The sun., 1879-01-12
VOL. XLyI.--N0. l34.
MRS. KATE C0BB'S DEFENCE.
Az INTENSELY DRdM1TIC SCENE EN-
ACTED ~ TTE COURT ROOM


Indignant but UnnVnIIIng Protest by Col
Mait-Arsenic Eating by the Styrinns.
NoRwIcH Conn, Jan. 11.--"Will they hang
herr" is the question which every one is asking
himself in regard to Mrs. Cobb. A few days
AGO il seemed impossible that jury OF the
State which had allowed lydia Sherman and
Mrs. Alexander to escape the Ealows should
enforce tho death penalty upon woman. But
The Developments OF the past forty eight hours
have wonderfully strengthened the views Of
those who nro bittercst against the prisoner.
And vet the prisoner herself is the fur
thest possible remove from tho cold-blooded
murdcross that she is accused OF being.
There ia nothing in her looks OF the woman
who Graves notoriety aud glories in unnatural
crime. The veied. silent figure that sits day
after day motionless and with bowed head in
the Norwich court room is totally unlike the
sensual paramour and remorselcss poisoner Of
the popular Imagination. No attempt at dra-
r,atic appeal. no bcsecchng glance comes from
the pale white face beneath the veil There
IL far more Of the Mrs. Glenn than OF the
Mrs Fair. Everybody speaks well OF her be-
fore the murder. Even her enemies admit that
she was a kind wife. a devoted mother a gem
erous friend and neighbor. High bred and d'li-
cate. her bearing throughout tho trial has
showed her to bc. Educated at country high
school she speaks better English and Possesses
far moro accomplishments than women who
can boast greater advantages. The woman is a
puz,le to every one who believes her guiity-a
puzzle which increases hourly as the end ap-
protches.
The Jury fled into court at an early hour to-
dny-and surely twelve more rigid and relent-
loss looking judges have rarely held womnn's
Nfe ia their hands. Rugged faces. long boards.
stern hncamcnts-it is enough TO make the
hears Of the mother and sister sink as they
rnn,e 70. moment at them and look quickly
elsewhere. The prisoner stares flxcdly through
her veil at the witness chair. where portly.
cpol-humored Professor from New Haven is
holding forth upon the possibility OF arsenic
eating By persons in good health. The
counsel chose to introduce n little humor
this morning by way OF contrast to the
pathos which is 70 follow DR.. p A.
Jewett OF New Haven was summoned as
IN expert in the history and therapeutics Of
nrscnical poisoning. BY the consent Of coun-
sci he read from medi-. york published by
Dr. Stillye in 1860. an account given by German
medical authorities Of the arsenic eaters Of Sty-
sScnrthep ss % The theory Of the defence that Cobb
took the large quantities ot poison found IN his
stomach 10 produce iatncss. DR.. Suye says
t. increase their flesh ant good looks. Ring
ers Handbook on Therapeutics an Eng
935-says that certain animals like the horse
can take large quantities OF arsenic; ,There
could be no doubt. the authorities said. that the
Styrians. both men ana women. 3i lower Aus
tria used the drug in considerable quantities
f'r the purpose OF Increasing their plump
calm that br lis use they could breathe
frrer. ascend great heights with ease. and
unable 10 accomplish. Dr. Biddle's works were
also quoted to the same en- -. IN Dr, James r.
Johnsiones Chemistry Of Common Life" there
~ stad "A an of "A milk maid in lower
Austria. who took arsenic to increase hrr
pnmpness and beauty and 70 render her more
taned her object but nv AN overdose. killed
herself. The practice was almost iuNriahly
ea;ar. In n volume OF Proceedings oi the
Manchester Philosophical Society " is assert
od that among the Inhabitants OF SVrh the
habit existed OF eating from TWO 20 live grains
of arsenlous acid daily. keuoris W'f' puDird
that the hydrac used 10y the people y Siyria was
lend h. os. shaer Soo4d1ior eiSn "%RboFiy WbS n
his presence took AZ grains and 81 grains
daily without injury. Ar-rne WAS n.sq usel ln
that country TO favor che So The test mony y
German and Austrian rhysicians who had
eaten this cheese and experienced the effects ot
ts~rnical poison was read To tie Jury 10y conn-
6eUN. Green. 80
Nr Green was in the midst OF the testimony
Of authorities VINO had seen an y2WgnGu Wsr cS5rS
hal been iLwarlly chahng and trettinE tor
some time. fairly boiled over. He sprang 10 his
Y'ur Honors object to the reading Of any
moro pf this hearsay evidence. We hon want
I, anow whether these people, fuVl ihilcs on;
eat arsenic or put II ~ thelr chee-' lLhugn'erI
~ medical authority uI any ~ indln- mas ever
Seen tA.m do 1t. or Will vouch tor thtlI dolhg H.
minutes ruled that the facts would be- accepted
a. bearing out the theories Of the author
rn- Professor went gravey on reading from
Otn another German authority, who testified
l. the vel known arsenic ha3t IN Auslrie', II
was uso0 hy men, women ana animals WIN lm-
T.uifr Workers arsenic lived u an average
Hse OF AZ years. in the cnse citcd 10 % years
TIE witness sali mat in hls oplnion G Gsi,GinS i,.S
f"' iust before going TO bed, loud laugntrrl
could stand l1rc"r cn-rs 81 NE drnG man tn,n
c sos 0i arsenicni poisoning. lasting over a
y ol II from six weeks to TWO months. there
would be hionting or swelling ot the sS IN,
e-rr,iallv under the eyelds. There WIS n grea,
C-ai Of deletnrious matter in patent medicines.
Almost all Of tne5 ngrtd'e espe,ti"i iI ~ rum nm
tairu on a weak and disordercd stomach might
produce vomiting, and other symptoms ol iol7-
g. 10. A hall or even quarter oi t'Hsp"oh-
g. Rcsrminum might under certain c!rcum-
Et n',- produce death M
llr Green iior the defercel-Can the quantity
~ arsenic In The human frame be cstlnlat,d
from the portions found in certain parts OF the
W,tness-It is m unsafe way to arrive at a
conclusion. The softer or more vital portions
oi the body are apt % ats1rh ihc poison more
du ti' harder parts OF the nodY, tne bones,
4 The safest way is to analyze the whos
state Attorney waler-Now. sir have yon
e Ai Hi} experience Eolns 20 s,,oW io lIt. ne '
ordinarily lotal doses2
1ucPu s.auiing Attorney followed up this ad-
Ntrtt-" ry asking number OF sarcastic qu'S-
t'uli.c .nit In the same doses as iho
'riou,. Iue Dotor admitted mat he bad
''r fr"n such persons nor hhh my, 9ny Heu'c"l
D. 10 OF Dis tHluRI funce ever seen thcIn'
Prosecutor Walcr-Do"s the doctrine even
YIN }1ut c5Inn,gn {? ~" ,s,,or y, com.