davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-03-14

o'clock to complete details for the
sending of the box to Howard Haw-
kins, at Hapeville, the boy adopted
bv the class. Already many articles
have been contributed, with others
promised, and it is important that
every member be present Wednesday
to finish the collecting of the gar
ments to be sent him.
Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-03-14
PREST-O-LITE'S
Double Message to Car Owners

hardness and porosity. Prest-O-Plates
have both.
This explains their ready depend
able reserve power in biting zero
weather, and their non buckHn9,
heat-resisting strength in summer.
Experts say that they are the worlds
best battery plate, and this is the same
as saying that Prest-O-Lite is the
worlds best battery.
For the life of battery is in the
plates. You never need a new bat
terry until the plates in your old 90
bad As long as you have live plates,
you have battery.
Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-03-14
Doubly Guaranteed

And every part of Prest-O-Lite
Battery is worthy, in material and
workmanship, of Prest-O-Plates.
That is why 81 leading manufac-
turers specify Prest-O-Lite as original
equipment, and "the list is growing"
Every Prest -O-Lite is backed by
the regular Prest-O-Lite guaranty,
definite obligation, plus a spirit that
says the car owner must be pleased.
Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-03-14
Yes, With PREST-O-pLATES

These are not special models. They
are top-quality Prest O-Lites, with the
famous Prest O. Plates.
Prest- O-Plates are as different from
ordinary battery plates as gold is from
gilt. They combine unusual hard
ness with a peculiar porosity. None
of the old plate compromise between
Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-03-14
PHiLATHEA GIRLS TO
MEET WEDNESDAY

The members Of The Philathea
class of the First Baptist church win
meet Wednesday afternoon in the
lecture room of the church at 3
Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-03-14
Society
MRS. TURPIN HOSTESS
TO BRIDGE CLUB.

The members Of the Tuesday
Morning Bridge club were entertain
tanned this morning by Mrs Will
Green Turpin at her home on Lee
street.
A profusion of daffodils and 9TH
er spring flowers were used in the
rooms devoted to entertaining, and a
salad course was served at the con
clusion of the game.
Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-03-14

Mrs. Harry Fam and son, Jack, are
occupying an apartment in the home
of Mrs. c. r. Winchester on Col
lege street.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-03-12
The Monument Put Up Over
Cochrain's Grave by the
"Woodmen of the World"

casket that the friends might have last
look at the deceased one of the kinsnen
stated that 1t had been the widows last
request before leaving the house that It
not be opened at the grave as she wanted
to have last sight of him.
Shortly after the funeral Mrs. Cochran
presented the claims for the collection of
the life insurance. II is likely shat the,
first idea OF making the claim was to give
additional verisimilitude to the death"
The plotters we're between the horns of a
dilemma n they did not press the claims
questions would be asked as TO why they
had not. And then the secret might come
out. II they did press the claims they
,courted another Investigation and addi-
tional penalties for their deception II dis
covered. The funeral had gone off so
easily that the latter course seemed best.
After little time the claims were paid.
Some fourteen months after the sup
posed death of Cochran Mrs. Cochran
died in sanitarium In Sterling City,
Texas
Then a rumor ran around the commu-
nifty that Cochran had been &een in the
vicinity of the farm. The neighbors said
BYRD zig walking"-meaning that II was
his ghost that hal been observed. The
gossip grew until at last Sheriff Bailey
Bingham, present sheriff of Stonewall
County, brought the matter before grand
Jury and the opening Of the grave was
the result.
The insurance companies now much in.
terested, did not let the matter rest there.
What, they asked, had become OF the
children? Investigation showed that they
were living on big 1,500acre goat ranch
some hundreds of miles away. They
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-03-12

When all this became known there were
many who. like the friends at the grave,
felt that they could no longer either be-
lieve their eyes or their ears. For they
had seen, as they thought Cochran laid
out for burial; they had attended the
funeral services at the house and later al
the grave. How was 1t possible for them
to have been deceived so completely? And
why?
The answers to all these questions make
one of the most extraordinary chapters in
the history of insurance swindles.
Byrd J. Cochran was man Of consider
able standing in the still unsettled section
of which he was a pioneer. Besides that
he numbered many friends.
And he carried life insurance amounting
to $4,000. OF this sum $4,000 was with
the Southwestern Life Insurance Company
of Dallas, Texas; $4,000 with the Modern
Woodmen Of america, and $4,000 with the
Woodmen of the World.
Some time ago Cochran and his family
had moved from Aspermont. in Stonewall
County. to Socorro County, New Mexico.
There he had bought a 160acre farm and
had lived quietly and peaceably. But his
farm adjcined another on which were
band of alleged cattle thieves. 1t was
close, also, to a Forest Ranger Station of
the United States Government. The cattle
stealing became so bad that the rangers
asked Cochran to assist them. He con
sented and they made him a deputy.
From hiding place on a mountatnside
the rangers one day saw the suspected
thieves driving a steer from q neighbours
pasture into their own. They went dow
to make arrests and general shooting
affair ensued which resulted In the dealt!
Of two Of the alleged thieves father AMI
son--6nd the woundinS of another son.
Cochran had taken part on the side Of the
Government. The men who had been kill. i
had many friends among the Mexican ee
ment, and although the rangers swore tina.
they had done the shooting and not Coch
rain, he was indicted on a charge of muir
der and held under a bond OF $4,000 to
appear TO- trial.
Cochran's wife became ILL., and fearing
that he would be tried before prejudiced
jury he managed to get away in a covered
wagon from Socorro County. After var.
Gus vicissitudes he returned to his old
home in Stonewa1 County with his wife
and his children.
Early in 1919 the time was rapidly ap-
preaching when his bondsmen must sur.
render him to the New Mexico authorities
for the dreaded trial.
II seems likely that the carefully staged
death" and funeral" had for its original
purpose that Of evading this trial Mani
testify, II Cochran were reported to be no
longer living the case against him in New
Mexico could be quashed. At some later
time he could reappear, II he. thought best,
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-03-12

widow" and whispering words of ,conso-
lstion to her. led her out of the room.
1t was many minutes before she was
sufficiently comforted for him to leave her.
When he returned to the room Of death
the coffin lid was down and fastened tight!
OF course, what had happened was that
Immediately his back had been turned the
corpse had slipped away into another
room, weights had been put in the coffin
and the casket sealed. But the purpose
of the plotters had been accomplished.
The minister had seen the face of the
dead man" and could testify that It had
been Cochran, II necessary. Naturally,
absorbed by the sorrow of the widow, he
would not realize that he had no real evil
dence that the man he had seen had ac-
tually been dead.
The funeral then went calmly on II
was a cold windy day and misting little.
With the digging of the grave completed,
a few friends gathered at the house short
ly after noon, and the casket, heavy
enough to contain a dead man. was loaded
into wagon and the party proceeded to
the cemetery. There were about thirty
people present for the funeral services and
willing hands helped to lift the coffin out
OF the wagon and place II in the grave.
When someone asked about opening the
fs,sat prtt AIN Riuhfs Reserved
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-03-12

with the chances that the charges would
not be revived against him.
At any rate, on the evening Of March 8,
19l9-three days before Cochrain's bonds.
men were pledged to surrender him to
the New Mexican authorities-a Dr. Jor.
dan, of Aspermont, received a telephone
call, asking him to come at once to at.
tend Cochran, who had been suddenly
taken ILL., The doctor answered the cali,
examined the patient, but was unable to
diagnose any illness. Upon insistent
pleas for prescription, however, he re-
turned to Aspermont and ordered a ces-
tain medicine sent to the farmers house
The druggist who prepared the prescrip-
tion sought the rural mail carrier the next
morning to send the package by him But
the mail carrier replied:
Whats the use of sending medicine to
dead man? Cochran died this morning
about 4 o'clock"
Neighbors of the Cochran family were
notified Of the death and several Of them
proceeded to the home, hut all offers OF
assistance were declined by members of
the family, who said that the body had been
washed, dressed and laid out on the cool
Ing boards. However, some OF these
neighbors participated in digging the grave
In the Johnson Chapel Cemetery nearby
while Patrick Anderson. one of Cochrain'e
closest friends, drove to Aspermont in his
car to get coffin and box
While In town he sought out Rev. e. B.
Bowen pastor OF the Methodist Church
OF Aspermont, and asked him to 20 to
Johnson Chapel to offciate at a funeral
The minister consented and returned with
Anderson to the come Of Cochran.
The minister and Anderson carried the
coffin Unto darkened room There the
former saw the body of a man stretched
out on boards across two chairs There
was woman bending over the body and
weeping. Behind her were two men.
AS the minister approached to draw
down the sheet from the face OF the corpse
the two men came forward and introduced
themselves as G. o. Hoggett and Wayne
Ussery, kinsmen of Cochran. The min.
lister acknowledged the introduction and
again turned to the body.
AS he did so one OF the kinsmen drew
the sheet down and Mr.. Bowe saw what
was apparently the face of a dead man.
He noticed that there was a silver dollar
covering each eye. But before he could
'bserve further the widow broke into hys-
terical weepingS
Take her out and quiet her." said one
the pair. "She needs you now more
than this dead man does"
The kindly and sympathetic Mr., Bowen
passed his arm around the sorrowing
tc) 1922. By American weekly. 4
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-03-12

Millions by Methods Closely Ne.
sembling the Fake Cochran Burial.
found. too, that the owner OF this ranch
was named j. H. Cochran and that he
had made many claims for rent of the old
Cochran place on behalf of these children.
An identification party was sent down.
And 10 and behold ]. H. Cochran was that
same Byrd Cochran whose face the trust
ing minister had seen with the silver dol
lars covering its eyes and over whose
coffin his neighbors had sorrowed!
With his arrest and subsequent convic-
ton, together with Hoggett and Ussery,
the mystery of the empty grave was
solved. Just why the coffin was taken
away later was not made very clear at
the trial Those concerned said they did
il because they thought less suspicion
would be aroused-if the. grave was
upened-by the finding Of a box without a
coffin than would have been by the finding
of a coffin without body.
Cochran is fighting still for liberty. His
attorneys appealed his sentence. The Gu
rious point is raised that II IL can be proved
that the deception was practised to evade
appearing III view ntAiCo upou TIC
der indictment rather than to swindle the
insurance companies the sentence stands
a good chance of being reversed
The Cochran case recalls, by the meth
DDS used, a conspiracy which several years
ago rocked the insurance world OF America
to its foundations: recalls, too, the tragic
fate of Sarah Weber who under various
names and in the shape of dummies
was declared dead and buried times with
out number.
The gang which used her-and other
girls and men, too--collected anywhere
from 81 100000 to 100000 by their
scheme. They would insure Sarah Weber.
who was sound and healthy, for a certain
sum. She would, Of course, pass the nee
essary medical examination. Then, after
a time, notice of her death would appear.
A funeral would be held. Medical certif-
Gates of death were made out in proper
form. The only thing wrong about the
whole matter was most skilfully covered.
1t was that the body in the coffin which
was purported to be Sarah Weber-or
whatever name 1t was she had been in
sured under-was not her at all.
The gang did thriving business buying
bodies to substitute They could well af-
ford to pay two or three hundred dollars
to some one who saw a way to get q. dead
relative a free funeral when they could
make profit of several thousand them
selves.
At the trial OF the conspirators II was
brought out that in some cases witnesses
were given hasty glimpse OF Sarah
Weber feigning death Just as In the Coch.
rain case, and that afterward the coffin
was filed with weights and hastily gotten
away Just as was done in Texas.
But at last Sarah Weber really died
Whether she was killed by the gang or
whether death was natural never did ap-
pear.
Insurance companies throughout the
country are watching with interest the
progress OF the Cochran appeal from SEN
tence That the insurance money was
gotten and spent Is beyond denial. The
plea that the securing of this money was
not the heal purpose OF the deception and
that therefore Cochran ought not to be
held responsible for II is new one IN
criminal Jurisprudence
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-03-12

been chiseled the name Of Byrd J. Coch.
rain" birth date, death date, and be-
meath the latter, "In Loving Memory OF
Husband and Father" Another legend
upon the monument showed that 1t had
been erected by the well-known fraternal
society, "Woodmen of the World"
One of the party who bore the badge OF
sheriff turned to gigantic negro carry
ing spade and said:
"Thats the grave, Jim. Start in to dig
The black turned to his task, and while
the others watched the grave was speedily
opened Suddenly the spade struck wood.
The black looked up, grinning.
Reckon here he is sah." he called up.
Eoon tie top of plain board box. such
81 a.e used to enclose caskets at burials.
W.T. cleared of dirt. And as the party
peers.r down the screws we're unloosened
and tn. top lifted.
AS tt. cover was thrust aside there came
simults, eous gasp of amazement and in
credulity from the watchers. For inside
the box w.s--nothing!
Yet not many weeks before several OF
those gathered at the side of the grave had
seen a coffin in which was the body. so
they had thought, OF Byrd Cochran lowered
into that very box They had stood there
while a minister had intoned, Ashes to
ashes and dust to dust" and so on through
the burial ritual They had seen and had
heard the earth fall upon that box and mao
watched the grave filed to the top with
earth. And later the order to which Coch-
rain had belonged had come and sorrow.
fully set up the monument to Its departed
brother.
What had become of the coffin that hal
held, as they had supposed, all that was
mortal of Byrd J. Cochran? And what
had become of the body? How had they
been removed from the grave-and why
There were a number of houses close BY
one of them the. very home in which Coch'
rain himself had lived. No one had seen
the coffin taken out after the burial and no
one had noticed any signs that the grave
had been disturbed.
Yet coffin and body were gone!
So impossible did 1t seem that one OF
the men who had helped TO lower that sam
coffin into that self.same grave, and whose
eyes had bulged in establishment at the
sight of the empty box. called to the negro
as they were turning to 60 saying:
Raise that lid again, Jim, and let me
take another look"
Thus began what soon, from one end o.
Texas to the other, was known as the
mystery of the empty grave"-a mystery.
too, that was made deeper a few weeks
later when Cochran was arrested and tried
before Il Jury on charges Of swindling and
erjury. and with two of his kinsmen, who
lad aided in the astonishing deception,
vas found guilty and sentenced.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-03-12

Zone the the Mr.
What the face Of dead uuh Uer dollar
before he could further the do
into hysterica Weeping
Take her pleaded of the knsn,en She
needs your more thonth dead mans
"The kindly and sympathetic minister passed his
Of
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-03-12

TT was not long ago that
a little party of deter
= mined : looking len
marched into a lonely
cemetery down in the
western Texas county of
Stonewall. They paused at
the foot of a somewhat I'm
posing stone monument up
on whose stone front had
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-03-12

&c, 1922. By American weekly. Inc.
Pueblo chieftain., 1922-03-12
SCHOOL PLANS GAIN IN
FAVOR IN NORTH SIDE

Tho school building plans Of the
board Ct education Of the North Side
are gaining in favor In all sections of
the district. Various groups of parents
have met during the past week to dis
cuss the proposition and no opposition
has arisen to the plan as outlined in re-
cent issues of this paper, The idea OF
issuing Just enough bonds to relieve the
crowded conditions of the grade build
ings at present but providing for the
junior high schools as a part OF the
bigger program for the future meets
with general approval.
1t has been pointed out that the pro-
gram will not only benefit the COM
munities where the buildings are to be
built but will relieve congestion in all
schools and raise the standard OF work
in the entire district. Tho following Is
statement of the situation at Somer-
lid by Miss Henrietta Robinson, prin-
cipal:
"Somerlid School has been hampered
by badly over-crowded rooms in the
middle grades. Some relief was at
forded by the opening of an additional
classroom in the basement To do this.
1t was necessary to discontinue the
Manual Training and equip that room
for classroom. About forty children
are taken care of in this way, but they
are under the disadvantage of having
to work under artificial light all. or
part, of every day.
During the school year 1s2o-21. more
Pueblo chieftain., 1922-03-12
J. ", MDANlELS, WELL-KNOWN
PIONEER PUEBLOAN IS DEAD

elected him county commissioner OF
Pueblo county. he filled the office
with credit to himself and his party
and did much for Pueblo county dur
ing his incumbency In his homo
community he has held many offices
and served the people loyalty. and
to John w. Mcdaniel is due the credit
for the splendid public schools
Nepesta now enjoys. Deceased was
n highly educated and we'll informed
man, and 1t was always a pleasure
to visit his home and listen to him
talk about the current topics and
events of the day-for he had we'll
founded opinions on most subjects and
was never afraid to express them. He
was a very hospItable man, and few
people whom he knew ever went to
Nepesta who got away from there
without taking a meal with Uncle
john.
He had been sick for about a
month"; general breaking down
and died practically alone In the
world. leaving no relatives anywhere
to mourn his loss-but tho friends
who knew him and loved him and
honored and respected him arc legion
and his death will be sincerely
mourned by all. but especially in tho
community where he lived and made
his home for moro than SO years, will
his kindly smile. good deeds and loyal
service to tho people he loved be
missed.
The funeral will probably be held
Monday afternoon. of which further
announcement will be made. and he
will be buried st Nepesta beside his
beloved sister and her husband.
Pueblo chieftain., 1922-03-12
Messages From
the People
Pueblo. Colo, March 10. 1922


Pueblo. Colo, March 10. 1922.
~ tho Attorneys and Civil Engineers
OF Pueblo:
AZ tho meeting OF the East Side I'm
provement association this evening, ]
ondeavored to express the idea that
tho local attorneys and engineers were
fully competent to have done all and
moro than the Morgan Engineers have
done and they should have been en-
ployed and have received n competent
remuneration for their services II
necessary in addition to their. present
salaries as county and city officers. I
also slater that large uncertain amount
contracted to pay the Morgan En-
gineertng company was q useless ex-
penditure.
Attorney W. o. Peterson accused me
Of infering that the local attorneys
and engineers were wrongfully hene-
fitting thru tho Morgan Engineering
company. II my remarks at that meet
Ing were so indefinite as to leave such
an impression. l wish by this means to
apologize to cacn and every local at
torney and engineer. Had Attorney
Peterson given his very Instructive
outline of the proposed flood prcven-
ton law at tho beginning OF the discus
sion instead of at the close. there would
have been moro than twelve votes out
OF tho several hundred present in favor
OF asking Governor Shoup to call an
extra session of the legislature.
Respectfully.
J. n EwFENY.
Pueblo chieftain., 1922-03-12
Lecture Course
In Theosophy

Eugene W. Munson. ono of tho na-
tional lecturers of tho Theosophical
Society. Is to give a course of six lee
lures in this city. opening With two
nights at the Vail Hotel (next Tues
day and "Wednesday eveninss) and
continuing the remaining four cve-
nings At the Labor Temple.
Mr.. Munson has just completed .
very successful course in Denver.
speaking to capacity houses. He IL
a pleasant speaker and uses anecdotes.
stcreoptlcon and blackboard illustra-
tions freely in demonstrating the more
unfamiliar phases OF his subjects.
He appears practical and level
headed. being an engineer by profess
sion.
The course covers such topics a.
The Hidden Side OF Things. "As .
Man Thinketh." practical Psyche
logy', and "Occultism". and pictures
of such objects as thought-forms and
astral bodies are shown on tho screen.
At tho close of each lecture Mr..
Munson will gladly answer any qucs-
tion desired.
Pueblo chieftain., 1922-03-12

John W. Mcdaniel. of Nepesta. ono
Of the best known old-timers in Pueb-
10 county and the best beloved and
most highly respected man In the
community in which he lived OF any
resident of the Arkansas Valley. died
last night about 10 o'clock at his
farm home at Nepesta--the town
which he founded and named when
he came to Colorado in 1876 and set
tied there with his sister. who later
became Mrs. Davis. and who died
November IL, 1917, and was buried
Just across the road from the family
home at Nepesta. where her husband.
who proceeded her was also buried
several years before her death. De-
ceased was s5 years of age last
November s.
Along in tho latter part OF the
seventies and IN the eighties and
nineties John W. Mcdaniel was a po-
litical power in Pueblo county. yet he
always used his influence for the good
of the party whose cause he espoused.
and many a stirring speech has he
made in the Republican conventions
held In this county In years gone by.
At ono time his party nominated and