Rutherford Sun November 21, 1901 A Negro Shot by White Man We are informed that a shooting occurred in the cove section of the county about last Sunday or Monday in which a Negro by the name of Shadrack Harris was fatally shot by Henry Cochran, a white man. The facts in the case are not at all satisfying and we cannot get at the truth of the matter, and what we state here is entirely on information or hearsay.. It seems that the Negro, drinking in a crowd, was asked by Cochran if he was not drinking it down, or something to that effect. The Negro replied with an oath that he was and stated that it was none of Cochran's business. After some further remarks not pleasing at all to Cochran, he drew his pistol and fired two shots at the Negro, one of which struck him in the thigh, the other in the abdomen. The last report says that the Negro died Tuesday night, and in the morning of the same day Cochran disappeared and has not yet been found. January 9, 1902 HENRY COCHRAN AT LARGE He Defies the Officers of the Law -- Has Abandoned His Home for Woodland Habitation -- community Fears Him and His Threats of Vengeance. In an issue of this paper about three months ago, there appeared an account of the killing of a Negro in the upper portion of this county by a white man whose name is Henry Cochran, or Cochrum as it is sometimes called. At that time it was reported that Cochran had made good his escape, and since then he has never been arrested, although the officers have looked after him repeatedly. A short while ago it was discovered that he was still in the section of Shingle Hollow, and it is now supposed that he has never been far away, as he makes his home in the woods, only coming out at night. Cochran is considered a very dangerous character, and has succeeded in terrorizing the whole neighborhood to such an extent that it is a hard matter for the officers to get any help in their search for him. It is well known that he goes armed, and it is equally known that there will be trouble when arresting time comes, unless the officers are sharp enough to get what they call "the drop" on him. Last week Cochran threatened to kill Messrs. Cebron Lynch and Richard Ledbetter before he left the country, we have been told. On Friday and Saturday last, a 'phone message was sent here to the sheriff from Ary, stating that Cochran was discovered in hiding on the premises of and near the residence of Mr. Ledbetter, presumably for the purpose of execution the threat he is alleged to have made. Officers where sent after him that night, but he was probably apprised of their coming beforehand, as he could not be found. It seems that he has things his own way up there without being molested by anyone. He and Powell would doubtless make a dangerous pair to charge behind breastworks. (Powell another individual being searched for at this time, in the Cliffside area, also wanted for the murder of a Negro.) January 23, 1902 Cochran Has Gone. It was reported to us by a good citizen, who was here from the Morgan district of the county this week, that Henry Cochran is no longer in hiding in that county, but is supposed to have moved his place of concealment, owing to the recent activity among the people to locate him. He must be rather a sharp fellow, or he would not be successful in keeping himself out of the power of the law so easily. February 6, 1902 HENRY COCHRAN NOT GONE. He Continues to Hide Himself in Mountain Fastnesses. We reported in a former issue, on information, that Henry Cochran had at last left the country where he has been a fugitive from justice for nearly three months, but on information we now say that he has not left, or if he did has returned again to threaten anew those whose lives he has promised to take. We hear that last Thursday night he appeared in the vicinity of Mr. Richard Ledbetter's home, too a reconnaissance of his promise, and at last broke open his barn and spent the night there. Since our last article concerning him. He has added one more to the list of prospective victims. Before leaving the barn in which he slept the next morning, he tacked upon the door with two cartridge shells a notice which stated that the writer would kill Messrs. Cebron Lynch, Richard Ledbetter and Mack Whiteside, and would burn a schoolhouse near there before he should make his final exit from his country. Litter effort is being made to apprehend him. The only raids that have yet been made for him are those conducted by Deputy Sheriff Mack Whiteside, all of which have as yet proved fruitless and of no avail. He has gone in search of him at four different times, but so vigilant has Cochran been that he has never been able to lay eyes upon him. LATER. Last Tuesday evening Mr. James Ledbetter, the eighteen year old son of Mr. Richard Ledbetter, stepped out of his home, and as he turned the corner of the house about eight o'clock, a man within about five feet of him fired a pistol directly at him and ran away. It was afterwards discovered that the ball passed through his coat at the right side, barely missing the flesh. After the threats made by Cochran, mentioned above, it is reasonable to suppose that it was he who did the shooting. Some people think that he has been talking too much to be a dangerous man, but they now have evidence of what he will do if he has a fair opportunity, and vigorous effort should be made for his capture. So long as he remains at large the life of no man is entirely safe. He is aware of the fact that he is wanted by the law on a grave charge, and the knowledge has made him a desperate and dangerous man, who defies the law and tramples it under his feet. The officers of this county ought to make a move it seems to us. July 10, 1902 Henry Cochran Arrested in Indian Territory. Henry Cochran, who has long been absent and who is wanted on the charge of homicide, and recently captured in Durant, Choctaw nation, Indian Territory, and the sheriff of this county was notified by telegraph of his capture. It will be remembered by the readers of THE TRIBUNE that he shot and killed a Negro by the name of Shadrack Harris in Morgan township during the last year. For a long time he eluded the officers of the law by hiding in the hills, and it is said threatening the citizens of his neighborhood, until at last he decided it was getting too warm for him in his neighborhood and made his escape to the west. The most probable fact that led to his capture was the reward offered for him by Governor Aycock a few weeks ago. The reward was $250.00, and the conditions were such that the prisoner had to be delivered to the sheriff of this county at Rutherfordton. The man who has him in charge has been notified to come on with him, and he is expected to arrive here within the next few days. Cochran made no point as to obtaining of a requisition, and will come without further trouble. Later. Since the above was put into type Sheriff Martin has received a message from Mr. T. W. Anderson, who arrested Cochran, stating that unless the sheriff could come after Cochran and pay the reward, that he would be released. Sheriff Martin was advised by Solicitor Spainbon to comply with the above request and will leave in a few days with requisition papers. July 17, 1902 Henry Cochran Here. United States constable, James Yarborough, the capturer of Henry Cochran, in the Indian Territory, arrived here with his prisoner Saturday morning last and claimed the reward which the governor had recently offered for him. Mr. Yarborough said that Cochran gave him no trouble whatever, and, as soon as he was arrested expressed his willingness to return to North Carolina without requisition. We called on Cochran at the jail, and on inquiry he stated that he was not in Rutherford county last fall, when reports of his having threatened people in his neighborhood were put out against him. And that he knows nothing of them, he having already left at that time. Under this statement, it would seem that someone else was using his name as a cloak to conceal their identity in putting their own meanness into execution, and trying to put the responsibility upon him. September 4, 1902 SUPERIOR COURT Henry Cochran, indicted for murder, was arraigned and his trial set for Tuesday the 9Th inst and a special venire of 100 men, ordered. (Henry Cochran received 15 years at hard labor) September 11, 1903 Nanito News Mrs Norah Cochran's little child died last week and was interred in the Piney Knob Cemetery where she has three other children. (Norah was the wife of Henry Cochran, she was the daughter of Alfred W. and Martha Searcy Haynes. Also living in this family in 1900 was a nephew of Norah's, Eliah Melton, (real name William Brisco Melton) the son of Elijah Burgin and Elizabath Hanynes Melton, he vanished at the time of Cochran's departure to Oklahoma, he was 13 years old. He was found years later to have been taken to Oklahoma. His descendants are now living in Hondo, Tex. A long story here). I am still trying to find out what happened to Henry and Nora Haynes Cochran. They seemed to have vanished from Rutherford County area. Ronald Arrowood K4HLO Sunshine, NC