Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-06-12
CONVICTED MAN
FOILS HANCMAN
BY FATAL LEAP

Continued from Page one.)
prise. The man had appeared in
capable of gathering his scattered
strength together for such start
ling effort. The officers were Civ
en- no intimation that he would
take such a chance, although haV-
ing taken extra precautionary
measures to insure his safe return
to the cell. AS Cook stepped
through tho doorway leading TO
the stairs, he made a quick step
ana jumped, crouched like a rabbit,
hands stretched forward to break
the glass. Deputy Hanna esti-
mates that he leaped about six feet
through the room space.
Mrs. Bessie Kite, sister Of the
dead man, was wired last night and
it is thought she will arrive in Rock
Island some time this afternoon to
take charge of the remains. Her
home is in Flora, Ind.
Wife ard Children.
Cook had a wife and three chill
dren whom he deserted four years
ago, according to a letter which
States Attorney Z. l.. Eagle receiy-
ed from her.
At the present time Mrs. Cook re-
sides in Persia, Tenn, on farm.
The children are Willie, age IL,
Percie, a girl, age II, and Grover,
age o. In her letter dated May 70,
she says Cook deserted the family
four years ago while they were liv-
ing in Delphi, Ind He told Mrs.
Cook he was going to work, having
been employed on farm. but living
in the city, and that was the last
they heard of his whereabouts until
applised by Mr.. Eagle of the crime.
Il am sorry for him." she wrote,
''but it is no fault of mine. The
children have often inquired about
him. but can't do anything for him
low. Please let me know what is to
DC done to him.
1t was signed by "Sissie Cook"
Denied He Was Married.
When on the witness stand in his
, own defense. Cook denied he was
married at the present time, though
admitting he had once been. He
maintained, however, that he had
never had any children.
Cook said he came from Ten
nessee, could not spell the name of
the town he came from, could
neither read nor write. He said he
had been taught to write his name.
He had been in Rock Island year
or mole.
Although he was on trial only for
the murder of Cecil Nesbit, he was
under indictment also for the muir
der of Mrs. Ida Woods, proprietor
of the restaurant in which the
shooting took place, 2202 Third
avenue, Rock Island.
Clear-cut Evidence.
The evidence was Clear-cut, and
did not go into the ramifcations of
the reports current in connection
with the case. The prosecution
proved by testimony of direct char
ac,er that Cook held the gun that
killed the man and woman. The de-
tense made no attempt to evade
that issue, but sought to prove that
he was insane by reason of liquor,
or a concoction of liquor and some
thing else he had taken, from a
bottle procured in the Woods res
taurant about the evening of the
shooting. or about three hours be-
fore the tragedy.
testified that his mind was a blank
from about $50 or 7 until he was
arraigned in police court the fol-
lowing morning. In rebuttal wit
nesses were brought who said they
considered Cook sane.
Although there was testimony as
to more or less frequent visits of
Cook to the Woods restaurant, il
did not go to the point of affirming
CT denying the current reports of
attentions to Mrs. Woods and jeal-
ousy said to have resulted.
Cook testified that he had never
seen Nesbit to know him.
Story OF Crime.
The crime for which Cook was
sentenced to pay with his own life
on the gallows was committed on
the night of April 81, at 1902 Third
avenue, a restaurant owned and
operated by Mrs. Ida Woods, one
of his victims in the double muir
der. Cook entered the place about
s O'Clock in the evening. Cecil Mes
bit, the other victim being in the
restaurant at the time engaged in
conversation with Mrs Woods
Jealousy is believed to have been
the motive which prompted the
man to fire on the couple Nesbit
staggered to the street and fell,
where he expired Mrs. Woods died
the following morning at st. Anth-
ony's hospital.
Cook fastened from the scene of