The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-01-22
A DRAMATIC SCENE.
Kate CObb's Little Daughter Called to
Impeach Her GrandmOther's Testf-

Impeach Her GrandmOther's Tesff-
mony.
An intensely dramatic scene was enacted
in the court room in the recent trial of Mrs.
Kate Cobb, of Norwich, Conn.,. for the muir
der of her husband. The evidence was al
most all in, and there still remained an i'm
portant point which the prosecution must
make before the summing up began. That
was to introduce the testimony of the ten
year old daughter of the prisoner as to the
cup and saucer marked Pet" which Bishop
claims he gave her. and which she denies
ever receiving from him. They were afraid
to put on little Adele as witness of their
own. because it had got abroad that the pris-
oner's friends had tempered with her. 1t re-
manned to bring out her testimony against
her mother in some other way, because it
would never do to put witness on the stand
whom they might wish to impeach. There
was hurried consultation between the
prosecutor and his assistant, and then the
latter called out in loud voice: SHERIFF,
bring in the little girlnn
There was stir among the spectators as
tall man in blue coat and brass button ap-
peared walking by the side of a pretty little
form, all lace and feather and dImpled con-
fusion. Everybody made way for them, and
they walked slowly past the lonely figure in
black, which bent forward for an instant
and then drew back quickly until they
reached the witness chair. The little girl
climbed into it and then turned to the au
dlence pretty face, remarkably like that of
the prisoner, though with more OF the rose
bud than the rose in her cheeks. She was a
bonnie wee thing, with her long golden hair
pushed back over her face by black circular
comb, golden ear-drops and a hat of lustrous
blue silk and white lace perched on top of
her ringlets The tiny white lace scarf about
her throat was tied with just the least sus-
picion of jauntiness, and her small white
hands, nesting against her playth1ng
! of muff, showed the glitter of a rng-her
mothers gift.
''wHAT is YOUR NAME, LITTLE oNE?'
Asked the public prosecutor, with gentle
ness which contrasted strongly with the war
of words which had preceded it.
| For a moment the witness looked about in
childish confusion. Then she murmured,
| "Adele w. Cobb"
White haired and venerable Mr.. Wait
could bear 1t no longer. 'I object to this,
your honors." he cried, bringing his hand
made it rebound. Then he rose, and with
something of the air OF the lion turned to
| his learned antagonist and shook his hand
warningly at him. II object" he cried in a
wrlnging voice, "to this unparalleled scene.
object, your honors to bringing this ten
| der little thing, innocent of the nature of an
| oath or of the knowledge of anything evil,
| into to this court to testify against her mo-
Their. who is on trial for her lifel 1t is bad
enough to have these lawyers for the State
putting ueT QueSllOus, as tney huulL having
done, without bring her here to bear forced
testimony that may help hang the mother
who bore her and nursed her. l ask your
honors to put stop to this thing here and at
| the outset!''
Prosecutor Waller rose with flushed face,
in which regret at the part he was acting
struggled with a sense of duty. He spoke in
a low voice, every syllable of which was
audible in the farthest corner of the crowded
court room. He said:
"Your honors, l admit that it is most
painful sight, and nothing but the convic
ton that am doing my sworn duty to the
State and to the community would justify
me in what am about to do.''
The prisoner at the bar is her mother, y
broke in Mr.. Watt impatlently.
AYE, gentlemen" continued the public
prosecutor "the prisoner at the bar, as Iay
learned friend truly says, is her mother, but
as not the murdered man her father? Fol-
myself, if you or / were to be murdered by
poison, trust that we would leave children
yes, even little ones like this-with honor
and affection enough to aid in pointing out
the murderess even though she were her
| own mother!'
Kind hearted Judge Culver drew his chair