The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-18


letter Writtca In JAN Amer Sentence.
Norwich, Conn, Jan. 17.-Rarcly has a
marc dramatic scene been enacted in New Eng
Inl court than that OF last evening. when Kate
Chbr..cnod. with face pale and red 10y turns. to
bsr,onviction OF murder in the second degree.
sbe bore IT, as everybody said. like n Trojan"
For four weeks she had sat and watched the
c,i's Of the law gradually tightening around
h.r. for SIX hours she had remained in an agony
NJ suspense while her life trcmblcd in the bal
oncc only 90 bc led into the uent-up court room
nrilnishtto learn from the iurys lips that
ihev had spared her shameful death and in
stead condemned her to lifelong Imprisonment.
Fsv women Of ordinary mould could have stood |
such terrific strain without breaking down at |
hcond. II is positive fact that Mrs. Cobb has |
gained several pounds since she has been in |
prison and looks better physically and mentally |
Man she did on tho first day Of her imprison- |
nent She was n gawky. awkward. comely |
fir said one % the lawyers for the prosecu-
lion. when she was FIRST locked up; now she |
has developed into what some people might call
ihcrone.'
Mrs Cohb's lawyer. Col. Wait. IL credited in
the Bridgeport Fdl7na- OF this afternoon with
saying "A believe there is God. believe
that Kate Cobb is innocent Of her husbands
death. or even Il adulterous intercourse with
Bishop. That woman. sir. II she had had the
early training nnl educational advantages that
She deserved. would tower head and shoulders
shove The mass OF women. She is u wonderful
woman. wonderful. sirl"
WINK do you think they'll do with Bishop ?"
asked the reporter.
Han- him higher than Haman He is tho
most "a 'serabie. damnable. internal villain that
ever liyod"
Co.. Wait says that from tho beginning 60 the
mi otthe trial Mrs. Cobb had. TO a great extent.
directed the line Of defence.
pGbi' opinion Is against her in Norwich. and
Nc verdict s chara ttcrzed as the lightest pos
81 ia one that could have been rendered. Many
sul cay ,hot she ought to be hanged. Tho two
Jurors Palmer and Gayitt. who believed her
guilty. lui stood out 10 save her from the hang
man. are called weak -knccd" and soft
hearted Pretty times these are. exclaimed
aeenteman iA Main street. when twelve mon
haven't got nerve enough to stund up 10 the
rack and punish a cold-blooded mur1cress us
sho deserves" Much q this feeling is due 10
the fact that Cobb was a strong popular favor
tie. and admittedly most kind-hcarted and
indulgent husband. Few predict that Bishop
will DO hanged. now that Kate has escaped
with her neck The fact that throughout the
trial this woman las demonstrated herself to
be the mental superior Of Bishop. and to have
hal him completely undcr her control. has
nhated the public wrath against him consider
ably. Without his testimony both n and Kate
might have got on scot free and 1t is claimed
tlat having used him rs n witness. the prose-
cl,ion cannot. in deeency. hang him.
Il was nearly o'clock this morning when the
judges carriage rolled away from the court
house door. Fifteen minutes later Jailcr Beck
wt4's cutter. with Kate Cobb and her keepers
IN t. toilod slowly up the fey hill to the Jail.
81 slcui little during the night and only tasted
Der breakfast
Il was 0:2J'A. VI. when Judge Culver tthe
Chief Justice being detained 10y his brothers.
.Nnes,l mounted the bench and the Jury wcrc
conducted % their seats. Then High Sheriff
'.- AMI two hlue-coatcd assistants cleared
l..l! space directly Ia front ot the Julg =
desk and outside Of the reporters table. Four
....l- w.i' Iiaced In a row. and then az q given
e-.4l 'he sherNs assistants entered with the
j. nor. Mrs. Cobb swept ~ - tho furihtst
c.air ,u tha right. and sat down rs gracefully
c. tl .a-h size were In a drswing-room. Her
r f. r-t side her. her face twit'hing con
F..-is IS about the corners ~ her mouth and
leH- -.ta .n; in her eyes. Her suffering ap
r...t frmore acute than that Of the prisoner.
81 ,i Nr- Waterman ant Mrs. Parkman and
-i-- omi-. Mr.. Cobb Sr. the father Of
..t rcd man. stood hali dozen paccs
ID '.e aycted woman ami eyed her nar-
lr-. r'or Waller rising. said that the State
We ..F % proceed with the trial q Wesley
uf flu' the absence ~ his counsel aud
.- sway ot the chief Justice prevented.
l.N -. could probably hc tried NJ tie ncNt
t.u . tle court u New Lonlon when the
. % d" ready To- proceed on either n
MI 'n .it Nu' would pro 0ti. IS choose that for tho
t.ri.ta i ii- own wiie. Even # Bishop were
r.lF t plead guilty. II would require tho
lt- lt. of fWI Nv Ices % conVicthlm.
N.-. D...'s Sentence was passed in the strict
tH1. AtLner cAara.terisuc OF Connecticut
Public Prosecutor lrisine,-In the case Of
r. w. n'. prisoner at the bar, Ia which the
lun returned verdict ~ murder in the
bo ii i".r"e. move that sentruc" be passed.
iI' turnel % tie Prisoner ana al
cp q 'h- sentence Kate did not once change
Do which WAS directed nNe lly 40 the ton
b. it- 1i---' desk. The thick. broad border
Nt irf N'l was over her mouth. and only tho
o. pttt % Lrr cOuuteuance could bee seen.
i-l 'i " NJ iwpassivea s ever, The women
-r.N .a- nr"atu- and watched her every mo-
hl' huns IN tons Whioh mus nave
.... '1r ~ she showed no emotion.
t'r d" tle bar. said judge culver
fnI ..IFc 'ren indicted charged with taking
.'' oi your husband by arsenic7h poison.
nv nii g 'areiul qnl patient trial. have
i' guilty. and the law leaves no dl-,
I il" tn.t ~ 20 the punishment. i
YnYr 90 Ter, who sat Is you aud sui
.nIy mother could. The worst 81 the
'... t'Ht d Involves the innocent ar we'll ~
tli'F whereas tho object OF the lay y 10
one and punish the other. Unfor.
.t. B, O'utl .. 40 often involve the innocent
Nti iu" guilty.. 30 FAR as the shame and dis
q. '' -H'r. II has iecn wisely and mercifully
..iu.l iuu' rrlmes Of great magnitude are
-.-t. found out II must hc remembered
' .4, Justice moves with n lcadon foot
-.fln wan an Iron hand. Your case WIS
'"i 'I iAe Grand Jury whom thoy met,
'u'y tlle'i o. lul true bin. You had
lr.iI"s' oi challenging twenty jurors.
'Hj i' .fH mon were selected. who
tt Nty had not heard or read
hi "u.ut your case 10 prejudice
.H lH"Ir Eyes. All human tribunals
II'.s. II "a perhuus possible that
1900 .-nt. nut the testimony against
nt- n-'n overwhelming. Murder has
m y ..tuIy uf late. H. this sO-called
'i r"niy Habits, there are no less than
i"rtr- awaiting trial. Detection and
10 lire sure 90 follow as night follows
ii 'H" pr son 20 whi'h you are going you
~ ..H. opportunity f0r repentance. II you
i|t. -. as suppose you VIII, you VIII
H.il b uln IS. luu Will have proper
.r- t"l t'li. Ifu portipncd 20 your strength.
..- flr u-NiatIlu Of reading good
d Nf lHing visited by your fri,nd,.
I. H"S 'i 5 "a % .o0a higher than earth
-,tt" iH had that true aud full forgive.
"lI can zone HiOne for your awful
','II''Intr that even within those walls
.."' 40 ri keith closer than a brother
'urI- away the rep"niant soul which
5000. i.r u'r'y Hnd Tor pardon" Tho
IMPRISONMENT for lltc ia the state
Veg .Ni-ls.l.