Chicago Tribune, Thursday, Dec 25, 1879

Correspondent of the Cincinnati Gazette, Richmond, Ky

Contributed by Sandra Hurt-Norris.

The readers of this Gazette would doubtless be interested with a biographical sketch of the notorious counterfeiter,
Col. W. R. Cook, whose eventful career was so tragically terminated at the hands of the US Marshals, near here, on last Monday. He was born in Garrard County, Ky., about the year 1828, and his real name was Terrell, being an illegitimate son of Thomas Kennedy, as reported. And, when his romantic life is compared with that of the Kennedy family life, there can be no doubt of the relationship. “Old” Tom Kennedy killed the grandfather of the Hon. Henry Watterson, editor of the Louisville Courier-Journal. Elbert D. Kennedy, was one of the most noted desperadoes in Ky., and was the prime mover in the gigantic Lancaster, Ky. Kennedy-Sellers riot of 1875. He finally fell at the hands of his nephew, Grove C. Kennedy, who, through the medium of the Courier-Journal, is perhaps the most noted man of the pistol in the State. It would require columns to record the criminal doings of the Kennedy family, to say nothing of the racing and gambling proclivities, all of which is so widely known in connection with the “Crab Orchard Gang”. The mother of the object of the sketch married a man named Perkins when her son was young, and from the stepfather he acquired the name of Perkins, passing through the Mexican War under that name, and was familiarly known as “Perk”. He was a member of Capt. Jennings Price’s company, in Col. Humphrey Marshall’s regiment, and made a fighting soldier. In his youth, he was a noted race-rider, and ran the famous horse Denmark sixteen miles, on one occasion, in winning a four-mile race.

Just when and where he took upon himself the name of Cook is not known. He has been regarded as a counterfeiter for twenty-five years, and was arraigned in this town on the charge twenty years ago. Near that time he was engaged with the subsequently noted Hawkins, the counterfeiter, murderer, polygamist, and his clan, on Roundstone Creek, in Rockcastle County. Hawkins shot and killed Sheriff Lund of Estill County, while under arrest, was caught in the
State of Ohio, and hung at Irvine, this State.

In 1861, Cook became a sutler in the Federal army, but, his goods being been captured by the Confederates, he volunteered in the cavalry service, and soon became Lt-Col. of the Eighth Tennessee. He was a gallant soldier, and especially complemented for heroic deeds during an engagement in which he was dangerously wounded, for which disabling him, was drawing a pension at the time of this death. When the regiment disbanded, his soldiers presented him with an unusually elegant sword that cost $300.

Upon Col. Cook’s return to Ky., he resumed counterfeiting, and about two years ago was arrested in Whitley County on that charge. Shortly afterward he was arrested for the like offense in this county.

He had two sons, found guilty of counterfeiting, one of whom is now in Joliet (Il.) prison, and the younger one, having been sent to a home of refuge, escaped, and is now at large.

The bold manner in which he met six armed men and fought until he died, when he could readily have escaped, is remarkable.

His recent abode was a lone hut on a high, barren ridge, and looks as little a money factory as he looked like a man who ever carried a Colonel’s commission and a $300. sword.