotu NhAb WHH
HIS MUsrAC4E sHAvEN OFF.
AS he stepped into the street can
Cope reached into his pocket as II to pay
the fare. II was noticed that since the
shooting, Cope had his mustache shaven
Of. He told detectives he slept well last
night and on the way from City Hall TO
10th and Market streets said he did not
mean to kill the girl.
Several points in the detailed confession
signed by Cope do not dovetan with the
route OF his movements as figured out by
the detectives II was known that the
man left the house where the shooting
occurred without shoes or coat, and evil
dence was found that he hid for num-
Der Of hours in a hen coop until the
searching parties had spread away from
the vicinity
In his confesslonl Cope says he walked
to the street car line after the shooting
and rode to this city. He then continued
to Wilmington, he declares, and spent sew
eral DAYS In that city. The story of the
shooting as given by him also differs In
details from that obtained by the police
from Mrs. Ella Cope, mother OF the slain
girl.
TOOK SHOTGUN DOWN TO CLEAN.
Cope admits he was intoxicated the
night of the shooting. He says he went
to closet and got a shotgun to clean
in readiness for the opening Of the
squirrel season. Florence Cope was In
the room at the time and said nothing
to him, he says. A few minutes later her
mother entered the room and, seeing him
with the weapon, became frightened.
Mrs. Cope rushed at him, the slayer
- ala saNa AI tWa
and the three began a struggle for the
weapon, during which It was discharged.
The shot entered the girls right side and
caused her death In n short time. After
the shooting Cope fed.
PHONE CALL LEADS TO CAPTURE.
The capture of Cope was due to the
vigilance of Detectives Oscar Brown and
william Mahoney. They had every tele-
phone call TO Cope's brothers. reported
to them and learned that John Cope had
telephoned from n number near Columbia
avenue and Franklin street.
Through Samuel B. Friedman, a drug
gtBt at that corner, and negro news
boy. they traced Cope to the North 7th
street room. whore he had been living
under the name of John Smith. Cor
porals Davis and Rhodes. Of Pottstown,
assisted in the capture.
HIS REMARKABLE ESCAPE.
Cope's escape after Staying the girl
was one of the most remarkable in police
records. Coatless and without Shoes the
man walked through a Gordon Of armed
farmers and State troopers, eluded them
for days. and took advantage of the girls
funeral to slip into the home of a brother
and obtain a new outfit of clothing.
BY morning miles of the hills and val
leys Of the surrounding countryside were
being secured by farmers armed with
every style of weapon and by mounted
troopers. Every road leading into the
valley was watched. The timber and
brush on the hillsides were beaten thor
oughly. No trace of Cope was found.
After his exploit In stealing new out
fit OF clothing from a second brother,
Cope again eluded his pursuers He
came to this city and boldly pawned a
fur coat he had stolen. After that he
While at the home of his
brother he left a somewhat incoherent
letter declaring the shooting was an ac-
cident. In this he promised to give him
self up.
When the detectives caught him last
night, Cope was at work on another
letter. This also set forth that he in
tended to give himself up. He told the
police he had made several trips to Will
mington and Chester to mall letters.
A reward of $500 was offered for the
mans capture by the district attorney
of Bucks County and 1t is probable that
this will be shared by his captors.