The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-16
KATE AND HER ACCUSERS.
Nearing the End Of the
Cobb Trial.
SPEECHES OF COUNSEL.
Balancing the Probabilities
of Guilt.
TBY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.

The anticipation that the trial OF Nate M Copo
would reach its conclusion to-day was not relied
IN fact an ending could not fairly have been reached
without holding Of an evening session. which was
not regarded advisable. From nine O'clock until the
hour of adjournment with the exception Of the noon
recess every minute was occupied with the closing
arguments for the State and the defence. argu-
lnents which are widely and warmly commended and
fruitful subject of discussion in town tonight. The
uncertainties of this remarkable case furnished
points innumerable upon which to base theories OF
guilt and innocence. On the one hand there was the
confession and the evidence of Bishop. and on the
other the first complete story that had passed
the lips of Kate Cobb since the bringing
against her Of the terrible accusations which
imperils her life and her honor. Surrounding
each of these two conflicting statements was
u of testimony in corroboraton. some direct
more it circuinstantal. The case was one which
came from the witness stand the arguments of
counsel with less uncertainty attaching to
st. much of the testimony had been so conflicting
and some of it so introduced that the presentations
by counsel were almost essential in setting the evil
dence plainly and fairly before the jury. MI
Thresher, associate counsel for the Defence closed
shortly after eleven O'Clock, and State Attorney
Waller took the floor to make the closing
argument for the prosecution. Mr. Waller is
OF short and robust build, with clean shaver face
ruddy complexion and air of busting vitality
and effect which is the outgrowth Of evolutionary
studies in his earlier life. He is speaker famous
throughout the State his oratorical talents and in
~fis argument OF nearly four hours to-day fully
sustained the reputation he has in the past Con-
gresham John I. Wait followed him at four o'clock
with the closing argument for the defence and made
4 noble effort in behalf Of his client. Colonel Wait
is elderly gentleman, with iron gray hair and
white closely cropped beard. His personal presence
fna and IN xuhi MIR 1css n
than that of Mr.. Waller. does not suffer in Compare
son as to impression it has upon those to whom
he is speaking. His reasoning this after
noon close. logical and well calculated to
carry his hearers forward to an involuntary belief
in the innocence of his unfortunate client That
these two men, acknowledged to be the best speakers
in Eastern Connecticut, address the jury to-
day attracted assemblage surprising that of even
the exciting days of the testimony. Not spare
ipch of the court to be found and the door
ways were packed so that ngress egress alike
impractcable Throughout the arguments Kate Cobb
sat mute and impassive Sphinx, dressed in deep
mourning and her face nearly concealed by a heavy
Grape veil. Her eyes rarely. if wandered from
the faces of the speakers and but in single instance
did she exhibit the slightest trace of emotion. and
this when her counsel. Mr. Thresher, referred in
touching terms to her husbands death. For a few
moments her handkerchief shaded her eyes, but
when uncovered there nothing to be discovered,
on careful scrutiny. from which to decide whether
grief or some more powerful emotion had inh uenced
her to tears.
Mr.. THREsHEEs ARGUMENT
Mr.. s. S. Thresher, resuming his argument for the
defence, discussed further the character and
liability of the scientific evidence the death OF Cobb
by arsenical poison; He argued that Mrs COBB
never could have administered any such quantities
arsenic produced the sudden scknesses with
which her husband afflicted. The smallest
measure known to womankind is teaspoonful: no
women would administer of this poison a
quantity small that It could rest the point of
penknife; she would give good dose while she was
Ahn m
the testimony of Mrs Cobb, testimony the
most remarkable witnessed in any court
room in the land-a under
animation and cross-examination for nearly
two days. answering quickly and intelligently
equivocating. 1t would be simply impossible for her
to have made up the string of lies charged upon her
by the State and not be detected not contradict
herself somewhere. Returning to the subject of the
poisoning. the jury should weigh the testimony of
the falling out of Mr. Cobbs whiskers, of the
three more years ago. The physicians all agreed
that arsenic would do it, and other has been
suggested We must also weigh the testimony OF
that perjured villain, Bishop, man who has made
four different statements and contradictei himself in
every OF them. The state the jury con-
slider Bishops motives for making confession We
may get some idea of the motives OF such man
when we reject that he murdered his own wife and
that he tried seduce the wife of his friend.
What he hopes now liz to save his neck in any way
possible, and he cares nothing who is destroyed.
Ii his had been tried first, it should. have
been, he would have been found guilty beyond the
shadow of doubt. Nothing but a selfish, devilish
motive ever induced him come into this and
tell the story that he did; to attempt to away
it safe to accept the story OF a man who makes
confession and subsequently comes into court
and says, Lea ,nen put man am telling 'n os
belief under any circumstances? Let us
consider his testimony, such as il is He to
receiving large number of letters from Mrs. Cobb,
but not has ever been produced nor is there evil
dence that he ever received one All he can produce
pieces of poetry. and there is proof that
he ever received one OF them from Kate Cobb. And
OF these but ON, one is written on and that bears the
Bishop gave Kate u hand mirror. Counsel read one
of the poems in rather a meodramatic manner. with
energetic gestures than sentimental poetry
usually calls for. This resulted in general smile
throughout the court room. Continuing. he attempted
To quote another OF the poems from memory butafter
perperatng the remarkable Lapls tnguU, "Welnever
miss the water till the mil runs dry" he aban-
doned the attempt amid Unsurpassed merfiment
and passed to other subje, is. First. lac spoke of
bishops frequent visits and Mrs. Cobbs objections
TO his extended stays falling dances and parties
ana kindred affairs that both families maze prac-
tice OF attending. the several presents exchanged
between the parties considered at length, and
as to one OF the most important. the cup marked
..pct. Mr.. Thresher said 1t was rernarkable thing
that direct OF the existence of this could
De secured. Bishop testified that he had given Kate
such cup, but there was no corroboratiye evidence
anywhere. Tho state never made any attempt to
prove that there wis such cup, but only went 70
as attempt show that little Della Cobb had said
somebody that there was such cup.
TIM LIBRARY
Continuing, Mr. 1hresher said:-The State has
shown the meetings at the house, and then attempts
TO- show long night walks the back streets. WHAT
nonsense TINS u.s. Bishop had every opportunity to meet
Kate in her own house, without trampng around at
night. What foolish thing also. we may believe
Bishop, was the handing to him the Gay after
Lubb's death OF two library books, la one oi which
was note and paper of arsenic. Why should she
give this arsenic to bishop when she could much
easier thrown IL into the fire into the sink
The note sad, keep this till all over" The whole
contents not worth five cents, and
OF sense would place such weapon against herself
this note and poison III the hands of any man.
The only note that Kate sent to Bishop that has ever
been produced was the one sent secretly while she
ia prison. and in this there is nothing to iudi-
cate guilt only great mental anxiety her part. and
pray crful appeal to Bishop to DO anything, If he
could. that would secure 60 her her liberty again.
airs. Cobb admits Bishops frequent visits TO her
house for business purposes. but she denies all OF
his damaging allegations, ana she particu arly donos
ever having had criminal Intercourse. The counsel
for the state dwelt upon the fact of Mrs. Cobb eay
ing the house the Tuesday evening PRIOR
10 her husbands death and remaining away until
llnrll NJ md Ind