The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1917-01-30
Cook Convicted of Murder OF
the First Degree

! Cook Convicted OF Murder Of
the First Degree
On Tuesday the case against Edward
Cook for murder was resumed
Frank Carly. who was on the stand
when court adjourned Monday. was
cross-examined. He told that Cook
showed him where the gun was when
the body was found. 1t was lying over
the arm of the dead woman.
DR.. c. d. Mendenhall went to view
the body. The first person he saw was
Cook. There was trained nurse there.
Saw Carly outside as he came out, but
did not see Reid. Cook told witness
Mrs. Cook had shot herself, while he
was upstairs writing letter. The doc
tor described the wound. which was the
result Of gunshot. There were shot
in the head. After receiving the wound
it would have been impossible for her
to articulate. Shot were found in the
forehead but none in the skull The
doctor gave Cook good reputation for
peace and good order.
Marie Smith, half sister Of Bertha
Cook. Witness was at Cooks house
the Sunday prior to the shooting. She
saw Cook and his wife. She saw Cook
have gun. He pointed it at the girl
and his wife. The child ran out OF the
room. and when Mrs. Cook remon-
strated with her husband. he took the
cartridge out and put it in his POCKET.
placing the gun in its case. Marie
went to the house after the shooting,
and she saw the defendant, to whom
she said ED, this is all your fault; you
have been threatening her ever since
she was married" Shs had talked to
Detective Parker about the case, and
thought it was on the Thursday after
the shooting, Cook was laughing at
the time he pointed the gun at witness.
Emma Sweeney knew that Mrs.
Cook had left her husband and gone
home to her father. Cook h told
witness he had left his wife who he
claimed was unfaithful, and that he
would never live with her again. This
was in June, and Cook did go back to
live with her.
Louise Johnson, lives across the
street from the Cook house. Had a
passing acquaintance with Cook and
his wife but never SPOKE to them. Had
heard loud talk between the two one
evening. 1t seemed to be quarrel
over furniture and Mrs. Cook appeared
to be crying. The evening was quite
warm, it was after the fourth of July,
and witness was at one OF her windows.
Did not know who abe told of this oc-
curren.e. Had told Mr.. Kelsey about
it on the first day Of the trial. and that
was the first she had mentioned it.
Amos Thorn, city marshal Of Bor-
dentown. He went to the Cook
house after the shooting, and said ut
is too bad, but | must arrest you
Cook The defendant was taken to
city hall. An attempt was made here
to introduce statement made by the
defendant to the officer. Mr.. Palmer
objected on the ground that Cook had
not been warned that what he might
say would be used against him. Judge
Kalisch ruled that the evidence must
not be admitted. II the state rested
entirely on this testimony it would be
different, but there was other evidence
that was more material than what was
being offered here. Thorn was present
at the jail when Cook made state
ment, and the latter was warned that
what he said must be voluntary and
would be used against him. There
was second occasion Of this kind. In
reply to questions by Mr.. Palmer it
was shown that the statements made
by Cook were in response to questions
by Detective Parker.
Coroner Gaslxill asked Cook 'show it
happened. +" He said he did not know
as he was upstairs writing letter. The
gun was in corner back Of the stove.
Cook took the gun and placed it over
the woman's arm and that was where
he found it. Asked if he had quarrels
with his wife that day or other times.
Cook answered in the negative. Gas
kill took letter from bureau drawer.
1t was signed by Cook. and dated
November IS.
Ellis H. Parker visited the Cook
home and took gun case, cunning coat
and cartridges. On the Saturday be-
fore the trial he had fred several shots
for comparison. There were two diff
ferent kinds of shells, and he did not
use any two sorts on the same target.
He claimed there were powder marks
at short range, but none at long dis
lance. He had examined conditions
in the room with reference to the
position Of q person sitting on chair.
but was not allowed to give his opinion
about the direction from which the
shot was fred.
Mary Smith, stepmother Of Bertha
Cook. In june the latter went to her
fathers home. She was there week
and her husband never called on her.
Witness could not tell of anything she
had seen as to the relations between
the couple.
Harry Smith, father OF the deceased,
never visited his daughter after sha
| was married. His daughter was OF q
happy disposition before her marriage.
Afterwards she would have fits of de-
preston. She was at her home the
night before she was shot.
Mr.. Davis offered three statements
made by Cook, and Mr.. Palmer ad.
mitted they were voluntary.
For the defence Mr.. Palmer said he
would show that Cook had been out oil
work for some time and while he was
unemployed she went TO the home Of
her father, at Fieldsboro. He got work
and wrote to her, asking her to return,
which she did. On the day In question
Cook was out OF the house until noon
He went upstairs to write letter. His
wife called him to come down and
move certain articles. He finished
the letter and addressed the envelope
The gun and some shoes were back Of