The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-07-19
Fourth Day of the Bishop-Cobb
Poisoning Case.
THE MOTHERS STORY
A Warning to Her Son Of the Intimacy OF
His Wife and Bishop.


the interesting examination Of the mother OF the dead
man, Charles Il. Cobb. Jr. in which she told Of
the illness which eliminated in his DEATH OF
her warning him against tho accused, Wesley W.
Bishop. and telling OF his intimacy with his wife and
OF what she saw visit to his house. Bishop, the
accused, was remarkably calm during tho testimony
OF Mrs. Cobb, though he leaned forward, with his
chin his hand, and looked At her steadily good
part Of the time He smiled quietly often and occa-
sionay looked At the mother OF Mira Cobb, the other
accused who sat not far from him. by her daughters
counsel Congressman Wait and Mr. Green On
The arst glance might have thought him specta
tor ana any Of the lawyers the accused. Mrs. Cobb
was not present AT ten o'clock the first witness OF
the day j. B. Mershon, tobacconst, took the stand.
He was one Of tho Masons to whom Bishop told his
'secret and in the main points his testimony under
the examination OF Mr. Congdon, one OF the attorneys
for the State, corroborated the testimony given yes
terday BY Mr. Brewer tho senior warden of tpe lodge
In response TO a query OF one OF Bishops
counsel, IL he considered the obligations OF secret
told to brother Mason binding than any
other pledge, be said that SIT binding than
an ordinary plodge; binding than between
10 an and man., He testified taat he did not wish to
hear the secret stating he did think 1t would
be OF any benefit to Bishop to tell his secret
before than after the arrest which he said
he expected. He, however, agreed with the rest
to listen. Bishop told that IL the secret tended
crime bad anything that had the appear
ance Of crime they would reveal It, Bishop then
agreed TO allow them to do as they saw it, Some
thing SAID before he told his secret In the BAN
quet hall Of Masonic lodge about the analysis Of
Charles Cobb's stomach. Bishop said, differing essen
italy from what Brewers testimony showed yester
day, that he expected that there would be arse
MIC found In hts stomach, and that strych-
nine would also be found, he had been
taking that in his medicine. Alter telling about
CObbs asking him TO buy arsenic ana that he thought
II xiii dog, he had heard that Cobos child
there was DO good Of saying anything about the
SAID the witness, III told Bisnop that this
would be strong link In the chain OF
~" Bishop replied, II expected you would" he
subsequently said that though people thought as lie
arsenic would XIII a man, but that he did not Ao
said that his family CobOs had always been like
brothers and sisters tnat on the Gay Cooo ded ne
O'Clock he talked considerably with him. Charley
had taken him into an adjoining room and showed him
an electric battery ne was using and explained
1t. During this testimony Bishop was mucn inter-
estsd ana his eyes waterec slightly. During the con
versstion at the lodge his 0rotncr masOns said TO
Bishop that he knew II no innocent, and that If
he was everything would Gene out all right, and
expressed nope that the analysis would show
nothins in the stomach. Mr.. Carter, one OF those
present said that he didn't think that arsenic would
DO found Bishop thea said that he didn't think there
BISHOPS STATEMENTS.
Here Congressman " ate, Tor Mrs Cobb. got up and
objected strongly to the witness giving Impressions OF
others meant by what they said some questions
from tho counsel having drawn TINS sort Of answer
Judge saying that Il necessary to argue the
point, then instructed the witness Under cross
examiE alton IL elected that tho witness had
noticed the discrepancy between the statements
Bsnop made before and after be told the SECRET"
he nothing the prisoner about It. Bishop had
told him he thought a. some time that tho families
married together and had been together ever since
During this cross-eAaminatl0u at tho point involving
discrepancy OF Tho statemsnts the accused Bishop
smiled quietly to himself.
TESTIMONY OF COINS MOTHER
On Mr.. Msrshon leaving the stand Mrs. Charles H.
Cobb. the mother OF the dead man, Charles Cobb
ladyhke. petite, thin woman dressed IN mourning
and about atty years OF age, took his place sho
accompanied TO the court by her husband She at
first spoke low that OF the lawyers others
could hear her. Her seat was finally changed until
who questioned her ana repeated many OF her
replies. 5hs however, spoke quite distinctly
and decidedly toward tho end OF her testimony, and
stood tho cross examination very wcl. rhe audience
the outside OF the railing crowded up 10 and leaned
went on, ana Bishop steadily looked, with
| all except those writing, at the witness.
Mra Cobb, who stated that her drst Eliza
and that she the mother Of late Charles
questions OF george Ripley, the Guy Attorney. This
| gentleman announced that he would finish with Mrs
tween counsel This was agreed to. She that IN
February her told her that his health was bad
that ne bad strange sensations come him that
whiIo drinking Tea the day before he had a
strange sensation y Thrasher for Bishop objected.
% sswsvsr allowed To- resume His wits was nross
vi her visit; Charley, SAID hts mother, In her
Testimony, said that he went to Dr. Perkins. Mr..
Thrasher again obJected and Congressman Waite also
| objsctng, rose and said that 1herc CLAIM by
tue Public Prosecutor that any sickness a.
not think That no should 20 into that
sickness any more than ne should OF
| Mr.. Waite misconceived the medical testimony. This
| showed case Of ncute poisoning by cumulative
process; that II series Of attacks OF sickness
10 which tho accused had suceumbod 5. 5. Thrasncr
here nter1ectcd. AIl the prosecuting counsel cares
for Is 20 get In AS facts AZ he ca thai will create
pretudice." Tho judge then told Mrs. Cobb 20
| with her story.
| She stated that Doctor Perkins had given him
ipecac which had caused vomiting, that doc-
tor had said that he had taken something which no
ought 10 got rid oil he iet relieved after the vom
Ing; his vile said nothing the during
the mothers vsit; she saw her son alter his next
the nrss, and IN which he showed the same symp-
| toms; he had vomited day and night and could
not rats: b.. head, aud thought IL was bilious
| ness; ~ the third attack the mother
not present. beng out OF town; calling afterward
HE wife said tina. Charley had been very sick during
hsr absence; alter the fourth attack In Nay her
told her thai be had vol since the third at
tack. In the words OF tho witness, "sbs Charley
| Cobbs vife) came Into the while l there
I said 70 her that he had q high fever that
feeling very anxious; she said, I believe, shc could
| not tell; 1 dont exactly remember her reply.
! could not tell whether she anxious about him.
never cautioned my son In ho- presence or warned
him as 70 what he should or drink. Here Bishop
shot smile at Mrs. Cobb, Jr's, mother. The day
before he died vas IN his room and spoke OF bis
ditiou ana asked him II the doctors had not told hm
he nad synptoms Of poisoning; they thought It was
lead; he said they did, but that he ddn't know
wnefe no could 60. poison; his wife here
| said, "wc haven't any poison In the house; :"
was at the house the day he died, his vile beng
present; he iet no better; had numbness and could
not raise his hands; was with HIM whom died;
| he lay on the lounge; Mrs Conf was standing In tho
| reom; his father was holding him; a few moments
alter be died some one said, "Charey hadn't any
miss;" his fatner answered, ''He inay have false
| friends;' Mrs. Cobb did not say any thing
| WAS rBERE IMPROPER INTIMACY
In response 10 the question OF the Guy Attorney,
| was Wesley W. Bshop intimtea with Charcy's
wte" Mrs. Cobb said, ~ heard such rcports.c This
being objected 10, the wiancss answcrngkhe prosecu-
tors questions a. TO whether she spoke to her
about the Intimacy, said, in February, Charley and