COOPER HANGED.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2595, 19 June 1923, Page 4

COOPER HANGED.

FULL CONFESSION OF GUILT. Daniel Richard Cooper, who was convicted at the last criminal sessions of the Supreme Court on a charge "of murdering an infant child nf Newlnnds, and was sentenced to death, was executed at Ilie Terrace at 8 o’clock on Saturday. The condemned man met his end calmly. A few minutes before 8 o'clock the small procession to the old tailors’room; where the execution was carried into effect, left fhe condemned cell. The order was as follows: The Sheriff (Mr W. A. Hawkins') and the gaol surgeon (Dr. H. A. TI. Gilmer), the chaplain (Colonel Robert Bray, of the Salvatiom Army), the prisoner, supported by two warders, the executioner, and fhe pooler (Mr -T. C. Scanlon), the chief warder, the visiting Justice of the Peace (Mr Edwin Arnold) and representatives of the Press. The executioner was dispraised by means of a dark beard and moustache, and wore a dark liat all throuprh the proceedings.

Cooper walked firmly to the scaffold. although his responses to the chaplain were made in scarcely more than a whisper. His eyes remained closed practically from the time he left the cell until his head was covered. When asked by the Sheriff if he desired to make any statement, Cooper replied in a faint voice: “All T have said to mv friends (meaning appnrentlv the Salvation Army officers). I have nothing more to say.” The sentence of the Court was then carried into effect. Death was instantaneous. At an inquest held subsequently by the Coroner (MrF. Tv. Hunt, S.M.), the usual finding was returned.

During the last few davs of his life. Cooper had slept fairly well, and his appetite bad been good, better on some days than on others. Last night lie went to sleep at a fairly earlv hour, and slept until early in the morning. His breakfast consisted of a quarter of a plate of porridge, a piece of toast, a piece of bread and butter, and half a cup of tea. He kept very much to himself, and seldom spoke to those who were attending to his needs. On Saturday morning he made no request to see anybody and did not tender thanks to anv of the gaol officials except one warder who had been more elosclv associated with him. Tn his cell were a hymn book, a prayer book, and a religious publication. “Thv Kingdom Come.” During the time he was in the prison he made no request to see his wife.

At 7.30 o’clock, half an hour before he was executed, Cooper made the following statement, confessing his guilt and clearing his wife: — “I Daniel Richard Cooper, desire to sav, as my last statement that I say clearly that my wife is absolutely innocent of the sin of murder, but I admit my guilt, but not to the extent, that I am credited with. I

have been placed in peculiar and (rvin" circumstances, never intending to go as far as I have gone. T now confess my sin and guilt, and leave myself in the bands of God. and feel I have forgiveness through Jesus Christ, my Saviour. “I thank my two friends, Commissioner Hoggard and Colonel Bray, and also the prison officers for their kindness. “I sign this froelv, (Sgd.) D. R, COOPER.” The witnesses to the statement were: Robert Hoggard and James H. Bray, J.P. PUNISHMENT DESERVED. Commissioner Hoggard and Colonel Brav, of the Salvation Army, attended the condemned man since last Tuesday. Up to that time Cooper had been attended by a minister of the Seventh Day Adventists, who, however, bad to leave Wellington last week. Cooper then made a special request to the authorities that Commissioner Hoggard and Colonel Bray should minister to him from that time forward, which they consented to do. Last Saturday, Commissioner Hoggard interviewed Cooper to ascertain if he could do anything with regard to the care of Cooper’s two children, but the condemned man left'that matter to be settled between the Commissioner and bis friends. It is explained that Cooper had-had no previous connection ; with the Salvation Army. In addition to the brief, final statement which he made, Cooper expressed himself more freely to the Salvation Army officers, and acknowledged that- he "deserved the punishment which had been meted out to him, thus removing any doubt as to the justice of the sentence.