Smyrna times., 1904-06-29
CORKRAN BROUGHT UNDER
TRIAL FOR SPECUlATING
ONE MINISTER REV. E.P. WYATT CLAIMS
TO HAVE LOST $1,000 BY CORKRAN.
Rev. W. F. COrkran and Rev. c. S. Baker
Put on Trial Yesterday Morning at Union
N. E. Church 10 Wilmington.

N. E. Church 10 Wilmington.
The trial of Rev. Wilbur f Corkran
and Rev. Charles S. Baker, charged
with speculating in stocks and conduct
unbecOming ministers of the MethO-
dist Episcopal Church, began in Un.
ion Chapel Wilmington yesterday
morning. Presiding Elder A. S. Now
bray sat as Judge. The case of Mr..
COrkran was first heard, in which it
was testified that he had been made
defendant III suit brought by Zell &
Merceret, Baltimore stock brokers,
for unpaid margins on transactions he
had with that firm. Other minis
ters also testified that Mr.. Corkran
had frequently advised them to in
crease their incomes by taking an oc-
casional stock "fyer" DR.. Corkran
is nominally pastor of the church at
Claymont, but while he is yet mem
Der of the Wilmington Conference, he
is really pastor of a church in South
Bethlehem, Pa. DIR. Baker is pastor
of Asbury Church, in Wilmington.
Ministerial Committee Acting as the jury.
The committee acting as the iury is
composed of Revs. H. G. Budd, of
Centreville, Md. W. o. Hurst, of New
port; H. A. G. Westerfeld, of North
East, Md j. NJ. Mitchell, of Zion,
Nd; S. P. Shipman, of Williston, Md. !;
j. L. Richardson, of Denton, Md. !;
W. o. Bennett, of Sudlersville, Nd.
NJ. ID. Nutter, OF Oriole, Md. and z.
H. Webster, of Delmar. Rev. E. H.
Dashill, of Chesapeake City, is stenOg-
rapher; Revs. G. p. Jones, of Milford,
and L. 1. McDOugle, of Wilmington
city, reading clerks, and Rev. W. R.
Mowbray, of Bridgeville, is the record
clerk. The Press Committee is COM
posed of Revs. F. f. Carpenter, Viii.
mington; E. G. Atkins, of Harrington.
and E. N. Cantwell, of Bethel, Md.
Mr.. Corkran is defended by Rev. J.
d. G. Hanna, of Philadelphia; Ralph
I. COursey. of Fairmount. Nd, and j.
M. Lindale, of Church Hill, Nd. The
prosecutors are Revs. William Writ
King, of Grace Methodist Episcopal
Church, and A. W. Lightbourne, of
Epworth Church, both of Wilmington,
and W. L. Mcdowell, of the Philadel-
phia Conference. DIR. Cochran, when
arraigned, pleaded not guilty to both
charges. Rev. I. E. Terry, of Laurel,
testified that Zell & Merceret, brokers,
of Baltimore, informed him by letter
that DIR. Corkran had dealt in stocks
on margins with them. Rev. J. W.
Easley and the Rev. A. W. Light
bourne. of Wilmington, testified to
verifying the stories printed in the
newspapers that the ministers had
been sued for "a bill for unpaid mar
gins and commissions.
George h. Dick Of Smyrna a Witness.
George 81. Dick, of Smyrna, re-
peated a conversation with DIR. Cork
ran about securities, in which the
minister told him what profits could
be made by dealing in such stocks.
Corkran, however. did not ask him
directly to buy. Rev. E. H. Jones, of
Church Greek, Md, Rev. J. A. Arters,
OF Crumpton, Nd, and Rev. J. NJ.
Arters, of Odessa, testified that Cork
ran had told them where they also
/ could make good investments, but had
never asked them to buy. Rev. S. N.
Pilchard, of Crisfeld, said he owned
stocks and had bought stocks on the
advice of DR.. Corkran. At the night
session, Rev. E. P. Wyatt, of Crisfield,
Md, was on the stand all the evening.
He testified that DIR. Corkran had told
him OF stock transactions and oil in
vestments, and he decided to invest his
money in them. He did so, and in all
lost about $4,000. DR.. Corkran promised
to reimburse him as soon as he was
able. The trial was resumed this
morning.