The Sun. — 1862-11-03 (London, England)

THE CONVICT COOPER.  TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Sin,—The quality of mercy, what is it ? Is it (for sake of example) our duty to send our fellow-creatures to an ignominious death in cases of murder, irrespectively of extenuating circumstances, or comparative justification through being goaded on to desperation by ingratitude and unfaithfulness; if this be our duty (to society) then Robert Cooper ought to be hung ; if it be our duty to encourage false testimony (as is the evidence of Sarah Barnham), then Robert Cooper ought to be hung; and if it be our duty to encourage the wiles and cunning of a tantalising and profligate woman, then Robert Cooper ought to be hung, but not otherwise. Surely, if ever a poor wretch was goaded on to a desperate act, this was he. The fact of Cooper's having committed bigamy has nothing whatever to do with the case. His first marriage, we are told, occurred 13 years ago, and there is no evidence to show whether he left his wife or she him ; therefore the question ought to be dismissed from our minds altogether now, as we find Cooper married to Anne Jane Barnham, contributing towards her support, and loving her even to folly and injustice to himself. Can it be said that his is not a case for mercy, particularly as we find the abandoned creature (whom he murdered) not only prostituting herself before his eyes, and tantalising him as well, but refusing him all sympathy, love, or consideration. Are not these extenuating circumstances, and ought Robert Cooper in the face of them to be hung ? Was it not rather the duty of the Barnhams to have screened the poor wretch's fault of having married twice. They at least had no cause to complain so long as the first wife did not come forward, at all events as the facts were not found out until after Anne Jane Barnham had had two children by Cooper. She ought to have screened his fault from the world, even if she resented his conduct privately; but the simple fact is, she made this a pretext to justify her in becoming an abandoned prostitute, and her mother has not only encouraged her in her vice, but has come forward and vindictively asserted that Cooper did not contribute anything towards her daughter's support, which is false—palpably false. How, then, should we hope for mercy if this be not a case for mercy, particularly as so tame a defence was made in the prisoner's oba behalf . that of mercy anunfo alonertu irrespectivelyhalf by hisco uonf stehl.eAdroeunhot not of theseth equpeosltticoynrs tegoabrm. edcognsciadpeirteald punishment ? If they are not, then Robert Cooper ought earnestly entreated as sinning.t O inducesto be h himng. tTheto make writer tthis assuresis appeal then eh public All who hiroriatarteedofwthreis muchopinion are sinned against communicate immediately to B. C. J., Post-office, Ruin,. gate, so that an early meeting may be 'called for the purpose of preventing the cruelty and national disgrace of hanging a man who, to some extent, merits our pity. The writer of this letter judges the case entirely by the reports as they appear in the public journals, as he knows nothing of any of the individuals concerned. November 1.