Evening journal., 1899-03-27
COT TER'S TRIAL BEGINS
Came Up Ia the u. S. Court
Before Judge Bradford To-day
HIGGINS WANTS POsTPoNBMBNI

ON THE GROUND THAT "A MOST
MATERIAL WITNESS WAS UN-
ABH4E TO APPEAR REFUSED BY
THE COURT-AIIL THE JURORS
ANJWSWER TO THEIR NAME EX-
CEPT FIVE.
The trial Of William E. COtter, of
Philadelphia. for alleged crookedness
in connection with the First National
Bank Of Dover. began to-day before
Judge Bradford in the United States
District Court
The case against Cotter grew out Of
transactions which he is alleged to
have had with the defaulting teller
William n. Boggs, while the latter was
engaged in stock. speculation. with the
banks money. AS in the previous
trials, Boggs will be the star witness
and will be depended upon by the gov
eminent to explain the nature Of these
transactions, and how deeply involved
If at all, the defendant was in wreck
ing of the Dover Bank.
Another prominent witness who is
expected to give testimony is State
Senator Heinge of Pennsylvania He
VILE be one of the important Witnesses
and his testimony is expected to prove
that Cotter issued certain checks. which
were later paid by Boggs out Of the
funds Of the bank.
Senator Hein.e, who lives in Belle
fonte, Pa, is said to have had certain
business dealings with Cotter, and in
one Of the transactions Cotter gave
him a check cn the First National
Bank Of Dover. After it is proven that
COtter issued the check District At
tomey Vandegmft win then trace it,
| If possible, to the bank, with the idea
OF proving that BOggs paid it out Of the
banks funds through an alleged fraud
ulent arrangement between him and
Cotter
The books of the bank, as heretofore
Will also play an important part in the
case, which, though an interesting one
win not probably consume more than
three days at the outside.
The indictments against COtter con-
tains fourteen separate counts. eleven
Of which charge him with violating
statutes Nos. 5,29O and 5,44O, of the Re-
vised Statutes of the United States
which cover a charge Of aiding and
abettinIg one William n. Boggs to mis-
apply the funds Of the First NatiOna,
Bank Of Dover, the remaining three be-
ing charges of conspiring with the
said William N BOggs to commit Of
fenses against the First National Banl
of Dover, by abstracting certain mon
lows otc from said hank
There are sixteen checks involved IL
the different counts. aggregating a sun
total Of SS5192 upon which the gov
ernment bases its charges. If convict
ed upon the charges Of aiding anC
abetting Cotter is liable to a sentenc'
of not less than five years nor NOR
than ten years in the penitentiary ant
a fine not exceeding $4,000 nor les
than $4,000 in each case. Conviction
on conspiracy counts means a sentenc
of nos less than two nor more than nv
years, and a fine of from $4,000 q
$4,000 for each offense
The following is the hist of juror
who will appear at the Federal build
ing at 1130 O'Clock tomorrow, an
from which twelve men will be select
ed to try the case against Cotter:
Wilmington.-HenTy C. McLear, {
Wesley Welddn, Samuel NJ. Knox. Nor
ris d. CrOssan, Harry A. Miller, JOsepl
L. Carpenter Jr., Andrew L. johnson
Jonathan L. AydOn, Thomas McCor
kle, Wilmer Palmer, Ashton r. Tat
nall Henry B. Bradford and Henry "
Perkins.
Brandywine.-W. Harold Smith, Ad
am ]. Lang.
Pencader. H. Harris John +
Hastings,
seaford.-George N. Eddy. James
Ross.
NEIL Creel1.-Franl1in D. Baldwin
;; Louis H. Lyman.
Alilford.-James F. Anderson.
Christiana.-W William NJ. Cedars.
South urderldll-Leander 5. HoI
kins.
Duck Creek.-William H. Boggs.
, St Georges. S. Gmfiths.
Nanticoke.-Isaac T. Cannon.
Little Greek (Sussex).-James
Melvin.
East Dover.-Edward Pardee
, Appoquinimink- Edward Pardee.
Indian River.-Edward Draper
KentOn-JOhn Moore,
Dagsboro.- Burton.
The jury is about evenly divided p'
itically, as of the thirty-four there al
D sixteen Democrats. seventeen Republ
cans and five Prohibitionists, and the'
men may be depended upon TO rend'
a fair and impartial verdict.
The history of William e. Cott'
reads like a romance. and proves thi
truth is stranger than fiction"
A few years ago Mr.. Cotter (who,
the way, is a brother-in-law Of Thon
as H. Clark, recently convicted 4
aiding in the looting of the bank), WI
). a resident Of Dover. and enjoying
= fortune estimated at betpween $1,000
=, to S175,0O0
e He then enjoyed the confidence al
}. respect of almost every citizen IN u
e State of Delaware, and the esteem
r every one in the town he mace h
r, home.
e Through a series Of unfortuna
speculations he lost everything that
possessed and moved to Philadelphi
where he became a real estate agen'
Cs,,ooos.~ ,.,,,,., ,.e.,,t1vr did moi froWn Il