Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-02-04
WOMAN IN THE CASE
WEEPS OVER LETTERS
Epistle Written by Cooke to Mrs.
Ford Throws lurid Light on Strange
Tale of the Huge Undergraduates
Paid $4,000 "Hush Money'-Ad-
mits Paying Rebates.
(By Associated Press-)


chain of entertainments involving
three men, extending over many yeal s
and finally eliminating in the almost
wholesale looting of the Big -Four
Railroad treasury was the story told
by Charles l.. Warmer, defaulting
local treasurer of the road in his tes-
timony in the ttial of Mis-. Jeanette
Stewart Ford for blackmail.
Warmer represented himself as
man pouring out gold with both
hands and in ever increasing amounts
10 keep sealed the n.outh of the woIn-
an. who, through her infatuation FOR
one of the accused embezzlers. r.
S. Coke. had learned the secret.
Frank Comstock. WARMERS predeces-
sor as local treasurer, was declared
TO be the third man.
Calmly and in unruffled tones, War
riner told his incredible story. When
the court adjourned WARMERS ex-
animation was concluded
Concealed Others.
According to the witness, when he
assumed Office as local treasurer, IN
1902. he learned that Cooke was short
in his accounts SPA. 600. He also learn
ed that his predecessor, Comstock,
was short S14.500. He himself was
defaulter and to prevent his crime
from being discovered, he agreed TO
conceal the thefts Of the two former
officials.
In the story of the gigantic theft,
there is one question which has never
been definitely answered and the at
torneys fer the defenee today made an
othr futile effort to obtain its solution
what became of me 1918, 600 which
Warmer confessed TO have stolen?
The witness declared tnat he had
paid approximately sI6s.C00 in black
mail and that $4,000 had been
stolen by others than himself. The
remainder of S442.00c is explained by
him as having been lost in specula-
ton.
Although he knew the amount en-
bezzled and the approximate amount
of hush money paid. to all ques-
items as TO his investments he replied
that he could not remember how
much money he had put into any par
ticular enterprise.
A lurid light was thrown on the
strange tale when the letters Of Cooke
to MIS-. Ford were read 10 the court
In the letter Cooke wrote that o.
H." was threatening to expose him
il he did not abandon Mrs Ford. War
riner stated that %. II stood for
-OId Hsg.~ and L was the rame
Cooke used for his wife in cOmmuni-
cations with Mrs. Ford. In another
letter he advised Hrs. Ford to have
nothing to do with other men unless
there j. big money IN It,"
The Judge only permitted excerpts
of the letters to be read on account
of the expressions with which isey
abOundcd.
DrTiBg the rcsdiJS Of the letters
Mrs. Ford cDdcavored to conceal her
face and wcpt bittesly-
One Of the most startling develop
mcnts in the ca--c came At the after
noon session Of the court when War
sincT. under rigid questioning admit
ted that he had handed funds placed
with him for the Payment Of rebates;
that he paid cit comparatively large
sums IN rebates and that the 'implc
auditing Of his accounts At any iimc
would have disclosed his shortage 10
the company. After tcstiiying hat
Auditor ?. A. Hewitt had checked
over his accounts. warmer was ask
cd b. Attorney Thornayke. Of the de-
fcn.c.
Then how did IL come that h.
never discovered This graf shortage
Of yours
~Thsfs for Hewitt 10 explain" vas
The cumplaccnt answer Of the wi;r,. =.
n~~.r~ Lsr Guilt