The Chicago whip. (Chicago, Ill.) 1919-19??, 1921-09-24
'SEWERRAT' KING
Of CROOKS, SLAIN
BY POLICE

CT. ueSpefauO anu totdptu NohN ~
boosted that he never would be take
alive-and he wasn't. He died undo
a house at 3oS West Fair street about
o'clock Friday morning from eight bu
let wounds inflicted by policemen, VIII
had stalkc6 him next door.
Known to detectives as 1.-The Sewe
Rat. E" Cooper was wanted for NOR
than 90 burglaries and holdups. Dete'
tive Chief Lamar Poole said his deaf
would be followed quickly by the cal
turo of "Big Boy" Thomas, his part
mer. and that much of the more care
fully planned theft would cease.
Ten policemen sent "Thc Rat
his death. He was surprised in an al
tomobile in an alley back of BOG Yves
Fir street, where, word had come t
policemen about clock, he had estat
iished his lair. Patrolmen Howell
Smith and Wiley, deploying in the a
lev to cut off escape from the hous
while others searched the front, dis
covered tThe Rat asleep in the cal
his pistol in his hand.
"There S our nan," said Wiley, ant
the low whisper awakened him.
BATTLES TO END.
Hewell grabbed his shirt collar, bu
the agile Graft Owed head forward
In tbe Ground. Shooting as he went
be sidled to n fence and vaulted owe
into the ward where seven other police
men were guarding the house. TIL,
trio in the alley followed. shooting, anC
the seven hurried over.
At least five of the wounds Later
found on him must have resulted from
the hail of bullets sent at him from
three directions, but "The Rat hur
rying sidewise and firing rapidly, got to
the edge of the house next door, No
sos, and erawled beneath it. On the
other side was an alley. McWilliams
familiar with the ground, rushed around
aud met him as he attempted to crawl
out.
.sThe Rat" had one shot left. He
pushed forward his revolver to fire, but
McWilliams. a crack marksman, beat
him, shooting three times. One of the
bullets striking the man between the
ewes, caused instant death.
q He was Atlanta S worst criminal, -
Chief Poole said later. "For months
we have been trailing him, have been
right in behind him. He has had mir.
iculous escapes, and he boosted he
would never be arrested. -
EARNS HIS NAME.
!. "The Rat earned his name by evad-
ing Patrolman John Wood and six
others seeking to rearrest him. Sur
rounded in house, he shot his way
through and dived into a sewer. Later
it was told in '"Darktown that he
had spent three DAYS and nights in the
sewer.
After months of search, he was can
tured last March by Detective Paul V.
West, now under suspension, as he rode
over the Washington viaduct in an
Known as Hkiller, -
ssThe Rat drew an automatic pistol
and pushed it into the face of West
'Rhe detective, with quick gesture,
knocked it aside and struck "The Rat
in the head with his own revolver, rem
dcring him unconscious.
Within two weeks he was under sen.
tence of fifteen years for burglary. As
he was being taken to the Douglas
County chain gang he sent word that he
wouldn't spend a month in the stir. -
In April he escaped and returned to
Atlanta. Soon afterward the we'll
planned type of crime, peculiarly his
began anew, and detectives
to end his career. The
bunko probe, then in progress, ham
pcred the chase for time, recurring
the presence of the higher detective of
fcials at its sessions.
Four watches, several loellets and
Dther jewery were found in FeThe
Rat s" pockets when he was taken to
an undertaking establishment in Pc
ters street. Other iewelry which wo.
men were attempting to DISPOSE of also
was recovered when Detectives Camp.
bell aud Sturdivant went to the West
Fair street address about $3.50 O clock
Friday morning.
JEWELRY Is RECOVERED.
Two wrist watches and rubv ring
recovered, were identified as the pro1.
srty of Miss Rose Bloom. 21O Washing.
ION street, which were stolen the night
Of Sept. 9. A nickel.plated. pearl-han.
lied pistol, armed with which 0Thc
Ratn made his last stand. was idenfi.
icd as the property Of J. l. DeGive. G65
West Pcachtree.
A gold EIgin watch. reeovered was