Friday, November 8, 2024

Thomas Cooper, Joseph Rourk Trial to Begin Monday, Nov. 10, 1924

Trials of Cooper and Rourk Cases to Start Monday. . . State Ready in Liberty Bank Case—Eight on Ducket

Wilmington, Nov. 8—Thomas E. Cooper and Joseph C. Rourk, president and cashier, respectively, of the Liberty Savings Bank, probably will be tried next week in Superior Court by Judge Henry A. Grady, on charges of violation of the banking laws in connection with the failure of the Liberty Bank following the crash of the Commercial National bank here in December, 1922.

There are five cases in the docket against Cooper and Rourk, and three cases against Cooper alone. It is likely that the trial of the first case or cases will be started Monday, as Solicitor Woodus Kellum has stated the the state is ready for trial.

It will be remembered that the defendants pleaded guilty to forcible trespass on the felony charges before Judge Grady on September 12, but these pleas were afterwards withdrawn upon an order by the judge, refusing acceptance of them and also ordering that the submissions should in no wise operate against Cooper or Rourk.

The cases charge making loans and discounts at the Liberty bank when it was insolvent; making false reports in the corporation commission; paying dividends when they knew the bank was insolvent; making loans in amounts exceeding the sums which the assets of the bank justified; issuing certificates of deposit without receiving cash at the time or the equivalent of cash. Cooper is charged with misapplication of funds.

From the front page of The New Bernian, Sunday morning, November 9, 1924

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn96086034/1924-11-09/ed-1/seq-1/#words=November+9%2C+1924

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