South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-04-30
ARREST COKENNES FOR
ATTEMPT AT MURDER
Fugitive Who Shot George ia
CObS and Daughter, EStelIa,
Wednesday Evening, Caught
in South Bend.

On a tip from j. Q. Swanger, jr.,
of this city. August Cokennes. who is
charged with attempting the murder
of George Jacobs and daughter. Es-
tella. Wednesday evening. was captur-
ed early Thursday morning by Detect
ives Lane and cutting Of the South
Bend police department ON Eddy St,
after several blocks chase through
the southeast end of South Bend. Co
kennes saw the detectives approach
ing and started on a run. After go
ing several blocks ne turned in an al
ley and entered "A WOOdshed. where
the detectives arrested HIM. He was
taken 20 the South Bend police sta
ton He was later removed TO the
Mishawaka police station and viii
probably be aTraigned Friday morn
ing in the city court. COkennes was
seer. by Mr.. Swanger, who passed him
at limerick ST.
It is claimed that Cokennes' wife,
a short time previous to the shooting.
made arrangements 10 file suit for d.
lvOrce: this may in some way nave
AFFECTED COkenneS' mind.
( According TO witnesses COkkens was
strOlling on the sidewalk between
Eleventh and Twelfth SITS. on ). Union
when Jacobs and his daughter APP
1roached driving i'm a milk wagon.
Cokkens was apparently waiting for
lSomeone when the wagon approached
and IL is said that he stopped and
stood at the cub and as the rig passed
he raised the gun and fired three
times. or at least one witness claimed
lhe heard three shots. one of the bull
llets slightly grazed Miss Jacobs neck
land struck Mr.. Jacobs at the back OF
1.-THE lower portion of his head making
q slight flesh wound.
I Ernst. Morse and julius Meuninch
lat the time of the shooting were
standing in the rear door of the MeU-
ninck grocery store. The three men
rushed to the street. seeing Cokkens
running north on Union s.. with the
lgun still i'm his hand. Ernst Meuninck
rushed back into the store and secured
a revolver and the three then gave
chase after the fugitive who turned
Feast at Eleventh st. COkkenS. seeing
that his followers were close on his
trail jumped on a bicycle which was
standing at the curb and hurried east
Ernst MeuninCk then returned to the
barn, and securing a horse he started
after the runaway Cokkens but was
several blocks in the rear. After
turned and ran north and then took
ITO the railroad leaving the bicycle at
lthe CROSSING MeuninCk also jumped
from his horse and the two started or
n wild chase OF nearly a mile. along
the Lake shore right-of-way. Reach
ing a big ditch on the Woodward farm
in an isolated spot. CokkenS made a
stand and threatened Meuninck with
the gun If ne would not stop. Meu-
ninck halted but raised the gun 20
fire. He stated that he repeatedly
pulled the trigger hut the revolver
would not respond. knowing that the
sun was worthless and fearing that
Cokkens would Kill him he stopped
and permitted the fugitive 20 escap pc.
,Sieuninck waited until the police ar
rived on the scene and pointed out the
way that Cokkens had taken.
Several hours were spent u a futile
search of the neighborhOOd but they
were unsuccessful i'm finding the
would-be murderer. The chief accom-
panied by Patrolmen White and Beeh-
Ter returned TO the station and word
vas sent TO nearby cities with a de-
scriptiOn OF the fugitive The chief
later in the evening went 10 Elkhart
in hopes Of finding CokkenS as it is
claimed that ne has a brother there in
business and II Is thought that he
would go 20 him for assistance and
hiding