Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1879-01-09

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lutions ol sorrow and respectwere sown
in equal quantities to the memory OF
the "dear deceased sister" Tears
were also shed over the bowed head Of
the heart-broken Bishop and that os
Kate Cobb. who mourued the iFrepara-
bic loss OF ssheF dearest friend" Thea
Mra. Cobb advanced silently. in her
teawy EnraFning atairas g Ahh kronl-ak
the platform. and read. n pathetic
tones. touching poetry about her dead
friend. The last lines were > "She
is not dead. she is not dead. She lives
within my heart"
Then the meeting was adjourned,
and Bishop went back TO his grocery,
and Kate to her home. A few days
aiterward the inconsolable Bishop was
lovingly gazing down upon the brown
hair OF fKate's bended head as she pinned
a rosebud into the lapel of his coat
His visits to her home. ostensibly TO de-
liver goods, grew daily more frequent
and of longer duration.
A few days before the sickness of
Mrs. Bishop. Charlie Cobb was taken
with severe constructions and vomiting.
He speedily recovered, and thinking
that the attack had been caused by his
usual spring bllliousness he bought ca
thartic bitters and began 70 take them.
The bitters did not produce the usual
effect. The more he took OF them the
more unpleasant his sensations become,
and he at length threw the medicine
away. On the last Of February, Cobb
was attacked BY the strange consiric-
tions. dizziness, and vomiting that
overpowered him the first ofthe month.
He consulted the best medical skill,
but it was pewerless TO remove his
trouble entirely. He was doctored for
all manner OF diseases but chiefly for
led poisoning, his symptoms indicating
that ailment. On the 1st Of April he
had another severe attack, similar 10
the preceding one, and at different
intervals these attacks continued through
the month Of May. Medical prescrip-
tions afforded him slight and only tenn
porary relief. At this time his form
bad become worn TO a shadow, his eye
sight failed, he shufEied around his house
and garden with uncertain, tottering
steps, his hair fell out, and his beard
dropped from his face. He was eyi-
derily on the verge ofthe grave.
The 9TH ofJune was lovely sum-
mer day. Tempted by the serene
weather and freshly inspired by the
balmy and invigorating breeze, Cobb
walked briskly in hIs garden in the
morning sunlight. At about noon he
entered his house, and said in CHEEKY
tone to his wife: II am feeling much
better to-day: in fact | haven't felt so
we'll in long time"
At dinner he ate with a greater relish
than usual, and INDUCED IN cheerful
with Kate. At the close
of the meal she handed him a cup OF
tea, a portion Of which he drank.
He put the cup down and SAID -
"Oh, feel so strangely all over. I'm
burning up inside" He reeled and,
fell into tie arms Of his wife. who bore
him to a sofa. His face worked in
spasm ofpain, then bis form
Strengthened and stifened, and he lay
dead. His last unsuspecting words to
his wife were: Don't be alarmed,
Kate; it's nothing
The subsequent developments is this
story of double CRIME followed rapidly.
The suspicious Of Mr.. Cobb, Sr., that
his son had been murdered by poison
lag; the enforced autopsy; the chemi-
cal analysis that revealed arsenical
poison enough in Cobb's remains 10
destroy the lives Of dozen men; the
arrest Of Bishop and Mrs. Cobb, and
their commitment to Jail; the disinter-
ment ol .he remains OF Mrs. Bishop;
the discovery Of deadly doses of sim
liar poison in her system; the indict-
ment by the Grand Jury; the prelimi-
nary trial Of Bishop in the City Court,
and the binding Of him over 10 the SG-
perior Court: the binding over of Mrs.
Cobb, who waived examination, to the
same Court.
After Bishop quilted the court room
for his cell in the county Jail, the fe-
yerish excitement that bad buoyed him
up and given to his mind an unnatural
vigor and strength, TO has demeanor an
defiance and air Of Imper-
Iurbable calm self-relianee, completely
deserted him. A settled expression OF
detection and despair clouded his face.
and his weak nature, robbed OF the
support that had upheld him in the
Of his crime, utterly broke
iown IN the g,oons and solitude Of the
AL eorriGuT. To add TO his dIsconi-
iture bis pious relatives turned tor
-ent of religions exhortstion upon him.
He was a Methodist. They shouted
lamp meeting tunes, calling him 10 re-
Dentance, nightly in his ear. They
prayed with him, bidding hin to soften
BIS heart, confess, and thereby escape
iamnatIon. The result was a natural
,ne. He surrendered with none Of
he honors of war. He gathered few,
III that would 90, of his Masonic friends
n the Jail corridor one night, borrowed
paper of chewing tobacco, and as he
the stone floor with tobacco
uice told, in horribly cool way, has
tory OF crime.
The confession fell like a thunder
,olt in the community. All the ami
mostly that had ever been cherished
against Bishop was revived with dou-
BE yehemence, and mingled in the
.ide Of bitterness was an added ele-
nent Of disgust and contempt. A
strange SORT 81 compassion and sympa-
lhy toward Irs. Cobb was also excited
Dy the confession. II was pity that
, woman. who had given such ccacla-