Evening journal., 1898-05-10
BOGGS and HIS STORY.
The Defaulter Under Heavy
Fire of Mr.. Bird.
ADMITS THE THEFT AND MORE
TOLD HIS STORY IN "A STRAIGHT
FORWARD MANNER, AND IT
CREATED A BIG SENSATION.


who attended the hearing Of the case
of E. T. Cooper, which is now going on
before Judge Bradford in the United
States Court, that the confession made
by w. N. Boggs, VINO has pleaded
guilty to robbing tho First National
Bank Of Dover of s1O7O00 was the
most complete tale of a big and start
ling crime ever told in any court of this
state. Boggs related his story in a
straightforward manner, and he told
more than was expected OF MIN. He
Hseemed to fear Mr.. Bird, who has the
reputation of being able to twist any
witness who comes before him, but
when Mr.. Bird told him that he would
deal fairly with him, it appeared to
give Boggs assurance and relief.
When the case opened yesterday af-
ternoon, Mr.. Vandegrift asked Boggs if
the telegrams sent to him by Cooper
were in his own name. He said several
OF the kilograms were sent in the name
of W. Johnson Boggs' nom de plume
during the transaction.
Mr. Vandegrift asked that the paper
containing the checks and their
amounts be admitted as evidence, but
Senator Gray objected. He afterwards
withdrew the objection, and the paper
passed in.
"Mr. Boggs. did you receive any in
ducement to return homer"
"None whatever"
"Then why did you do it?"
Mr. Bird here arose and said that the
witness had already answered that
question and ne objected to it. The
court sustained Mr.. Bird
when the depositors brought a de-
post to the bank, what would be the
- chance of getting it on the books?"
Q Il would call off deposit slips to l. d.
- BOggs, who would not know whether
. the deposits were made or not"
Mr.. Vandegrift then asked Boggs to
: turn to the already famous ledger
hooks. to trace the entries of the de-
positors and COopers' in the book but
. Senator Gray arose to his feet and ask
. ed the court not to allow the book ae
evidence, as on it the crime hinged. The
foul lies which it tells, as testified to by
}. the governments own witness, should
/, not be allowed to swear away a mans
I citizenship. 1t reeks with crime and
false work, and it would be unfair fOl
: the court to admit such a piece of evi
dence. He cited authorities TO supper
his plea, and at it's conclusion ther
= was considerable heated argument be
tween counsel over the irregularity o
- the book and as to its admittance a
p evidence.
'e Judge Bradford admitted the book
90 | a ovid nprfrraI
from it by the district attorney. Elk
80 animation of witness then proceeded.
ID Did you enter up all of ColOne
e. CCOper's deposits between May Z, 1896
Of to May q, 1892"
lie 81 did"
y, Ibid you ever put money in the BAN
se that Colonel Cooper did not have?"
ic Il did"
ID "Why did you do that?"
t Because it had to be done in orde
e. that the slip could be the same as tn
s. books"
We Did Cooper ever overdraw his ac
count?"
~ no, always kept up his account $
the bOokkeper could not find out tn
IN manner of the transaction"
re Boggs then turned to the individus
ledger and said that on July 13, 1885,
-1 AOODtI udu bttseA III bdAlhf anu dtANN
the checks had been hOnOred, Cooper
- balance in bank was q cents. TheI
y was none of Cooper's money in th
le. bank except the q cents, which CoOpC
or was entitled to withdraw. 81 hel
AT SIS, 900 worth of COOper's checks" cor
~ tinued the witness, (which were a
- paid out of the banks funds On Apr
u Cooper entered $50. On May II
credited Cooper with 81 1926. 81
. Of that was gained in speculation, s
: Cooper said. He then drew out Sl,0O
/: leaving a balance Of Sl9725."
: He was asked if any of the $23 Oh
drawn out by Cooper had been paid.
: Witness said that it was not Coop
{: always said that he was unable
: pay"
+: BOGGS CROSS-EXAMINED.
Attorney Bird then took the witnes
: when did you become a defaulter
this bank?'
ITO the best of my recollection,
was in 1888
: What were the s,. circumstances tn
led you to default?'
: Carrying checks of Thomas CLARK
Give the date of that"
-: Il cannot"
- WAS it in November, 1892"
c 1T was"
25,e. when was your next default?"
- "In May. 1898, When l met by intI
wSer yer ductiOn Thomas Clark, Harry F. Foi
Re- J. L. Ford, w. E. COtter. w. E. Cott'
Jr., and race track men,"
= Explain to the jury what you me
- by race track transactions"
"The good things that we're held
~, to me by men whom l was carrying
!, vi the bank and men whom / was prote
an ing at the race track.
,.i ulo "Then so far in these transactions
.ls' -.,. am to know that they were done by
" out of friendship Is that so?"
"Boggs reflected here and said: Y
III Nv. sir. l had a great many friends WI
ilOi knowing my inclinatiOns and love
,S.S S4 gambling, would come to me with
WI WI good thing on which to bet
WSs va, And would you bet?"
une Always"
uCn "Why?"
~ well" and here Boggs sighed he
CUT lily, 'I was taking the banks mol
nd I ,1..I - "