The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-30
GUILTY. As AN ACCESSORY.
The Plea OF Frsak Cosrrove, Implicated In
the Death of Cora sammis.

The seats and aisles OF the General Ses-
the beginning Of the trial Of Frank CosgrOve.
who was Jointly Indicted with Nine. Bertha
Berger lately Of 161 East Twenty-seventh
street. but now n convict serving out a twelve-
year term Of imprisonment in the penitentiary.
for the killing OF Miss Cora Sammis of North
port. l.. l.. by malpractice. In February last. was
expected A special panel Of fifty jurors. sum-
moned that there might be ample material for
satisfactory jury to try Cosgrove. was in attend
ance. When Cosgrova walked from tho prison
ers' box 10 the bar II was seen that few days OF
Imprisonment in tho City Prison had changed
him wonderfully. His face had grown thin and
haggard. and his bearing was uneasy. ARrowth
OF several days was upon his chin. his hair was
dlsordered. and his clothing had evidently been
put on carelessly He was n complete contrast
at he r app Of Me ber aT VINO was
Cosgroyos father and his lawyers. VIM.
\. Beach and John l.. Davenport sat near
the bar. There was short consultation. and
then, II Is Understood. Mr.. Beach advised Cos
grove to plead guilty. Therennon Mr. p RswIs
on the part OF Frank Cosgrove. to withdraw the
plea OF Not guilty. and substitute the Plea Of
Cosgrovc that statement OF some OF the facts
In this case should by made to your Honor.
Frank CosRrovo made the acquantance Of Miss
Sammis in the summer Of 1877. Mt Northport.
l.. l.. where he was summoring. The acqunint-
ance wins cultivated, and in the winter OF 1878
gnRed to I've married Tho marriage was fixed
for the LIST Of January last. Owing to change
capital and labor The mnrrinre S WAS postponed
to future day. Shortly afterward Miss Sam
mis- found that she was about to become
she should be saved from the shame OF bearing
her child. She suggested malpractice. Cos
grove dreaded the consequence and offered to
~ led Ian
speak OF marriage. There have been rumors
Regarding the conduct OF Miss Sammis before
she became acquainted with the prisoner at tho
bar. He requests me to say that he does not be-
leve that they have any foundation. On the
soutely false. He stands here to-day with
out ono reproach against Miss Cora Samms.
Bent upon securing malpractice. Miss Samms
visited her aunt In Brooklyn in January. Euly
IN February she read an advei tisement OF Nine.
Bergers business. and Frank CosgroVe took
her to Nine. BerRer's house, Throughout
Miss Sammis's illness there Frank Cosgrove
was untiring in ministering to her needs. He
took her flowers. fruit. every delicacy and he
amended at her bedside night and day. The re-
suit OF that Illness Is regretted by Frank Cos
grove probably more than by any other being
ynn rms o onf nm e emu ,s psa oie
suspended until he can summon witnesses to
testify as to the reputation that he has borne"
think thnt i IL my duty to accept this plea,
your Honor" Assistant District Attorney Bell
said. In the first and second counts OF the in
dictment Cosgrove is indicted as a principal In
an accessory. Under tho law. by accepting his
plea OF guilty as accessory | leave to your
Honor the right 70 punish him as heavily rs
though he pleaded guilty OF the first or second
count OF the indictment. According to the Grim
inal law. the accessory may be punished as SCI
vcrely as the principal. | am disposed to con
graduate your Honor and the public upon es-
Gaping from recital Of the narrowing facts OF
this case"
/ order that the substitute plea be recorded"
said Judge Cowing. and grant the motion that
sentence be suspended temporarily. | think
that the prisoner should be allowed TO prove
what his reputation has been. 80 that his pun
ishment shall not DO Incompatible with exact
Justice"
Cosgrove was then taken back to prison.