Mr. Whittaker,

I have a few questions concerning the matter of the death of Mr. David Cooper. I understand that you were the clerk of the Frankfort House Hotel when Mr. Cooper and his wife stayed. Can you tell me anything about the Coopers?

Did anything unusual happen while they stayed at the Frankfort house?

Could you descibe the demeanor of each of the Coopers?

Thomas Hobart Esq.

Attorney for the Commonwealth of Kentucky

Statement of Tho's Whittaker

Former clerk at the Frankfort House Hotel.

Dear Mr. Hobart,

I received your letter concerning the Coopers this day, July 9, 1864. I had to look through the guest ledger to refresh myself; as you may guess we get quite a few transients coming through.  I choose not to pry into the affairs of the guests; I feel if they wish to tell me their business then that is their perogative.

The Coopers registered as Mr. and Mrs. David Cooper.  Mrs. Cooper indicated Mr. Cooper was a sales representative from McCormick Mowers and Reapers, and that they resided in Pittsburgh.  Mr. Cooper appeared to be reserved and let Mrs. Cooper do the talking.  This seemed odd; it is my understanding that sales representatives should be forceful, assertive and enthusiastic for their product.  I wrote it off as fatigue from travel.

March 23rd a guest had the deputy sheriff summoned.  He claimed he had been robbed at knife-point by a mysterious assailant.  he was quite agitated and was not able to provide a useful desription of the person in question.  The deputy spoke with me to see if I might recognize the robber.  We were dealing with the check-out of many guests at the time (the train was about to leave ahead of schedule), thus I was not able to pinpoint anything useful from the description.

We noticed for the next several days the guest ledger's finances record did not balance. One of the Negro boys who tidy the rooms indicated the Coopers had not been seen since the 23rd.  They never

checked out, never paid for their room and in their haste left their two trunks behind.  It is not unusual for guests to leave items behind.  However the garments therein appeared to be of good quality and something which one would not want to leave behind intentionally. The same applied to a very prominent ring set with a valuable stone. I called upon the deputy to report this odd occurrence, and upon further thought and reflection I believe the Coopers fit the description of the robbers.

Please feel free to call upon me for further information as you see fit.  I now work at the Inn at Peaks Mill, tending bar and performing various duties within and without.

YOS,

Tho's Whittaker