From the Richmond Whig, 9/26/1864, p. 2, c. 5

DEATH BY FALLING FROM A WINDOW. - About one o'clock Saturday night two of the city watchmen, while standing on the corner of 9th and Main streets, heard the thud as of a heavy body falling on the pavement with his face to the ground and his legs doubled under him. The watchmen, on raising the body, found the face horribly mashed, and discovered that the man was in a dying condition. He breathed his last while they were making their first hasty examination of his situation. The watchmen made known the fact at the office of the Spottswood Hotel, when it was, on examination, ascertained that the deceased was Mr. James W. Cooke, of Greensville county, Va., who had been a guest of the house since the 8th instant. All that could be learned of the sad accident was that about half-past 12 o'clock that night deceased came in and went to his room in the 5th story, overlooking Main street. On examination, it was found that he had locked his room on the inside, and that the window was open. He is supposed either to have walked out of the window while asleep or to have been setting in the window, and hence fallen out. His body was horribly mangled and mashed by the violence of his fall.

Deceased was a man of large wealth and distinguished charity. He was a son-in-law of the late Hon. John Y. Mason, and leaves a wife and six children. His remains were taken charge of by his friends.