The Pontypridd District Herald and Rhondda Valley, Llantrisant, Caerphilly, and Mountain Ash News. — 1892-10-01 (Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

THE ISLE OF MAN TRAGEDY.  Geor6e 13%rker James Cooper was brought before Deernster Drinkwater and a jury at Douglas on Tuesday, charged with having, on the 27th of August, murdered his wife at the Regent Hotel, Douglas. As Manx law differs from that in force in England, it may be of interest to state that the object of the inquiry was to enable the jury to find an indictment on which the prisoner is to be tried at the gaol delivery, provided they be of opinion that he ought to be so tried. The jury becomes necessary in this way : The prisoner has been committed on a charge of felony, and the jury heard evidence to decide whether he shall ultimately be tried for murder or for manslaughter. As a mat ter of fact the Attorney General prepares beforehand alternately indictments so as t avoid delay when the jury give their verdict. In such cases as the present the jury decides not only whether or no a prisoner shall be tried, hut also determines what form the charge against him shall take. —Counsel for the prosecution having opened, and evidence as to a quarrel between the pair been given, John Champion Bradshaw' a Douglas photographer, was examined, He said he had known Mr. and Mrs. Cooper for a long time. Just before his last visit to the island, Mr. Cooper wrote and informed the witness he was coming and asked him to meet him. The witness failed to do as asked, but called on Mr. Cooper at his house in Finch road next morning, and they drove together to Dumbell's Bank, where they transacted some business. Mr. Cooper paid him for two portraits he had painted, one of the accused and the other of Mrs. Cooper. After leaving the bank they drove to the Regent Hotel, where the accused asked him to have a glass of champagne. While the witness went into the smoking room, Cooper went upstairs atid he saw him no more till he was in custody. On that morning accused did not appear sober, but transacted his business all right. Cooper was an excitable man, but on all occasions on which the witness had seen him with his wife, they appeared to be on the most friendly terms; the conduct of the accused was that of a man who had deep affection for his wife. The witness considered, however, that little things on Mrs. Cooper's part were calculated to aggravate an excitable man like her husband, so much so that he took the rather extreme step of speaking to her about it. The excitable character of Cooper's temperament was heightened by drinking. When he (the witness) spoke of aggravation on the part of Mrs. Cooper, he referred to various trivialities, such as refusing to comply with requests and giving querulous answers to ordinary questions.— Miss Keeling, bookkeeper at the Regeat Hotel, and Sarah Ann Jones, the manageress, having given evidence, Matilda Yeomen, a barmaid at the Regent Hotel, said she was acquainted with the Coopers, and met them as they came into the hotel on the Friday. She said "Good evening," and mired Mrs. Cooper how she was. She said "Not very well." She looked as if she had had a rough passage, but she was perfectly sober. She went upstairs, and witness did not see her again. Afterwards, in the evening, she was speaking to Mr. Cooper on the first floor outside the dining-room door. The witnesa asked him what he was doing with Mrs. Cooper, as she looked very ill. He replied that he had given her a good horsewhipping the night before. The witness told him she was disgusted with him, and asked him why he did not leave her instead of remaining and ill-treating her. He said, "Oh, I won't do that. I'll pay the little devil out." He also said he had had an awful time with her, and said she had been "boozing" all the time since their last visit. That was all the conversation, and after having a glass of sherry the witness did not see hire again that night. Next morning she saw him go into the smoke-room with Mr. Bradshaw. —Evidence was thereafter taken with regard to the demeanour of the couple on thc steamer, and the inquiry WAS adjourned.