Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-04-22
BOBBED-H HAIR BANDIT
HELD WITH HUSBAND
CONF SSES HOLD-UP
Bobbed Hair HoId-up Wom-
an Caught by Gotham Of
ficers in Jacksonville,
Baby's Death Gave Clue

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. April 81
Preparing to return to New York
this afternoon, in custody of two
New York detectives, are two of the
most notorious bandits ever to OPP
crate in the United States, according
to arresting officers. Edward
Cooney, %, and his wife, Celia
Cooney, 20, the beautiful brunette
bobbed hair holdup woman who has
terrified New York with Is Jobs
during the last year, was captured
in Jacksonville early this morning
and at 10 O'Clock had confessed to
the ma jority of the charges flee
against the pair, and his wife freely
talked of the most recent affair, the
robbery of the National Biscuit com
pany's plant in Brooklyn, in which
one man was seriously injured. The
couple waived all extradition papers
and told the detectives that they
would be glad to return to New York
and were ready to stand trial.
Detectives left at 1901 over the
Atlantic Coast Line with the two
prisoners for New York. They ex
pece to arrive there Wednesday
morning.
Man Shields Wife
In his alleged confession, accord
ing to Detective Gray, Cooney did
all In his power to SHE his wife
from blame. He said his wife did
NOT shoot Nathan Mazzo, cashier of
thea National Biscuit company, dur
ing the attempted holdRlp, but he
was the one who fired the shots.
Mrs. Cooney admitted she was In
the "bunch" during the attempted
robbery. The cashier is in serious
condition and additional charges OF
assault to murder may be instituted
against Cooney.
New York detectives had Travelled
through 13 states before the final
capture here Monday morning. The
Cooneys were traced in some OF
the most up-to-date and expensive
,yot els in the country and that is
the reason Cooney wired his mother
for money with which to pay the
hospital bill, Detective Gray said
They were without funds when cap
tured, it is said.
According to the detective, the girl
admitted her identity and declared
she was the person who shot ano
seriously wounded Nathan Mezzio'
an en- ploye of the National Biscuit
companys OFFICES in Pacific street
Brooklyn on April l, during hold
up by a young woman and a male
companion.
1T was all through me that my
dear Ed went wrong" the detective
quoted her as saying, MY husband
did not do any shooting"
the young woman refused TO tell
of her parentage beyond saying she
was born 20 years ago on the East
Side of Manhattan. AS Cecile Cheri-
son. she said She worked in various
laundries in Brooklyn. She also used
the name of Cecil Roth. She was mar
ried in May, 1922, in Brooklyn, she
{ declared.
The couple were arrested about l
o'clock this morning by Jackson
VILE police, city detectives and two
New York officers in their boarding
rooms at 915 East Monroe street. Ac'
eording to police, the couple had been
IN Jacksonville about three weeks.
Working on a Zip, said TO have
been gain >d through either a tele
graph of3ce or the mails. when
Cooney is said to have communicated
with his mother in New York, ask
ing for funds with which to pay hos
pitaI billy in this city, the police and
detectives entered the boarding house
early tina morning and Lieutenant
H. c. Brown knocked on the door
Heading to the rooms in which the
two were staying. The arrest fol
lowed.
The officers, T. S. Gray and Viii
liam G, Casey, said they were con
fronted by an automatic pistol IL
tho hands of the woman and two re
volvers held by the man, when they
broke down the door.
Don't Shoot and l Won't
Detective Casey said the girl cried
Don't shoot and l won't" when the
door of the rooming house crashed
In. The girls hair, which had beer
blonde, the officers said, had beer
dyed. She is a brunette.
The girl. according to the police
told them that her husband haC
wanted TO shoot her and commit
suicide when the officers were gain
ing entrance. She told the detectives
that she told her husband mot Il
shoot unless they fired at u.s." She
smiled. officers SAID, as she handed
over her pistol.
Mrs. Cooney, according To police
gave birth to a child here on Apri
IL. De<sctive Casey said he and Gray
were s<c1t here from New York or
informesion that the couple had flee
to Jacksonville, They arrived last
night. Cooney. Detective Casey said
asserted that he was responsible fo'
the shooting of MeZzia. and that his
wife did not fire the shots. The chile
died local authorities said, last Sat
urday. City Detective w. Z. Wether
inston was assigred to assist th'
New York officers.
Traced by Baby's Death
Trace of the alleged bandits, New
York Officers said wac obtaipet