Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1910-08-27
NO REWARD FOR
COHEN'S CORPSE
Coroner Hears That ReCOVererS
of Body Have Not
Been Paid
JURY FINDS MAN
DIED OF DROWNING

IL developed, following the coroner
inquest held last night in the case of
Joseph Cohen, who was drowned in
White Clay creek, while trying to
ford that stream during a freshet on
August l6, that the reward of S75 be-
lieved to have been offered for the
recovery of the body, has not been
paid to the three members Of the
crew of the tugboat Martha, who
found the body ia the Christiana
river, two days after the drowning.
John w. Beetle, marine superin-
tendent In the employ OF the Charles
Warner Company, who WAS acting
pilot on the tugboat the day the body
was found, testified to finding the
body and towing It to Shipley street
wharf where he turned It over TO
Deputy Coroner Chandler for removal
to the morgue.
Following the hearing Mr. Beetle
asked about the reward that had
been offered and was told by Coroner
Gaynor that the offer did not come
through the corOner's Office and he
knew nothing of it,. Mr.. Beetle said
he made inquiry at the police station
about the reward the day following
the finding of the body and was given
the name of a merchant in West Sec
ond street, who was said to have the
money This man was seen by Mr..
Betelle, according to the latter, and
was told that the money would be
Forthcoming. Several days later Mr.
Beetle said he again saw the same
man and was told this time that the
reward would not be paid as Cohens
widow was too poor; furthermore
that the reward had not been offered,
and neither he nor the family of the
drowned man could be hell RESPONSE
BILE for the published statements of
reward which appeared in the news
papers.
Mr.. Beetle said last night: "Of
course we would have taken charge
of the body i'm any event, even though
there had been no reward offered, but
If there is any money coming to the
of the body we would like
to have it" He did not say what
steps he would take to recover >the I
money.
The jury in the case went to Stan
ton last night and visited that part OF
White Clay creek where the drowning
occurred and while there took the
testimony of Harry Pordham and
Lawrence A. Othoson, both residents
Of near Stanton. and Marshall H.
Rambo, of this city.
Mr. Betelle's evidence was heard
at the coroner's office in Whining
tong upon the return trip.
The jury reached the following
Verdict: Resolved, That Joseph
fNT.taF A. IL
dental drowning while attempting to
cross White Clay creek at the new
bridge, near Stanton, New Castle
county, during a freshet in that
stream on August 16."
Witnesses Tell of Drowning.
Mr. Pordham, testified that he was
talking to Lawrence A. Othoson on
the latter's farm in sight of the new
bridge crossing the White Clay Creek
on the day Cohen was drowned. He
said he saw Cohen coming down the
Hill toward the creek and he remark
ed TO Mr.. OthosOn that there was a
man who would be disappointed,
meaning that the stream was high
and la would not attempt to ford it.
Mrs. OthOson, who was standing
near them at the time said, mo he
won't be disappointed for there he
goes into the stream"
I'VE heard a man scream and then
heard a great splashing in the water"
said the witness. I'VE ran down to
the creek and when we reached the
bridge, saw a horse with its front
feet on the same bank from which
the man had driven into the creek.
The wagon was upside down and the
man had disappeared"
Building Bridge at Point.
Mr.. PordhaIn said the creek was
running full and there was at least
ten feet Of water in It. He said the
old bridge which crossed the stream
was pulled or on May %. since which
time the new bridge has been under
construction. This bridge is now COM
pleted but teams cannot cross it as
yet, because the cement had not prop
erly set The bridge viii be opened to
traffic, he said, sometime next week,
Mr.. Pordham said that Levy Court
man Taylor had given him permission
TO employ a Waterman at night to
keep teams from crossing the creek
during a freshet, at his request, but
not during the day When asked
why this was, the witness said that in
mis- opinion a Watchmar was not
needed bere during the day because
they thought no man would attempt
to ford the stream during ireshet.
Mr.. Othoson's testimony was practi-
cally the same as that Of Mr.. POrh-
hams.
Marshall II. Rambo testified that he
had seen Cohen around Stanton, and
that he had seen him drive across
the creek on several occasions when
its condition was normal.
The question OF placing the respon-
sibility for the drowning was dis
cussed by the jury, but the question
was left open. Some of the Jurors
were of the opinion that as Cohen
was acquainted with the creek by
having crossed il a number Of times
he should not have made the attempt
when the stream was raging.
William H. Purks was foreman, and
Ernest J. Otteni, secretary of the jury
II was said today that the Cohen
family may enter suit for damages
for the death of Cohen.
Trolley Rope Cut Conductors Hands.