The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1889-09-06
NEW WAY TO ENFORCE LAW.


u. >. Atty. Cockrum's Blunder I
How are you, Poker Players?
Evansville Courier
| The sporting fraternity and = large
number Of prominent citizens, who en-
Joy All occasional game Of poker. have
heen IN = state Of mind bordering on un-
happiness, not 10 say panic for the past
two days. The cause oft all lie the pres
eDce here Of Assistant District Attorney
Of the Federal court. Mr.. John Il. Cock
rum. Ordinarily this fresh young man
would not make . ripple on the calm
surface OF society. hut he came down
from indianapolis with . flourish Of
trumpets aud tho declaration that he
was loaded. Tho ammunition Il seems.
takes the form Of an alleged confession
from Young Denny. who robbed the
postoffice At Boonville Of several thous-
and dollars, completely bankrupiing
Postmaster Swint. The contesssion
gives the names Of between fifty aud
one hundred citizens OF Evansville, EN-
brscing all classes, from the willy fakir
up through the grades Of gamblers, bnsi-
ness men. professional men, 10 unctious
descons Of the church. II IL a. II drag
meshes every person who has been
known 10 play cards for Doodle during
the past five years. II lie given out by
| Mr. Cockrum that this young Post
office thief has declared that each one Of
the persons mentioned by him in the al
legged confession, have at different times
won money from him. He seems TO
have kept HE books against the men he
accuses as carelessiy ~ he kept the books
lof the Boonville Postofiice. for he dis
|dains details. He does not say how
much this one and how much that one
beat him out Of by superior playing. He
lsimply Jumps the whole business. In
effect. he puts II in this way: Il robbed
the Boonville Poetoffice Of $1,000 in
round numbers citizeRs Of Evansville l
have named won from me at poker ST.
loco in round numbers" lie is careful
10 include majority Of responsible and
respectable citizens in this list and armed
with this document Assistant United
States District Attorney C0ckrum is
here 10 demand restitution. Two in
Istsnces reported TO The Courier yester.
day BY gentlemen whose names were on
lthe list illustrate several other that have
been reported to The Courier second.
handed. To one Of these gentlemen hs
said: ave have no desire 10 make ~
'lexposure aud we suppose you do not de
} sire publicity yourself"
II The gentleman was 90 cerfs'n that III
|hsd not played poker with Denny oI
'Isnv body else that be declined 10 b.
frightened by the covert threat. To ths
lohrr gentleman Mr.. Cockrum said
I-Iiow much now arc you willing 10 con.
Tribute towards making up the mones
ltbat has been won from Denny here r
i This gentleman was also certain thai
he had not played with Denny or any.
hody else. aud replied holly: Not ons
single copper"
i Mr.. Cockrum's procedure In this mat
tier has been as remarkable for lie lack o.
Intelligence ~ for its perfect contempt
Ifor the prophecies, 10 use no harshei
terms. TO arrsign fifty TO hundred o
Iour most reputable citizens upon thu
sole testimony Of confessed thief. q
gamblers and law breakers Is bad
enough. But to employ the same meth
Iods in using that testimony common tC
black ckmailers IL quite the most extrsordi.
mary thing that Mr.. Cockrum has done
since the beginning of his official career
i II the functions Of his Office require him
Ito compel restitution Of the money which
this young thief alleges was won from
him b. the gentlemen he Nance, BY wha'
law or precedent does he place himsel
Lin the attitude of compounding misde'
mesnor In his efforts TO compromise? Il
Ihe has any official duty In the case, Is Il
not to proceed against these wrong
doers according to law? Will Assistant
District United states Attorney Cock.
rum cite the statute which authorizes him
Ito accept money under threats Of ex.
posure, from men accused by self-con.
fessed thief, the only sfisnt in the case
OF an ofTense against the laws OF the State
ef Indiana?
i Every man who won money from
Denny should pay back every dollar be
won, voluntarily, or II be refuses. and
there Is law for IL, the courts should
compel him TO make restitution. But
when an officer Of the Federal Govern
ment flourishes the AFFIDAVIT Of . thief
under the noses Of reputable citizens and
demands Of them money or exposure, =
mot justice mind you -he does m oct
which lowers the standard Of official
character and invites contempt for the
law he Is sworn to execute.
The two gentlemen referred to above
gave The CoURIER TO understand that
UNLESS they came down their Names
would be published. Speaking for THE
|CoURIsR Il will inform Mr.. Cockrum
that Il hes had experience enough to
know that when the character Of rep
|utable citizcns u assailed there must be
|other testimony than that Of self-con-
fessed thief 70 justify publication Of the
charges.
Evansville journal
Another man, who has attained much
OF . National character, and
who also has . fascination for the green
cloth and pasleboards, 10 another upon