Lt. Gov. W.B. Cooper Says Failure of Bank Resulted in His Leaving Office, Feb. 14, 1925

Coopers Take Stand in Wilmington Bank Trial. . . Lieutenant Governor Forced from Office Because He Pressed Collections, He Said.

Wilmington, Feb. 12—Taking of testimony by the defense consumed today in the trial of former Lieutenant Governor W.B. Cooper and his brother, Thomas E. Cooper, indicted in connection with the failure of the Commercial National Bank here. The defense expects to rest its case tomorrow morning, with the government finishing its rebuttal at once, it was said tonight by attorneys of both sides.

Both of the defendants were on the witness stand today. The former lieutenant governor in testifying said that he was virtually forced from office as an official of the bank by the feeling among his subordinates that he was “pressing the collections too hard, and ruining the bank.” He said that this spirit later led to his resignation, and that he accepted the chairmanship of the board as an honorary position.

Federal Judge Rose held a conference tonight with attorneys of both sides in which he outlined the proposition of the law which he will lay down to the jury in his charge.

From the front page of the Concord Daily Tribune, Saturday, Feb. 14, 1925.

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073201/1925-02-14/ed-1/seq-1/