The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-11-22
Sentenced
to IA Years.:
Also Fined
y Other Defendants in Pro-
ducers Case Draw Stiff
Penalties On Their
Conviction.
Jail Term Is Given One

Fort Worth Tex, Nov. 21.-Dr.
Frederick A. Cook. oil operator, who
was found guilty in federal court
here this afternoon for the alleged
misuse of the mails in connection
with affairs of the Petroleum Pro-
ducers' association, of which he was
sole trustee. was sentenced to IA
years and nine months in the federal
prison and fined s12. 900 by Federal
Judge Kiilitts.
Fred i. Smith. treasurer OF the
company, was sentenced to seven
years in prison and was fined s1z 900.
S. Z. J. Cox was sentenced TO eight
years and fined IS 900. Other CO.
defendants of Cook who we're found
guilty drew the following sentences:
A. K. Eckman. seven years and
$4,000 fine; ". L. Braddish and ".
Z. Welty. two years each and $1,000
fine: j. S Rocks. {. ". Sleete. S. /.
Hess. T. O. Turner. 3. s. HenninSer.
Z. J. Bowen and r. L. Maxwell, each
one year and a day and 81 900 fines.
l.. A. McKercher, six years and A
81 900 fine
o. L. Ray, G. A. Demontrond. II.
E. Robinson. Harry Bleam and J. E.
Burmeister. all of whom had preyi-
ously entered pleas Of guilty. We're
fined $500 each. II. o. Stephens. who
also entered a plea OF guilty. was
fined 81 900 and sentenced TO serve
90 days in jail.
DIR. Frederick A. Cook first became
internationally known in 1909. when.
upon arriving in Copenhagen from
trip into the far north, he an
nounced that he had discovered the
north pole the previous April. His
story was accepted as true and he
was received there with high honers.
Upon returning to this country DIR.
Cook published reports of his Journey
| and wide credence was given his
narrations for some months. Since
then his claims have been disputed.
and he ultimately was branded as q
faker but in the meantime he was
the recipient of many honors. He
was made president Of the Explorers
club. New York. and a member of
the Kings County Medical society.
the American and National Geogra-
phicai societies, the American
Ethnological society. the American
Alpine club and lesser organizations.
DIR. Cook WIS graduated with a
degree OF doctor from he New York
university college of medicine in 1890
and the following year was appointed
surgeon to the Perry Antarctic ex-
pedition. Two years later h - a
party up thu west coast OF Green
land. and the next year he ex la1sa
the south portion of the same island.
In 1897 Or. Cook was appointed
surgeon To the Belgian Antarctic ex-
pedition and as a result he received
numerous decorations. including the
Order Of Leopold. thu gold medals OF
the Belgian ROYAL society and the
municipality of Brussels. and the sill
yer medal of the Belgian Royal Geo
graphical society.
Again yielding to the lure of the
north. DIR. Cook, in 1908, undertook
an expedition 10 reach the summit
Of Mount Mckinley. the highest point
en- the American continent. more
than 10000 feet above the sea level.
The expedition failed. but in 1905 he
financed another and this time he
claimed to have been successful.
II was two years later that he an.
nounced his claim 10 have reached
the north pole.
Or. Cook has written voiumlnousIy
Tor magazines along the lines CT
ethnolosy. anthropology. geography
and other sciences from his observa-
tions in the Arctic and Antarctic. He
was the author Of several books in.
cluding Through the First Antarctic
Night. In 1918 and 1914 he lee
tured in this country and IN England,
nut led life Of comparative retire
ment until he came to Fort Worth
in 1919 and went into the oil busi-
ness.