Carroll Cook
Encyclopedia
Carroll Cook was an attorney and judge for the Superior Court
, in San Francisco, California
, best known for the national attention drawn to some of his rulings in famous cases, several of which were upheld by the United States Supreme Court
and California
. The defendant received a life sentence, a ruling upheld by the United States Supreme Court. In a case known as the “Gas Pipe Thugs” Judge Cook sentenced a defendant who pleaded guilty to hanging
without a jury trial, a sentence that the Appellate Court
upheld. He also sentenced to death the medical student, Theodore Durrant
, who was convicted in November 1895, for the murder
of two young women nine days apart in a church. These became known as the "belfry murders".
The defendant unsuccessfully appealed his sentence repeatedly during the three years before his eventual hanging in 1898. Carroll also presided over the 1908 trial of Jang In-hwan
for the murder of former diplomat Durham Stevens
.
As an attorney, Cook defended John McNulty
, on his appeal of his the death penalty sentence, for whom the gallows
was erected eight separate times. Cook stayed the execution
and, taking the case to the U.S. Supreme Court, had the sentence reduced to six years in prison.
Superior court
In common law systems, a superior court is a court of general competence which typically has unlimited jurisdiction with regard to civil and criminal legal cases...
, in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, best known for the national attention drawn to some of his rulings in famous cases, several of which were upheld by the United States Supreme Court
Cases
Judge Cook, in the case of Cordelia Botkin, made the first decision for a crime committed in two different states, DelawareDelaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
and California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. The defendant received a life sentence, a ruling upheld by the United States Supreme Court. In a case known as the “Gas Pipe Thugs” Judge Cook sentenced a defendant who pleaded guilty to hanging
Hanging
Hanging is the lethal suspension of a person by a ligature. The Oxford English Dictionary states that hanging in this sense is "specifically to put to death by suspension by the neck", though it formerly also referred to crucifixion and death by impalement in which the body would remain...
without a jury trial, a sentence that the Appellate Court
Appellate court
An appellate court, commonly called an appeals court or court of appeals or appeal court , is any court of law that is empowered to hear an appeal of a trial court or other lower tribunal...
upheld. He also sentenced to death the medical student, Theodore Durrant
Theodore Durrant
Theodore Henry Durrant , Known as "The Demon of the Belfry", was hanged for two murders committed at the San Francisco Emanuel Baptist Church, where he was assistant superintendent. He maintained his innocence of the crimes...
, who was convicted in November 1895, for the murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
of two young women nine days apart in a church. These became known as the "belfry murders".
The defendant unsuccessfully appealed his sentence repeatedly during the three years before his eventual hanging in 1898. Carroll also presided over the 1908 trial of Jang In-hwan
Jang In-hwan
Jang In-hwan was a Korean independence activist. He is best known along with Jeon Myeong-un for his role in the 1908 assassination of Japan lobbyist and former American diplomat Durham Stevens.-Incident:Jang, a Christian, emigrated from Korea to Hawaii in February 1905, and from there to the...
for the murder of former diplomat Durham Stevens
Durham Stevens
Durham White Stevens was an American diplomat and later an employee of Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs...
.
As an attorney, Cook defended John McNulty
John McNulty
John McNulty was an American newspaperman and short story writer. Many of his stories deal with New York saloon life and its characters....
, on his appeal of his the death penalty sentence, for whom the gallows
Gallows
A gallows is a frame, typically wooden, used for execution by hanging, or by means to torture before execution, as was used when being hanged, drawn and quartered...
was erected eight separate times. Cook stayed the execution
Stay of execution
A stay of execution is a court order to temporarily suspend the execution of a court judgment or other court order. The word "execution" does not necessarily mean the death penalty; it refers to the imposition of whatever judgment is being stayed....
and, taking the case to the U.S. Supreme Court, had the sentence reduced to six years in prison.