James Cooper

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Tony Beale on 3rd January 2021

Old Bailey online 1932. WILLIAM MILLER, JAMES COOPER, JAMES DIVINE , and DAVID FLEMING , were indicted for a robbery on Emma Kidd, on the 19th of September, at St. Leonard, Shoreditch, putting her in fear, and feloniously stealing from her person, and against her will, 1 purse, value 6d.; and 2 soverigns; the goods and monies of William Kidd. EMMA KIDD . I am the wife of William Kidd. About half—past ten o'clock in the evening of the 19th of September, I was in the Kingslandmad, going to market—I live in Essex-street, Hoxton—I was going down kingsland-road—I was thrust into a mob near a buteher's shop, where two women were singing—I was going through the crowd, and was thrust into it by the four prisoners—Miller was the first—I tried to get out of the crowd, and was presented by the four prisoners—Miller put his hand into my basker—he found there was nothing there, and put his hand into my pocket—the others thrust him towards me—I tried to get out of the mon, but could but—he got my purse out of my pocket, and threw it down by the side of me—I ws then in the thick of the crowd—I saw Cooper pick my purse up, and run with it towards Shoreditch church—I said, "You villain, you have robbed me," and caugght hold of Miller's hand—he wrenehed his hand away, but I caught hold of his coat, and never let See originalClick to see original go till a policeman took him into custody—this was on Saturday night—on Monday morning I saw Cooper at Worship-street office—he sent for me out of the office, and spoke to me in the street, and said Miller was his brother—I said I was sorry to see a respectable young man like him have such a wicked brother—I had no officer with me, and was rather alarmed, fearing he would strike me—a witness was with me—I told a pliceman he was one of them, and he was taken into eustody—In the office he told me, provided I would not appear before the Magistrate, he would make the money good—I said, "My other property too?" which was three duplicates—he said he would make them right—said I thought the tickets were taken out—he said, "No; I will see to that"—I informed the officer of this conversation—there had been two soverigns and three duplicates in my purse—I know the other two prisoners—they pushed Miller towards me—It was done designedly. EMMA MITCHELL . I was in Kingsland-road on Saturday night, and saw Mrs. Kidd—I was going to market—I saw the four prisoners all together—I saw two of them part—Miller and Cooper came on each side of Mrs. Kidd—I saw Miller put his hand into her pocket and pull out something, but what I could not see—she said, "Oh, you villain, you hare robbed me"—he called her a name I do not wish to mention, and then called her another name—she never left go of him after she got aeross the road—then I saw Miller drop the purse, and Cooper pick it up—he got away—I took so much notice of him as to know again—I saw the other two shove the prosecutrix off the curb—I am sure it was done on purpose—I saw Fleming speak to Miller just before he robbed her—I did not see Divine do any thing—when miller was taken to the sstation-house they followed. Miller. It was a man laid hold of me, twenty yards from the women. Witness. She never let go of the tail of his coat till she crossed the road; and then the policeman took hold of him, he had put the purse in his breast, and undid his coat and said, "Search me," and at the time he said so, he dropped the purse down. Miller. I said, "Search me"—she said, "No, you have given it to one of your comrades"—now she says I dropped it. JOHN SAYER . I am a policeman. About ten o'clock I was coming down the Kingsland-road and saw the four prisoners; Cooper on the right, Miller on the left, and the third one coming down the road, about one hundred yards from where the robbery took place—they were all four in company—In about twenty minutes I saw Miller in custody going to the station-house—on Monday morning I took Fleming into custody at Worship-street, near the office. Cooper Q. What coat had I on? A. Not the one you have on now—he had a white apron on on Saturday night, but not when he was taken. EMMA KIDD re-examined. Cooper was dresses in a different coat on Saturday night, and when he was taken on Monday he had no apron on. JOHN FRENCH . I am a policeman. I was in Kingsland-road, and came up on hearing the alarm—I saw Mrs. Kidd holding Miller—she said he had robbed her of a purse and two sovereigns—I took him to the station-house, and found three duplicates on him—I took him from her hand, she had hold of him—as I was going along, Divine and Fleming follopwed us; and said what was the use of my taking him to the station-house before I searched him—we do not stop in the street to search a prisoner—Divine and Fleming were taken on Monday morning at the office. See originalClick to see original THOMAS ROWLAND . I am a policeman. I took Cooper into custody on Mrs. Mitchell's charge in Hoxton-town—Mrs. Kidd was not with her—It was about five minutes' walk from the office—I took him near the office—Mrs. Kidd told me afterwards what he had said to her—I found 14s. in silver on him, and a duplicate which does not belong to Mrs. Kidd. Miller's Defence. I was going along the road, and a short young gentleman, with a cigar in his mouth, tapped me on the shoulder, and I said, "What do you want with me?"—he took me back nine or ten yards—Mrs. Kidd came running up and said, "That is the man, I can swear to him"—I said, "What is the matter?"—she said I had ropped her of her purse—I said, "Search me," and unbuttoned my coat—she said, "Oh, you have given it at another," and told them to take me to the station-house, and at the station-house Mrs. Mitchell said she saw me give the purse to Cooper—Kidd said she knew nothing about it, but at the office she said she saw me chuck it away. Cooper Defence. I deny being in Kingsland-road that evening—I positively swear I was in a public-house in Bishopsgate-street from half-past seven to eleven—the witness swears I had another coat on—I believe my tailor is here to swear I have worn no other coat for twelve months, and he made it for me—I had no coat ata home, for the policeman went to search my house, he looked at my father's and brother's clothes, but could find sone of mine. Divine's Defence. I was hired by Miller's brother to come to the office to find Mrs. Kidd—he offered me 5s. for my trouble—he gave me 2l. to give her not to appear against his brother—I went and offered it to her—she consented to take it—and then the policeman came and said, "You must go in, your prisoner is going to be tried"—she said "I am going to take the money and not appear"—he said "you must not do that"—they took me—Mrs. Kidd said, "I don't know the young man—I never saw him in my life"—and in the office a witness swore she knew me, and that I had another coat on, and then Mrs. Kidd got up and swore she knew me, which she did not at first. EMMA KIDD re-examined. I never said I did not know Cooper was the man—he said he had come about Miller, who was his brother, I said, "I am very sorry a respectable young man like you should have such a brother"—I looked round for a policeman, but could not see one—my witness said "That is the man, I know him"—I said "I know it, "but I was afraid to say so till I saw a policeman, as I had nobody with me—It was by the side of the public-house. Divine. Mrs. Kidd said at the station-house she knew nothing about us, and we were let go. Fleming's Defence. On Saturday night I was walking along, and saw Miller taken to the station-house—I followed and waited outside the station-house—the policeman called us, and we went in—Mrs. Kidd said she did not know us, and we were discharged; and on Monday taken again, and she said she thought we were the men. (Henry Page, builder, Hornsey-lane, Holloway, gave the prisoner Miller a good character.) MILLER— GUILTY . Aged 15. COOPER— GUILTY . Aged 21. DIVINE— GUILTY . Aged 15. FLEMING— GUILTY . Aged 15. DEATH .

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Gus N Pat Cooper on 4th June 2016

James left a wife and female baby behind in London, Name off wife and baby are unknown at this time. he remarried at Goulburn NSW in 1848, he and his wife Emma Burke (MAIDEN NAME) had 9 children all born at Goulburn. One William Frederick Cooper was my grandfather, one of his sons William Gordon Cooper was my father, He married Irene mabel Ivy Smith at Leeton NSW in 1928