The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-12-28
COOLEY IS SLAIN
in BOLD HOLDUP
Tragedy Occurred Near Heart
of City Last Night as Vic
tim Was Going Home.

George Cooley was fatally shot by
robbers in the heart of the business
district early last night and died three
hours later at the Pensacola hospital
where he was taken Immediately fol-
lowing the shooting. The shooting
took place on Romana-st.. about two
blocks west of Palafox opposite the
Pou undertaking establishment at
about 1890
Mr.. Cooley was on his way home, at
20 S. Spring-st. when he was stopped
by two men, one Of them springing on
him from the rear as he passed a
brick building on Romano and the
other coming around in front of him.
The man who came up from the rear
held Mr. Cooley and the man in front
at the point of a pistol demanded
money according to statement of Mr..
Cooley. He made a grab for the gsln
when he was shot, the bullet going
in his stomach and taking DOWN
ward course.
Following the shooting the two men
ran down Romana-st. and made their
getaway, leaving very indefinite clues
as to identity. Cooley fell to the
ground and his cries for help attract
ed people on Palafox and vicinity
who rushed to his aid. An ambulance
was called and he was taken to the
hospital, dying there three hours later.
Mr.. Cooley had been running a res
taurant at IA E. Government-st. re-
Gently. and before that had been a
cook for VIM. Camp. He was well
known in Pensacola and had been liv-
ing here for several years. He is sur
vived by his widow. So far as is
known he had no enemies in the city.
After assistance arrived Mr.. Cooley
gave what information he could to the
police which is all they have now.
After he was taken to the hospital
he gave what other information he
could TO the police. This was very lit
tie and he could give no motive other
than holdup. He did not know either
of the two men and his description
was vague. He had never seen the
man before, he said, that he knew of
and could remember very little of
their personal appearance. He was
attended by DIR. Mobiles after the shoot
ing.
Two men entered the home of Mrs.
Minnie Marhenkle at 141 w. Intenden
cia-st. about an hour before the shoot
ing and robbed her of about ST. When
Mrs Marhenkle opened the door in re-
sponse to knock the men demanded
\ Upon her refusal she was
knocked down., the men entering the /,
house and finding about 81. The two
men were i'm uniform.
Shortly before the shooting two men I
in uniform were seen standing at the
corner near Pou's establishment on
These two men had on
uniforms, one of them had on a long |
coat and one a short coat, and other |
wise answered the description that |
Mrs. Marhenkle gave to the police as
the same as the two men who enter |!
ed her home. Cooley gave a descrip- !
ton of the two men, one of them be- /
ing small and the other tall. The negro !.
attendant at Pou's also said that after |
the shoting he saw two men running
west on Romana-st., one of them was |
small and the other one was tall, but
he was uncertain as to whether or |
not they were in uniform as the men |
had passed into darkness before he |
could get a description of the two men
,r what they were wearing. /