Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-05-08
BODIED BANDIT AND
HUSBAND SENTENCED
To SERVE 10 YEARS

NEW YORK, May 6.-Mrs. Celia
Cooney, bobbed-hair bandit, and her
husband and partner in crime. Ed
ward Cooney, were sentenced today
to serve from 10 to 20 years each
in prison by County Judge Martin,
Of Brooklyn
Mrs. Cooney was sentenced to Au-
burn prison and her husband to Sing
Sing. They had pleaded guilty to
a charge of assault and robbery
The young woman, who was ar
rested in Jacksonville, Fla. with
Cooney, April 81, held her head high
as she walked into the court room
to hear her sentence. Half an hour
before she had told the Jail warden
she hoped Judge Martin would be
lenient and that she and her hus-
band could be sent to the same
prison.
Cooney was 5sullen and watched
his wife closely as the pair stood
before the judge.
Judge Martin addressed his re.
marks to the girl, saying:
I have discussed your case with
you in my chambers and you have
told me about all the jobs you com.
mitted. / have had a commission
investigate the mental condition of
both of you. You were sane and
you are sane now You must be
taught that such acts as you COM
mitted cannot be committed in this
community and go unpublished. j
send you both to prison for from
ten to twenty years. You to Auburn
and your husband to Sing Sing.
Mrs. Cooney bit her lip, stood for
a moment motionless and then turn.
ed slowly to glance at the specta-
tors who filled the little court room.
Then, preceding a, deputy sheriff,
she walked as brtskiy out OF the
chamber as she had entered few
minutes before. Her husband fol-
lowed a few PAGES behind.
Judge Martin. comforting with the
couple in his room before going to
the bench, mad drawn from them
the admission that they had poc.
ticipated in ten Ioldups, The girl
assured him that when she done
her time she Mcu.d "go straight"
Cooney was silent, LLt indicated that
he seconded lis #ife's resolution.
When the judge had left his cham.
beg, Celia scrit k1e0 this note which
she sent TO Judge Martin by an at.
tendant:
ITO those girls who think they
Wo"ie. to see their names in the
paper as mine has been, or think
they would like to do what J. have
done, let me say: Don't try to do it,.
You don't know what you suffer.
While J. smile. my heart is breaking
in me-
More than seventeen holdups,
mostly in chain store groceries, In
Brooklyn, were charged against the
bobbed-hair bandit and the tall male
companion" who proved to be her
husband. Their first job was last
December; their last and biggest was
on April J. when they attempted to
rob a Brooklyn warehouse of the Ma
tional Biscuit company. Nathan MAJ.
zio, the assistant cashier, was shot
by Cooney when he tried TO lift the
veil worn by. the girl.
The couple then hurried to Florida
by boat and were arrested at Jack
sonville a, few days after Mrs.
Cooney had given birth to baby.
The child died. The Cooneys told
detectives they had become robbers
in order to prepare for the baby's
coming. This statement never was
substantiated from other sources
Il deserved what ] got" Celia told
the reporters while she waited for
tire repair on the van that was
to take ner back to Jail ''Eie was
nice judge" she said. 81 expected
the limit sentence and / got it.
was not disappointed. l thought the
judge would give me a lecture but
he didn't
The girls parents, Mr. and Mrs.
Michael Roth. were in court. She