Evening journal., 1891-03-20
COCHRAN INDICATED.
He Clears Himself of Charges
Made by Herbert.
NOTES AND DISCOUNTS EXPLAINED

Startling Observation-Disclosures Indi-
Gates That Herbert has Probably
Perjured Himself as Well as DsfauIteG
He Tries to Pull Il. II. Cochran Down
But FaiIs-Has Used State Money 80
Reduce Private Notes-D efreuaing the
state by Charging IL with Discounts
ON His Personal Paper
STAFF Correspondence EVENING JOURNAL.
DOVER. March he r. Cochran, ex-
clerk Of the peace of New Castle county.
yindicated himself completely before the
Herbert Investigating Committee to-
night of any complicity in ex-State
Treasurer Eerbert's failure to settle with
the state.
MI. Cochran demanded the investiga
ton several days ago, and especially re-
quested that the examination be held as
soon as possible. He wanted to refute
Mr.. Harbert's statements in regard to his
owing the state and let the public know
that he was blameless in the matter.
The meeting of the committee was held
in the office Of the secretary of state.
The members Of the committee present
were: Messrs. Houston Dem } and Pill
ing rep J. on the part Of the Senate, and
Messrs Hickman Dem ard Mr. Elkin.
ton, (Rep), on the part of the House.
Mr.. Ridgely, the third member of the
House Committee, was not present. State
Treasurer Burnite WAS also present to
gether with Mr.. Cochran.
What 1t Disclosed.
The examination disclosed the fact
that e. r. Cochran endorsed note for
b21, 900 to Mr. Herbert. as a personal
accommodation that when Mr.. Cochran
paid Herbert $i2. 500 state money, the
state treasurer used this money to re-
ducs the amount to IS. 500, and got Mr..
Cochran to renew the note for that
amount Mr. Herbert then charged the
discounts on these notes to the State Of
Delaware, and had them entered in the
auditors reports, to show that E. R.
Cochran had paid in notes instead of
money, the amount he owed tee state as
clerk of the peace Of New Castle county.
Before the Investigating Committee,
Mr.. Herbert. when examined, tried to
convince the menbers that the state was
short of money, when, as q matter of
fact it had over $500 in cash to the
credit Of the general fund. Finding this
ground untenable, he turned deliberately
around and told the committee that the
whole secret of the matter was that
Cochran owed the state, and he as state
treasurer, took his notes in payment.
The Work o Investigation,
1t was sitter o'clock when Mr.. Hous-
ton raped for order.
Mr.. Observation-Disclosures the object
of this meeting Is to hear Mr.. Cochran
make a statement. There has been some
charges made against him that he wishes
to refute.
On suggestion Of Mr.. Pillirg, Edwin r.
Cochran, ex-clerk OF the peace Of New
Castle county, was sworn.
Cochran-"Are you ready for me?p
Pilling-'Do you want to make a
statement or do you wish us to ask you
questions2"
Cochran on the Stand,
Cochran-"I will make a short stats
ment first. As matter Of simple ius-
tice to myself, and without animosity TO
any one, / thought 1t to be my duty to
make statement before this committee
and show BY proof that is undoubted
that certain statements concerning me
are incorrect. The fact about that
| $2l, GOO note is this. / never gave Mr..
Herbert any note for 1921, 600 Never
gave any state treasurer notes for state
MONIES except the notes for So. ESQ.
which Mr.. Herbert now holds. The sim
pie fact is this: Mr.. Herbert asked me
in September, 1889, to give him my note
| for $2l, COO. ! told him did not know
about that. | did not owe the state OF
Delaware anything at that time. He
came in my Office and asked me to give
him my note for that amount. He said
We want some money. Win you endorse
my note for 1871 0002 done know who
he meant by we. I did endorse his
note, and here Is the proof of that, a
letter from Cashier Dandy Of the Union
National Bank.
The Writing on the Wall.
he presented the following letter,
which was read by the clerk
WILMINGTON, Del, March 9, 1871.
e. E. COCHRAN, MiddletOwn. Del.
DEAR SIR find we discounted a
note of William Herbert's for S2l 600
endorsed by you las an accommodation
eudorser) Sept 7, 1889, the note was
dated Sept 5, 1889, for thirty Eve DAYS.
We renewed it for IS, 500 on October i2,
1889 for fifteen days; you were also en-
dorser on the note (s8, 500 the same way
as the FIRST one.
yours very truly,
''JoHN Il DANDY, Cashier"
Pilling-"In this connection. Mr.
Cochran, permit me to ask, who got tbe
proceeds OF this note9p
Coohran-"Mr. Herbert; l endorsed il
on the back, and under credit the
drawer. He got the proce eds"
Pilling-"Who paid that note at the
bank?'
Cocbran-"Mr Herbert, by paying
$4,000 and giving new note for
Pilling -"Th's note was made the
some as the other
''Herbert Got the Money"
Cochrau-'My recollection is l signed
it the same as the other under credit the
drawer, but know he got the money. "
I had my son to write to Mr. Herbert
this morning, to inform him that was
coming before thesemmittee here tonight
andgive him the opportunity to be present
also, some time before wrote Frank a
letter concerning the statements be and
his father had made before the commit
tee in regard to the 421. 600 note asking