http://www.cooganresearchgroup.com/crg/index.htm 26 October 2013 COOGAN story ____________________________________________________________________ appearing in "Ogden Standard Examiner" [UT], 27 JUN 1890: ASSAULTED BY STRIKERS SAN FRANCISCO, June 26 - James Kerr, a prominent foundryman, while walking on the street with a non-union member to-day, was assaulted by a crowd of strikers. Finding he was being worsted, Kerr drew a revolver and fatally shot Edward Coogan. There is great excitement over the tragedy. The non-union man, Clausen, has been intimidated frequently by strikers. He went to work for Kerr's firm a couple of days ago, and Mr. Kerr on account of threats last night, escorted him home. This morning he called at Clausen's house and they walked down to the foundry together. When near it a gang of strikers jumped out from a doorway and set on them and beat them severly. Kerr will not talk, but Clausen says his employer did not shoot until he was beaten down and men on all sides were dragging at him. Clausen also attempted to draw a revolver by the strikers got it away from him. ____________________________________________________________________ appearing in "Washington Post" [DC], 27 JUN 1890, PAGE 1: FIRED SHOT IN RETALIATION SAN FRANCISCO - Edward Coogan, a molder's apprentice, employed by the Vulcan Iron Works, was short and instantly killed this morning by James W. Kerr, of the firm of Steinger & Kerr, proprietor of the Occidental Foundry. The shooting was the outgrowth of an assault on C. J. Clausen, a non-union molder... ____________________________________________________________________ appearing in "Daily Alta California" [CA], 27 JUN 1890: EDWARD COOGAN [...The Character of the Wound Which Ended the Young Man's Death...] Edward Coogan is entered on the Morgue register as twenty-two years of age, a native of California, residing at 29 Jessie street, and found dead yesterday morning at First and Minna streets. During the day the remains were viewed by many friends of the deceased. Coogan was well built, and must have been quite a powerful young fellow. He had a [lank ?] and boyish countenance and his appearance was not that of a rough. The wound he received leads to the theory that he was leaning slightly forward with his right thumb extended and the hand open, the palm turned partially to the front. It was first thought that the bullet pierced the fleshy part of the thumb, entering from the front, and then entered the right breast, very near the nipple and emerged on the left side several inches below the armpit and rather to the rear. The autopsy, as will be seen, indicates that this theory is probably wrong. The idea that he was raising a cigarette to his mouth when the ball struck his hand is not based on any sound reasoning. The hand was undoubtedly open as if to clutch something. As nearly as can be ascertained, Coogan was twenty-five feet distant when Kerr fired. The weapon was a large one, 38 calibre, and of long range. Coogan died in a very few minutes after he was shot without uttering a word. He was employed at Vulcan Foundry No. 2. The foreman says that Coogan was one of his best apprentices. The young man lived with his parents at 49 Jessie street. He had three brothers. The father, Morris Coogan, is a carpenter. Coogan's mother took the death of her son very much to heart, and her lamentations were most distressing. Coogan was an apprentice, it is true, but when the strikers first went out he, too, quit work, the strikers agreeing to get him another job in a union shop, which they did, the Vulcan Foundry not being on strike. http://cdnc.ucr.edu ____________________________________________________________________ appearing in "Los Angeles Times" [CA], 30 JUN 1890: SAN FRANCISCO, JUNE 29 - Thousands of [mourners] attended the funeral of Edward Coogan, the iron [apprentice] who was shot by James Kerr last Thursday... ____________________________________________________________________ appearing in "Los Angeles Times" [CA], 24 JUL 1890: THE COOGAN HOMICIDE ...identify the man who fired the shot. Andrew Coogan, brother of the deceased, made a statement but it developed nothing new. Counsel for the prosecution then... ____________________________________________________________________