Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-04-03
LITTLE ADELE COBB.


there still remained an important point
which the prosecution must makebefore
the summing-up began. That was to in
troduce the testimony of the ten-year- old
daughter of the prisoner as to the cup
nd saucer marked "Pet." which Bishop
claims he gave her, and which she denies
ever receiving from him. They were
afraid to put on little Adela as a witness
of their own, because it had got abroad
that the prisoners friends had tempered
with her. It remained to bring out her
testimony against her mother in
somo other way, because it
would never do to put wit
ness on the stand whom they might wish
to impeach. There was hurried con-
sultation between the Prosecutor and his
assistant, and then the latter called out
in loud voice, "Sherif, bring in the lit
tie girl"
There was stir among the spectators
as tall man in blue coat and brass
buttons appeared walking by the side of
a pretty little form, all lace and feathers
and dimpled confusion. Every body made
way for them, and they walked slowly
past the little figure in black which bent
forward for an instant, and then drew
back quickly until they reached the wit
ness-chair. The little girl climbed into
it, and then turned to the audience pref
ty face remarkably like that of the prison
er, though with more Of tho rosebud than
the rose in her cheeks. She was bonnie
wee thing, with her long golden hair
pushed back over her face BY a black
circular-comb, golden ear-drops and q
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 suspicion of iauntiness,
and her white small hands, nesting
against the play thing of mug, showed
the glitter of a ring-her mothers gift.
."What is your name, little one2" asked
the Public Prosecutor, with a gentle
ness which contrasted strongly with the
war of words which had preceded it.
For moment the witness Looked
about in childish confusion. Then she
murmured, "Adele W. Cobb"
White haired and venerable Mr.. Wait
could bear it no longer. II Object to this,
your Honor" he cried, bringing his hand
down upon the bar with an emphasis
that 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. u
object" he cried, in ringing voice, Ito
this unparalleled scene. object, your
Honors, to bringing this little, tender
thing, innocent of the nature of an oath,
or Of the knowledge Of anything evil,
into this court to testify against her mo-
ther, who is on trial for her life! 1t is
bad enough to have these lawyers for the
State putting her questions. as they ad-
NIT having done, without bringing her
here to bear forced testimony that may
help hang the mother that bore her and
nursed her. I ask your Honors to put a
stop to this thing here, and at the outset p
Prosecutor Waller rose with flushed
face, in which regret at the part he was
acting struggled With sense of duty.
He spoke in a low voice, every syllable
OF which was audible in the further cor
ner Of the crowded courtroom. He said:
"Your honors, I admit that it is a most
painful sight, and nothing but the con-
viction 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 moth
err" broke in Mr.. Wait, impatiently.
"Aye, gentlemen" continued the Pub.
lie Prosecutor, "the prisoner at the bar,
as my learned friend truly says, is her
mother; but not the murdered man her
father9 For 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 MUIR
deress, even though she were her own
mother!''
Kind-hearted Judge Culver drew his
chair to the edge of the platform, and
looked upon the witness.
"Adele," he said, in q kind, cheering
voice, "do you know what it is to tell a
falsehood?"
eyes," answered the little girl, with a
nod; sits wicked"
"Who will punish you if you tell a
falsehood?"
"God WILL" she replied.
"And who told you that God would
punish you2"
"Mamma did, SIR"
The Judge wiped his glasses. and both
he and the Chief-Justice looked very
grave. There were few dry eyes in the
vicinity of the little witness. and even
the stern jurymen looked melted for a
moment. A tear stood in the prisoner's
eye, and then rolled slowly down her pale
face. She raised her veil and brushed it
away with her handkerchief.
eve admit this testimony" said Chief
Justice Park, finally, "to impeach the
testimony of the grandmother, and not
for any other purpose. Mrs. Waterman
having testified that she did not tell the
little girl certain thing, it is allowable
to impeach her testimony by asking the
little girl whatehe did tell her."
With constant promptings from the
Public Prosecutor, Adele told her story.
She said that the lawyers came to her
one day and asked her if she had seen
anything of the cup. She admitted see
ing the cup marked "Pet" in the cup
board of her mothers house. When she
next saw her grandmother, the latter said
to her, "Your mother had no such cup as
that. There is cup marked something