Treasures from the Worcester Room: The Trial of Daniel J. Cooper - Chapter 4

Previously on Treasures from the Worcester Room: The Trial of Daniel J. Cooper...

"Juror on - Daniel J. Cooper Trial from May 25th to May 29, 1914"

We came across the above photo in our Worcester Room and after doing a bit of research in the Worcester Telegram, discovered that it related to a murder case from 1914. Alfred G. Bradish went missing on October 4, 1913 and was not seen alive again. A breakthrough on the case occurred on October 31, 1913 when Daniel J. Cooper confessed to the murder of Bradish. Cooper was arraigned on the charge of murder in the first degree, a crime punishable by death. He was taken to the Worcester County Jail on Summer Street, where he stayed until his trial. The trial took place at Worcester Superior Court and lasted from May 25 to May 29. The Worcester Telegram eagerly reported on the scandalous details of the relationships between Cooper, Bradish, and Mrs. Balcom. Cooper's defense attorneys attempted to use the insanity defense but the prosecuting attorneys attempted to demonstrate that Cooper was not insane. The opposing attorneys rested their cases on May 28 and the case would be in the hand of the jury on May 29.

Chapter 4: The Verdict

On May 29, District Attorney Stiles and defense attorney Swift gave their closing arguments. After deliberating for 2 hours and 10 minutes, the jury returned with a verdict: guilty of murder in the second degree! As per remarks in the Worcester Telegram, this was the first time someone had been found guilty of a capital crime in Worcester County in 38 years. This trial had lasted five days, with three night sessions.

"Cooper, Guilty of First Degree Murder, Rides Off Puffing Cigar," Worcester Telegram, May 30, 1914

Over the next few months, defense attorney Swift fought to get a new trial for Cooper, or failing that, have an appeal before the full bench of state Supreme Court. Unfortunately for Swift and Cooper, the full bench ruled against them. Now their only hope would be an appeal to the governor.

On October 27, 1914, Judge George A. Sanderson sentenced Cooper to death by electric chair at the state prison in Charlestown. Cooper's attorneys petitioned the governor of Massachusetts to commute the sentence to life imprisonment. On November 28, Cooper was taken from the Worcester jail to a death cell at the Charlestown prison while he awaited to hear whether the sentence would be commuted.

Governor David I. Walsh commuted Cooper's sentence on December 8, 1914, stating, "it would be of as much use to electrocute Cooper as to string up a cat. He is absolutely without moral sense and is in such poor condition mentally that he knows nothing of the consequence of his crime. Therefore I shall order that he be kept in state prison for life, instead of going to the electric chair." 

Epilogue

Jennie Amy (Taft) Bradish, the widow of Alfred G. Bradish, remarried in September 1915. In 1924, Daniel J. Cooper's wife, Mary, obtained a divorce and custody of their 13-year-old son. In 1933, Cooper requested a pardon so he could be married to an unnamed woman who was currently receiving aid from the welfare board. He was not granted a pardon until December 22, 1944, when Governor Saltonstall granted Cooper a Christmas pardon. Cooper was 68 years old.

Interested in researching this case more? You can view historic newspapers on microfilm (local and national) by visiting our Newspapers and Magazines section on the first floor of the Main Library! Access to print newspapers and microfilm are available anytime the library is open.

Sources:

Alienists to Testify for Government at Trial of Cooper on Murder Charge. (1914, May 23). Worcester Telegram. 

Character Assailed Woman Gives Clue. (1913, November 2). Worcester Sunday Telegram. 

 

"Come Cooper, Be Game," Says Murray. (1913, November 2). Worcester Telegram

Cooper Case Will Be Given to Jury Today. (1914, May 29). Worcester Telegram.

Cooper in Death Cell. (1914. November 29). Worcester Telegram.

Cooper Declared Defective, Declares Governor. (1914, December 9). Worcester Telegram. 

Cooper is to Die Week of Dec. 6. (1914, October 28). Worcester Telegram. 

Cooper, Guilty of First Degree Murder, Rides Off Puffing Cigar. (1914, May 30). Worcester Telegram. 

Cooper in State Prison: Slayer of Bradish Brought from Worcester - In Cell Next to the Death Chamber. (1914, November 29). Boston Daily Globe. 

Cooper Jurymen View Upton Murder Scene. (1914, May 26). Worcester Telegram. 

Cooper's Story Told by Sleuth. (1914, May 27). Worcester Telegram. 

Defense Attempts to Show Cooper is Insane. (1914, May 28). Worcester Telegram. 

Divorce Granted Wife of 'Lifer' Who Killed His Rival in Love Intrigue. (1924, April 13). Worcester Telegram.

Iron Nerve of Cooper is Broken When He Realizes He Must Go to the Chair. (1914, October 24). Worcester Telegram. 

Judge Cook Finds that Upton Man is Shot from Behind and that Cooper Murders Bradish. (1914, January 21). Worcester Telegram.

Lifer From Upton Given Yule Pardon. (1944, December 22). Worcester Telegram.

Lifer Seeks Pardon, Wants to Mary Needy Woman. (1933, March 2). The Boston Globe. 

Mrs. Bradish to Wed. (1915, September 21). Worcester Telegram. 

Slayer Asks Pardon So He Can Be Wed. (1933, March 1). Worcester Telegram.