Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-02-13
A FALSE REPORT OF DEATH
Levi 4. COOCh Made the Object Of a
Very Contemplate Trick.
STORY OF HIS DEATH CIRCULATED
Funeral Notice Telephone to
the Newspapers.
NAME OF GUILTY PARTY NOT KNOWN

Some person, who is unknown at this
time, Friday circulated a report to
the effect that "Lee" ii. Cooch, son Of
j. wilkins Cooch Of Cooch's Bridge,
had been killed during the morning by
being thrown while horseback riding.
The rumor gained much currency in
this city during the day, and 1t was
not until late in the afternoon that
positive denial was obtained.
Shortly before noon some person tele-
phoned the following death notice to
Evpry Evening Office, Oand it is said
he sent the same information to other
neHspapersl with the statement that it
had been ordered hy former Register
of Wills j. Wilkins Coorh:
COQCH--At Cooch's Birdge, Del, on Feb
ruhry 7th 1902, Lee H. SON of j. wilkins
Cooch, aged - years.
Funeral from the Presbyterian Church,
Glasgow, Del, on Monday morning ut 10
O'Clock. Interment at Glasgow, Del.
The person who sent the message was
closely questioned as to the facts and
his authority for ordering such notice
printed, and in reply to questions asked
by clerk in Every Evening office, he
gave what purported to be his name
and said he lived at Glasgow. He also
stated that Mr.. Cooch was killed by
heing thrown from his horse. The
clerk who took the message understood
that the party telephoning was at Del
aware City, but subsequently it was
learned that he was at Stanton, having
used the public telephone at J. w.
| Mitchell's store.
Every Evening at once began TO make
an effort to verify the message, tele-
phonic inquiry being made at -four
| places in Newark, at Stanton and al
Delaware City, but at none of the
places could any information he oh.
| tanned. Frank Cooch- another son OF
J. wilkins Cooch, who is clerk in
the Office Of the Equitable Guarantee
and Trust Go, was communicated with,
but up to , o'clock in the afternoon he
had receivedno information from home
relative to the reported accident He
had been Informed, however, that while
he was at lunch the person who hac
telephoned tol Every Evening had alsc
sent the sanf message to him, hut
could not leaTn\ who the party was
home early in the afternoon, and was
agreeably surtrsed, upon reaching
home, to find that there was absolutel,
brother Lee was In his usual goot
health. As a mattr epf fact. he had no
been horseback riHNg during the day
although he had heven 10 Newark or
business He was lrprised when h'
heard the story, an Mould not imagine
who was responsil for soriginatini
and circulating SUD \ story.
Every Evening ctamunicated will
Mr.. Mitchell, at Stnton, whose tele
phone had been usrti by the persol
sending the message.l to the news
papers, but Mr.. Mitchel could give n,
information as the fnlntlppeared to h,
stranger in that pan Nj the country
There is no clue to hjE Eidentity, ant
it is thought the nah he gave wa
fictitious.
When the report reacbv Newark tn
town became thorough alarmed ant
Mrs. s. M. Donnell, VIII L rclativ
of the family, drove Sio Mr.. Cooch :
place to make an investSption, AM
about o'clock in the afternoon sh
brought back the welcone Neport tha
there was nothing in tn sAory. Mr.
Cooch, the young mans iather ha
been suffering with the grin Tor scvcra
days and the circulation of such a re
port unnerved him, but he was some
what improved Saturday.
As n fact, there is no "I.ee' II
Cooch. The Young mans name is Lev
, II. Cooch, although he is faniliarl
called Lee. " Efforts are king mad
! to locate the person who started tn
report.