The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1919-11-13
COCKS EXPLAINS
TO court ABOUT
HIS TWO Names
Minister Tells About His Predicament
In Cincinnati Court But Divorce
Decree Is still Unrecorded.


former Harrison (ohio) pastor, and
Miss Mamie R. Gill, Maysville, Ky,
last Thursday, before his divorce from
Mrs. Murtice Cox, Hoxie, Kan, had
been entered.
The principal question faced
by Judge Hoffman was to ascertain
the name of the minister, who was
represented by Attorney 10. Martin.
What is the minister's manner" in
quired Judge Hoffman.
Cocks" said Mr.. Martin.
"Cox?" inquired Judge Hoffman.
"Yes. Cocks, replied Martin.
The question then faced by Judge
Hoffman was, literally, when was
Cocks Cox~and when was Cox Cocks
If Cocks was Cox when he married
Mrs. Murtice Cox, then why was Cox
Cocks when he married Miss Gill at
Maysville?
Rev. Fred Cox, who said he once
had been a barber at Dayton, Ohio,
was granted decree by Judge Hoff-
man last Thursday Rev. Fred Cox
then married Miss Gill as George
Cocks, conductor.
Judge Hoffman ruled that decree
had been granted to Fred Cox, but
no person by the name Of George
Cocks had been divorced In the Ham
ilton County Court of Domestic Re-
lations, and until a decision is reach
ed Rev. Fred Cox has a wife as min
lister and barber, and at the same time
Rev. George Cocks has a wife as a
minister and conductor.
Rev. Mr.. Cox, or Cocks, admitted he
was given the name of Fred G. Cocks
by his father when he was born. Later
he said, to shorten the name and make
It more euphonious", he changed II
to George Cox.
When he married, at Midland, Tex,
he was Cox. When he filed petition
| for divorce he was Cox, he admitted
and when he married that afternoon
he was Cocks, he further admitted.
Con, otherwise Cocks, said he knew
nothing of the Court rule by which a
divorce decree is held 80 days before
being entered.
How long were you engaged to the
girl you married on the day Of the de-
cree was granted?" he was asked.
II never was engaged to her." re-
piled the minister.
"How did you arrange the mar
| riage?"
81 told her as soon as the divorce
was granted we would be married.
What is your ethical Interpretation
of the gospel as it affects man ant
woman in marriage?' asked Judg,
Hoffman. do you believe they shoul'
become engaged before even divorc
Is granted?"
Certainly" replied Rev. Mr.. Cock
or Cox. "Why shouldn't a man be en-
gagged to a woman before being d
vorced from one wife? 1t isn't like
funeral"
Judge Hoffman, addressing Attor
ney Martin, then inquired:
"Is there any record to show Georg
Cocks was divorced here?",
mo-" replied Martin, 81 do not be
lieve there Is"
When Cocks, alias Cox, obtained hi
license to marry Miss Mamie r. Gil
in Kentucky he permitted bis cert
cate to class him as q widower. II
took no oath nor did he swear to tn
truth of the statements contained Il
the certificate, he said.
When asked why he gave his occu
patton as a conductor, Cocks-or Co
said there was conductor standin
next to him, so when the clerk aske
what his occupation was he said ICON
ductor," and slapped the man on hi
back. He then told the clerk to "le
LIZ go at that" he said.
Judge Hoffman questioned the min
lister, barber Or conductor as to tn
whereabouts of his children, The i'm
Ipression had been given. the Judg
said, that the children were with tn
pastor. Yesterday II developed thf
the daughter Ruth is In PhillipsburI
kan.
When Rev. Mr.. Cox. or Cocks, sal
he never before had been accused I
being liar." Judge Hoffman replied
Nothing will convince me that yc
Ibid not understand exactly what
tmeant when asked you where yo,
children were."
Mr.. Cox, or Cocks, declared he COL
tributed toward the support and ed
, cation OF his daughter. who, he sal
was staying with her aunt.
This is dragging me- down, into u
muck Of slime" he said, Apd his yoI'
began 10 break, Think what l ha'
10 lose. my homo. my children and n
ministry. hayen't changed my nam
II " atiil the Cooks that father sa'
ne, There 4 nolhipg 10 hide, wsl
"a >mhufdau II Il the World. Nrod