COOPER EXECUTED

Otago Witness, Issue 3614, 19 June 1923, Page 51

COOPER EXECUTED

FACES DEATH BRAVELY

A CONFESSION OF GUILT

WELLINGTON, June 16. Daniel Richard Cootier, who was convicted at, the last criminal sessions of murdering an infant at Newlands, was hanged in the Terrace Gaol at 8 o clock this morning. He went to his death unflinchingly, liis only statement on the scaffold was: Any tiling I have said I have said to my friends (meaning the Salvation Army authorities). I don’t wish to say am; mere.” t is understood that the condemned man thanked the warder who had been caring for him since the passing of sentence. Another message states that at 7.30 this morning Cooper made the following statement :

1, Daniel Richard Cooper, desire to saw, as my last statement, that 1 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 trying circumstances, never intending to go as far as I have gone, i now confess my sin and guilt, and leave myself in the hands of God, and feel 1 have forgiveness through Jesus Christ, my Saviour. I thank my two friends’ Commissioner IToggard and Colonel Bray, and also the prison officials, for their kindness. I sign this frec-ly D. R oOOi’EE.