The New York herald., 1879-01-06
Bishops Evidence Discredited by
Ills. NeighbOrs.
TOO MEAN TO Live And AFRAID TO Die
A Murderer Shielding Himself
Behind a Woman.
MRS. C0BB'S RETICENCE AND PROSPECTS,
icy TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD !

icy TELEGRAPH TO THE HRRALD.l
m NORWICH. Conn. Jan. 8, 1879.
The statement given Friday was Bishops fourth,
and it has not the weight in this noigllborhood 5
would have had did it not differ from the first
made in October last. Early i'll the ease the susi,
cions abroad were stronger than the evidences and
the story Of the crime, far 1t related to Mrs.
Cobb, was not connected By chain OF circum-
stances that warranted general belief that Kate
N. Cobb is tine lend Bishop portrays her.
At the preliminary examination before the
Grand Jnry at New London in September
Wesley W. Bishop was indicted as the
principal and Kate M. Cobb made accessory by
only majority of one vote Cne OF the Grand Jurors
has since said in private conversation that the jury
did not deem the evidence against her strong enough
to hold her for trial. apd had it not been for public
opinion, which demanded the indictment of both,
she would have been discharged.
THEORY.
Previous this time Wesley v. Bishop had
counsel and had told his Masonic brethren
and friends that he bought arsenic for
Mr.. Charles W. Cobb to take to improve
his condition, which he kept secret at Cobb's
request brother Mason. and the promise was
that suicide would be set mp by the defence.
Cobb's friends feared for the result. Mrs. Cobb
before the Coroners jury had pavc the way by tes-
tifying that on one occasion she Heard her husband
say while taking OF DIR. william s. @. Perkins
powders This looks like my arsenic powders"
An uncle to Cobb living i'll Troy, to this city
and said to parties that Charles, while visiting
him. had asked lis arsenic promoter OF
hesh?' Charles H. Cobb Jr tall, angular. lean
man whose soubriquet among the boys at one time
was skinny" because Of his poverty of flesh; but
his good nature. free-heartedness and abilities
away the offensive soubriquet of his early years. and
hie Gaatl f,c
community stood. better or had more friends than
h G. The people. knowing Cobb, felt there was not
word of truth in these statements and were
that Bishop had not only murdered his wife, but
had also been the death Of the man whom
returned from his New London trip detected and the
few friends he had began to desert him. His coun-
sci withdrew, declaring they could not serve for
nothing man who had wealthy relatives enough
hereabouts to bear his legal expenses.
BISHOPS CONFESSIONS. u lo
Alone with his conscience, q nightmare state of
mind day and night he began to get into state of
nervousness bordering on lunacy. and when COM
throw his arms around them they We're about
to leave, and. with tcars In his eyes.
implore them. "For Gods sake come and
see me often" On October !, after fortnight's
wretehedness he confessed his criminal relations
with Mrs. Cobb and at two different times the plans
of the murder as revealed, but less in detail. He
declared Mrs. Cobb poisoned both her husband and
his wife, and closed by declaring his affection for her
and armns u wsula gladly "a die e. for o her if / could
plementod his confession with an explicit
statement informing how Kate NJ. Cobb
On the 4th of October he supplemented his
supplement and said he his wife the last dose at
ten clock the night OF February 9Th 1873. and
had he been allowed by his counsel to have stated
the facts in relation to his wifes murder the
stand saturday, he should have done He told
prosecuting attorney and has that Kate ~.
Cobb had nothing at all TO 90 with it.
The poetry OF the tragedy is all new. His illicit
connections he has increased threefoid and
the presents were an entire new feature.
so that this statement differs in
Gus particulars from either Of the other
three. aud he versatile in weaving stories that
the general belief is that he might 20 right on max
But in his recent statement he omitted piece of
humor that should have come ont for the perusal Of
the people. District Attorney Waller. in working up
the case has catechised him closely and been much
edited by his rectals During his revelations with
regard to presents bishop says, sniling:-
.'Yes, and Kate made present of motto, pur-
chasing it and working it with her own hands. She
did not give 1t to me to take home for it meant
great deal to both and agreed 1t had better
be hung In the Cobb sitting and there il hung,
tastily wrought and splendidly framed. meaning
thing to me and another to Charley.
The attorney felt his curiosity fully aroused and
as bishop paused in his detail he inquired:--
'.What kind of a motto was it?'
There twinkle in Bishops eye he re-
sponted ~ need thee every hour"
MRS. CoBB's SILENCE
At this stage of the trial dares think Of Kate
NJ. Cobb innocent, but through all the
she has kept silent. Preachers lawyers reporters
cannot draw out OF her weak word. She belongs
to the Watermans, stock famous hereabout tor
nerve aud pluck. She was educated at the free
academy in this place and is fair. pretty and intel
lectusl woman OF less than thirty-five years. She
before her in the court calm and digni-
fed, but what she will say under oath her
from the great tragedy which Is closing fast
around her no mortal can tell
BISHOPS TACTICS.
Notwithstanding Bishop opened his testimony with
the Affirmation, II know not Obliged to testify
anu crimnate myself; no inducements hopes for
mercy have been held out to me-, there is doubt
he Is doing best to bring Mrs. Cobb conviction,
believing that it is his only escape. His case was
docketed for trial i'll advance OF ners, and had
he not confessed he would have been tried
and coAvictcd probably to be hung. without
his evidence Kate NJ. Cobb would have gone
clcar but in behalf of himself as well as
the State he is making cut strong case feeling that
she will not be hanged, never has been
hanged in the.Stae, aud that there will be gallows
for one not both. In case the conviction Of
Mrs. Cobb there is no doubt the prosecution will
let Wesley W. Bishop plead guilty to murder in
the second degree and both will he sent to Wethers
field for lie, which. in this State. averages .
little longer than in 0iassachusetts, bat not moS
than fifteen years. With concession and these uney
pressed hopes Bishop attends tine religious services
every SUNDAY the Jail and his is heard above
all the others in singing:-
How the OF Jesus sounds
In holicver's ear;
Is soothes his sorrows heals his wounds,
Ana drives away his fear.