Middletown transcript., 1898-05-14
COL, CooPRR,s TRIAL.


The trial Of Col. e. T. Cooper in the Fed
eral Court Wilmington, has attracted
much attention this week. Col. Cooper
Is accused OF assisting ex-Teller Boggs to
secure $4,000 of the money taken from
the Dover Bank. There is an additional
charge Of conspiracy to defraud the bank
by drawing checks in favor Of E. G. Cuth-
bert & Co., stock brokers. Cooper, the dis
trict attorney said. drew these checks with
out having money in bank to meet them
and at one time when large check was
drawn only q cents was on his account.
Harry A. Richardson. president Of the
bank, was the first witness and he ac-
knowledged defalcation of $107 900, leay-
ing only $4,000 or $4,000 in cash. Mr..
Richardson stated that he did not know
that Boggs had speculated in stocks, nor
had be been speculating with Boggs in Bay
State Gas Stock. He denied that he had
told Senator Kenney that he had made
$40, 900 ont of Bay State Gas Stock, but ad-
mitted that Mrs. Richardson had made
some money speculating in Bay State Gas.
Addicks' gas appears to have been the be-
ginning of the downfall, the first specula-
ton. Walter Morris, cashier of the Farm
ers' Bank, said that many checks had come
in signed by Cooper. He supposed that
Cooper was heavily speculating. He did
not inform the First National Bank ofic-
ials of large checks drawn by Cooper. He
once asked in the First Bank if Coopers
checks were good, and was told in the
presence of Bateman that they were.
VIM. N. Boggs was called to the stand
on Monday morning. In reply to Judge
Bradford's inquiry whether he was testify
ing willingly and without compulsion. the
witness said that he was perfectly willing
to testify to everything that it was his duty
to testify to. Continuing Boggs said. had
been clerk since July, 1882. 1 have pleaded
guilty to embezzling funds of the First Ma
tional Bank. I was in Philadelphia at
night on May 28th and 18th 1897. Cooper
met me there. He was accompanied
by John E. Collins. We met in a room at
the Lafayette Hotel. We met by appoint
ment. Cooper wired me from New York
to meet him on May 28th. cannot pro-
duce the telegram, it has been destroyed.
Cooper told me he had been to New York,
to complete arrangements for my getting
away. He had made inquiries regarding
steamship line, one to Australia. one to
Africa and others 10 South American and
Central American points, and brought
time cards. Itwas decided that should go
away on May 10Th 1t was thought best that
should go by train to New Orleans. and
there board steamer which was to sail to
Central American port on the following
Tuesday. Cooper expressed desire to go
with me, but l objected, because he was
well known throughout the country. Ileft
Philadelphia on May 10Th, Cooper handing
me my ticket, which he said he had bought.
had an interest in the first check includ-
ed in the $23, 600 which Cooper is charged
with aiding and abetting me in embezzling.
Our first transaction consisted of a pool of
$500, to be invested in Bay State Gas.
Cooper, John d, Hawkins, Hezekish Har-
rington, B. L. Lewis and myself were to
put in 800 each. Cooper's and Hawkins
money were not paid. Harrington and
Lewis paid their money through Senator
Kenney.
Mr.. Cooper was put upon the stand in
his own defence. His own story was 'the
poorest plea ever heard" or "a complete
explanation, as it impresses different in
dividuals. The character giving was RI
diculous since Cooper has had his own
peculiar character for years known to all
men who visit Dover often. US. Attorney
L. @. Vandegrift has done his duty faith
fully, ably. Senator Gray has stood by Mr..
Cooper for party sake and Mr.. Bird as his
counsel. They made an able defense. The
case went to the jury yesterday. In their
hands the case rests.