THE COOPER CASE.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 May 1923, Page 3

THE COOPER CASE.

YESTERDAY'S PROCEEDINGS

[by TELEGRAITI —I'ER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, May 17. After lunch Mr Macnssey read to Lupi a statement made ny Cooper to the police to the effoet that Lupi arranged to take Miss Lister’s child away from Xcwlands, and also Cooper’s description of how those arrangements rvero carried out on the 23rd. November. I.upi’s reply was: “It is a lie right through; it is a nightmare he (Cooper) had while in the lock-up.” Witness declared lie had never at any time seen the hahv. On tho 23rd of November. 1922. he was working on the root of a residence at Island Bay. and was not at Newlands. Salve Greco and Vincent Bnnrflo corroborated this statement. Minnie King gave evidence as to the birth of her child, and said it was strong and healthy. At the police station Cooper had said that she had made arrangements for the adoption of Lister’s child. Stic retorted that Cooper made the arrangements. Cooper guaranteed her a payment of £B, hut she could get only four or five pounds from him. FJTie Adams deposed to going to Johnsonville with the Coopers and Miss Lister. She handed her sister’s baby over to All's Cooper and then returned to Wellington. That was the last she saw of the child. Drs. Hector and Sowth, Ethel Tucker, and Sergeant Dinnie gave formal evidence, and the Court was then adjourned until 10 o’clock to-morrow morning. TO-DAY’S EVIDENCE. WELLINGTON. May 18 At the Cooper trial this morning, Acting Detective McLennan deposed tliat when Cooper was asked regarding the birth of Miss Lister’s child, he denied all knowledge of if. He denied liaving paid Atrs King any money in connection with the birth of the child. When asked why lie made, out the receipt in reference to Aliss Lister lie refused to give an answer. Subsequently he admitted having taken Aliss Lister to his place at Newlands, but said that Airs King had made all arrangements for the birth and the adoption of Aliss Lister’s child. AYhcn Afrs Cooper was questioned about .Miss Lister’s child she asked where- her husband was and when told lie was detained at the police station she replied: “T have nothing to say.” Again when questioned at ihe police station, her reply was: ‘1 have nothing to say.” Tailor when faced with tho statements by Lister and Airs King directly connecting her with Lister’s child she consented to make a statement in which she said that she had handed Lister’s chil l over to some lady whom she did not know, lint who rvns sitting in a motor ear near the Johnsonville Railway station, but she could not say in wlmt direction the car drove awa... Next day tho accused offered to make a statement which she subsequently did. In that statement she said the man tu whom she handed Taster’s child was Hugo Lupi. This statement Lupi afterwards hot!v denied. \\ lion charged with •the offence of milhwfully detaining the Lupi-I.ister child neither of the accused made any reply. Both took up the same negative attitude when served with a forma] demand to pi oduee the child. To Mr Treadwell : AYhcn interviewing Cooper he was net confused as between Afartin Street and AFat tin Square. He made it quite clear to Cooper tliat he referred to 1!) Alartin Street and not any (date in Alartin

.Square. To Air AYilford : ITe 1 elieved Cooper had convinced McLeod. Lister and Beadle that their children had been adopted. He could not say whether Airs Cooper was equally convinced. He had not noticed any dili'orenee in Atrs Cooper's manner at the interviews before the bodies were found hut after at tho interviews she seemed uncertain what to say, hut gave intelligent answers to tho questions. He made no effort to “wring” the statement from her.

Detective AlcLennan’s cress examination continued. All ho wanted her to do was to say wliat she knew of Listci s child. Ho now knew that Mrs Cooper wished to withdraw the statement she. made to him, on the ground, that it was inaccurate.

To Mr Macnssey: At all interviews Airs Cooper seemed cool and collected, carefully considering every answer she

gave to every question. ” Acting Detective Harold said that while the police were making inquiries Cooper was left in bis charge and in reply to a question by witness Cooper said someone in Palmerston North had adopted Lister’s child, but. he was pledged not to disclose the name of the person who adopted it. He said that if .let out be could produce the child. He asked witness to take care of a. bundle of correspondence and hand it to liis solicitor as without this correspondence the police could not do much with him. He also asked witness to get into touch with AL's Tuckei and ask her to see Mrs King and tell her not to say anything to the police. To Air Treadwell : Witness did not tcdl Cooper he was a. detective and Cooper evidently did not suspect it. Witness was then acting in the capacity of clerk inspector. Detective MoTlveney deposed that when he asked Cooper to say what became of Lister’s child Cooper refused to do so. Witness told Cooper bo was not charged with any offence and if lie acted honestly by the child lie wonkl have nothing to fear. Cooper made no reply. He denied knowledge cl tho girl who took Lister’s child Irom Airs King’s. He -said lie did not know her and eouhl not describe her. He subsequently asked, Cooper what correspondence he had with him. Cooper denied having any. AV it ness then received from Detective Harold a bundle of correspondence given to him by Cooper whereupon ('coper expressed regret that he had not acknowledged having it. After reading the correspondence .witness again asked Cooper what had become of Lister's child. He then put tho whole responsibility on Airs King. Airs King, subsequently, in Cooper’s presence, denied the allegations lie made, wheienpon Coopoi called her a liar. Airs Copocr, when questioned refused to say anything. In a subsequent interview Cooper persisted that Airs King was the only person who knew the whereabouts of the child.

To Afr Wilford —Afrs Cooper instead of saying, ”1 have nothing to say,” had made a reasonable explanation oi her connection with the Listei fll c ■ He said he would have an investigation of it, and if the investigation proved favourable to lier lie would not have detained her. The last thing he wanted to do was to lay information against ' K Detective Nutt all corroborated the evidence of the two previous witnesses as to the interview with the Coopeis. To .Mr AYilford —There was nothing in the nature of a “bombardment” of Airs Cooper with questions. She made the statement which may have been made for the purpose of helping to extricate her husband from Ins difficulty. Next morning she asked to withdraw the statement. Acting Detective Harold deposed that Cooper told him he had not given Lister’s child to Lnpi, but to a man who was to give it to n maroec? couple

whom lie could not name. When witness offered to find the child if only Cooper would give him the neeessarj information. Cooper made no reply. Senior Detective Lewis corroborated the evidence of the previous police witness*. regarding the- interview with Coopers. , . . Tim Court then adjourned for lunch.