The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-07-25
DROWNED ON HIs WEDDING
DAY.
The Mysterious Death Of John Z.
Cochran, Of BellAire = SuSpi.
ei0ns Of Fouf Play.

cIeuetlCkI JOun Ryan, LOUIS fIeuetlCAI
John Rodenbough, VIM. A. Clitz and
Joseph Zofel, procured skiff and started
up the river 10 visit Ohio Valley Grove,
where the colored people Of the city and
vicinity were holding 8 picnic. While
rowing along the West Virginia side
Just above "slacktoWn," two miles north
Of the city, they discovered the body OF 8
man floating 10 the water, about twenty
yards from the shore. The body was
lowed down the river TO the wharf, i'm
mediately in front Of the st. james 10.
tel, and Justice Wm. Phillips, Of Clay
district, being notified, impanneled
jury aud held an inquest.
The gentlemen composing the jury
were: F. A. Britt, Fred. Husemen, Frank
Damsel, NJ. Parker, Joseph Michel, DIV.
Hallisy, John W. Butler, John Ryan,
B. jerome Miraben, Charles Merideth,
E. W. Dawson and VIM. Greer. The
evidence Of the boys who found the body
was heard, and was in substance m given
above. The body was then examined for
papers, letters, etc, which might lead 10
its Identification, and the jury, alter a
short consultation, returned verdict 10
the effect tina: deceased, John 2. Cochran
by name, had come TO his death by
drowning, believed TO be accidental.
Deceased had the appearance Of fine
ly.buiIt man OF 80 or So years. BE was
ofmedium height, we'll proportional, with
rather handsome features, and was we'll,
Il might be said elegantly, dressed.
No marks Of violence were found
upon the body. He wore q gold
watch and chain, two elegant finger
rings and three diamond studs. In his
pockets were found two pockelbooks,
which contained several checks and notes
Of considerable value, one check being
for 81 900, and number Of letters, cards,
receipts, bills, photographs, etc., but no
money. The letters were addressed
"JOhn 2. Cochran, Bellaire, Ohio and
one Of them bore the postmark Cam
bridge Ohio, July 49," It ia quite prob
able, from this latter fact, that he was
in Bellaire as late as Saturday last, and
perhaps even later. The appearance Of
the body did not indicate that il had been
in the water more than two or three days.
From papers found in deceased's peck.
cts, il was ascertained that be either was,
or at one Tins had been, in business at
Cambridge, Ohio. Accordingly Justice
Phillips telegraphed TO the Mayor Of
Cambridge, asking for Informs
lion concerning the drowned man.
In reply he received telegram
stating that Cochran was formerly q
member OF the hardware firm Of Evans
& Cochran, Of Cambridge, and that his
parents lived in Martins Ferry. Ac.
cordiugly the Squire at once dispatched
q boy on horseback to MARITIME Ferry to
notify the friends Of deceased Of the cir
cumstances attending the finding Of the
body, and to, ascertain their wishes In re.
gard to the disposition OF the remains.
How the unfortunate man came to his
death is mystery. Among the numer.
ous papers found on his person there was
nothing 10 indicate suicide. It is gen.
orally believed that he fell from a steam.
er while en- route up the river, in the
night time, and, before he could alarm the
crew Of the boat, was drowned.
LATER.
Ex-Sheriff Cochran, OF Bellaire, came
up to the city last night, in answer TO a
telegram sent by Fred, Husenen, one OF
the jury in the Cochran drowning case.
Mr.. Cochran Ia cousin OF deceased, and
was able to furnish some information
concerning him, although the mystery
surrounding bis death seems all the more
impenetrable. Mr.. Cochran states that
John 2. Cochran was strictly temperate
man, possessed OF come means. His father
lives at Burlington, just above Martins
Ferry. Several years ago he was in the
hardware business at Cambridge, but for
two or three years pas. had not been en-
gagged in. any business, making his head
quarters at Bellaire.
Deceased was engaged TO be married 10
a very estimAble young lady Of Cam.
bridge, u Miss Sinons, whose father car.
ries on large foundry there, and
the ceremoney was 10 have been
performed at Cambridge on Tues.
day evening. On Sunday last he
visited his father at Burlington, and
on Monday went to Bellaire. On the
afternoon Of that day he called at the
residence Of ex.Sheriff Cochran, and in
conversation with that gentleman's
daughter stated that he had urgent bust.
ness in Wheeling; and intended to come
up that evening. So far as Mr.. Cochran
knows, that was the last seen Of his de-
ceased relative.
Mr.. Cochran, knowing nothing OF the
tragedy supposed OF course that his cousin
had been married al Cambridge on Tues
day night, and was startled last evening
by visit from the brother OF the young
lady TO whom he was 10 have been mar.
ried, who, surprising that some accident
had occurred TO prevent the bridegroom's
attendance, was making inquiries con-
corning his whereabouts. The arrange
ments had all been perfected for the wed.
ding, and the guests had assembled, but
the bridegroom came not. At theearnest
entreaty Of his sister, Mr.. Simons started
for Bellaire early yesterday morning 10
learn, II possible, what delayed the miss-
ing man.
While Mr.. Simons was in Bellaire, lat
evening, Mr.. Cochran received the dis
patch from Mr.. Huseman, already allud.
ed to. Both gentlemen at once came up
to this city. The body was given in
charge Of Messrs. Mendel, Booth & Co.,
and will this morning be removed to the
residence Of deceased's father, at Burling.
ton, for interment
Mr.. Cochran Is confident that there was
foul play used. He says that his cousin
always carried plenty Of money with him,
and that only few days ago he saw
him with over thousand dollars. ltis
his opinion that the deceased came to
Wheeling on Monday evening, and after
transacting his business here started TO
walk up the river to stay all night with
Mr.. James McCord,a cousin, when be was
waylaid, robbed and murdered. McCord
lives only 4 short dislanee-perhaps
three. quarters Of 4 mile-Aboye the place
where the body was found. Mr.. Cochran
thinks that his kindsman was observed
with considerable money, was followed by
iootpads, was overpowered on the road,
near the river, and was dragged TO the
river and held In the water until he was
dead. This, he says, could have been
done without leaving any marks upon the
body, as deceased was a small man, and
could have been easily handled by two or
three stout men.
TT... n..... a., /, 49, Mt,,.n