John D. Cochran

Convicted of murdering a man who in fact had committed suicide

John D. Cochran was convicted in Wabash County in November 1888 of the murder the previous month of John Buchenberger and sentenced to life in prison. The conviction rested solely on the testimony of Charles Reese, a horse thief who claimed Cochran had admitted killing Buchenberger. Cochran was pardoned in August 1890 by Governor Joseph W. Fifer after the discovery of a suicide letter that Buchenberger had written to his wife saying that he "was about to part from the world of mortals to dwell with his heavenly father."

Case Chronology

October 11, 1888 — John Buchenberger, an Evansville, Indiana, businessman and Civil War veteran, arrives in Mount Carmel, Illinois, on business.

October 15, 1888 — Buchenberger buys a revolver.

October 16, 1888 — Buchenberger is found unconscious in a shed, shot once in the head. His revolver, with one empty shell chamber, is by his side.

October 19, 1888 — Buchenberger dies without regaining consciousness.

October 20, 1888 — Buchenberger's widow in Evansville receives a letter written by her husband he "was about to part from the world of mortals to dwell with his heavenly father."

November 1888 — John D. Cochran, a Mount Carmel man with whom Buchenberger had met, is tried before a Wabash County Circuit Court jury for the crime. The suicide letter is unknown to the defense. Charles Reese, a horse thief, testifies that Cochran admitted the murder. The jury finds Cochran guilty and he is sentenced to life in prison.

August 6, 1890 — Illinois Governor Joseph W. Fifer pardons after Buchenberger's wife discloses the suicide letter.

Case Data

Crime date: October 16, 1888
Jurisdiction: Wabash County, Illinois
Crime: Murder
Age: Unknown
Gender: Male
Race or ethnicity: Presumed Caucasian
Arrest date: Unknown (after October 21, before end of November, 1888)
Victim: John Buchenberger
Victim's occupation: Businessman
Victim's gender: Male
Victim's race or ethnicity: White (of German ancestry)
Victim's age: Probably in 40s or 50s (he was a Civil War veteran)
How defendant became a suspect: Buchenberger had met with Cochran in Mount Carmel
Principal evidence of defendant's guilt: Testimony of Charles Reese, a horse thief who claimed Cochran had admitted the crime
Principal defense: Claim of framing by Reese and possibility that Buchenberger's death was a suicide (Buchenberger was found unconscious, shot once in the head, lying in a shed, his own revolver by his side)
Type of trial: Jury
Conviction date: November 1888
Convicted of: Murder
Sentence: Life
Appellate record: None
Basis for exoneration: Buchenberger's wife belatedly produced a suicide letter written by her husband saying he "was about to part from the world of mortals and dwell with the heavenly father." Mrs. Buchenberger received the letter on October 20, 1888, the day after her husband's death. It was not known to the defense at the time of Cochran's trial.
Legal form of exoneration: Pardon by Illinois Governor Joseph W. Fifer
Release date: August 6, 1890
Days of incarceration: 638 (estimated)
Prior record: Unknown (unlikely none)
Compensation: None

— Rob Warden