http://www.cooganresearchgroup.com/crg/index.htm

30 September 2012

COOGAN story 

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appearing in "San Francisco Call" [CA], 21 DEC 1895, PAGE 4:

SAN ANDREAS HOLD-UP

A Crazy Man Stops a Mailcart and Shoots
Hole Through the Letter-
Pouches

SAN ANDREAS, CAL., Dec. 20 - A novel stage hold-up took place about
two miles and half from here to-day.  As the two-wheeled cart which
carries mail between this place and Sheep Ranch was about two miles 
from town the driver, a 16-year-old boy, saw a man, Sarsfield 
Coogan, who lives near San Andreas, standing at the roadside. 
Knowing Coogan, the driver asked him if he was not lost.  Coogan,
instead of replying, drew a pistol and leveled it at the boy, 
ordering him to throw out the mailbag.  When he secured the bag he
shouldered it and started off, but suddenly threw it down, shot
three holes through it and then gave it back to the driver and told
him to proceed.

Coogan told the driver to inform Sheriff Thorn that he would be at
Yankee Camp.  As soon as the boy reached town Constables Treat and
Cavagnaro started to search for Coogan and found him at his [home].
When he saw the officers enter he picked up a shotgun, but did not
attempt to use it.  He came quietly to town.  As an explanation of
the affair he said he had a deep object in stopping the stage and
would clear himself.  He is undoubtedly crazy.

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov

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