Samuel A. Cooper

Incident Details

Cause of Death:
Gunfire

Date/Time of Incident:
Thursday, October 25, 1900
02:00 am

Incident to Death Duration:
7 days

Incident Location:
300 block of South Michigan Street, South Bend

Incident County:
St. Joseph

Incident Township:
Portage

Weapon Used:
.32-caliber handgun

Suspect Disposition:
Pardoned in 1911

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Patrolman
Samuel A. Cooper
South Bend Police Department
Thursday, November 1, 1900

Panel 41W, Line 17

Panel L33, Line 10

Patrolman Samuel Cooper died from an infection from gunshot wounds he suffered one week earlier when he was attempting to arrest an armed robbery suspect.

After being shot, Patrolman Cooper returned fire and wounded the suspect.

The 32-year-old man was subsequently convicted of first-degree murder by a jury and sentenced to life in prison. He was pardoned by Governor Thomas R. Marshall in 1911.

Patrolman Cooper was survived by his wife and daughter.

Personal Details

Age: 41

Law Enforcement Service:
2 years

Badge #: 5

Burial Place:
Bowman Cemetery, South Bend