The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1882-07-14

lege where he remained two terms, when, for
some unexpected cause, he suddenly left for
California, without the knowledge Of his
parents. His removal was for some time
undiscovered, his letters being sent to some
of the college boys who forwarded them to
his home. After a time he, in some way
came under the care of physician who
brought him before a judge and had him
sent to an insane asylum, at Stockton, where
his father says he remained from March to
October, 1881; though upon all matters per
tanning to this period, Mr.. Cobb seemed
rather reticent. Upon the young mans re-
lease, he came Immediately home where he
has since remained, assisting in the farm
work.
The fact Of his having been in the asylum
has, until now, been kept secret but Henry
German, q near neighbor, told us that HI
had several times remarked to Mr.. Cobb up
on Franks changed demeanor, the latter be-
ing subject to profound fits of melancholy
since his return.
On Sunday evening" July 9th, the brothers
had some words concerning an unpleasant
affair of which Frank had been accused.
The next morning, while at the breakfast
table, Miss Rena happened to remember that
she had neglected to sponge her bread, and
at once passed into the adjoining pantry
leaving the door open. She thinks she was
in there not over fifteen minutes, and says
that soon after leaving the table she heard
Freddie make some laughing remark, to
which Frank replied in an angry tone, "Stop
your noise!" She heard nothing more, but
when she returned to the dining room, q
most horrible sight met her eyes. Freddie
still sat at the table, and behind him stood
Frank, grasping the head of the former,
which was bent forcibly back, while from
gaping wounds in his throat the blood
spurted over wall and table, dyeing red the
hands of the frenzied man who held him
Frantic with terror, Miss Rena rushed wildly
from the room, Frank glaring after her with
the look of a demon, but uttering no sound
until she was some distance away, when he
called after her, "It's no use now, it's all
over with
We have the foregoing facts of the tragedy
from Miss Rena herself, a very prepossessine
girl who was the only witness of the scene.
She aroused the neighbors who rushed &c
the spot, and found the murderer coolly al
work in a summer-fallow near by. He made
no resistance, claiming, Guiteau-like, that he
was justified III committing the deed, and
becoming very much enraged with any who
censured him.
The father was at once telegraphed for
and, upon his arrival, Frank consolingly told
him not to feel badly, for he would be home
in two or three weeks, ready to help with the
harvesting The grief-stricken parent cried
like child, when he spoke of his return, to
find one son in irons, and the ether with his
head nearly severed from the body. There
were four gashes penetrating to the neck
bone, any one Of which would have caused
instant death.
A blood-stained razor was found on the
table in front of the murdered boy, and the
presumption is that, after making the angry
remark before alluded to, the elder brother
passed quietly from the room, possessed
himself of a razor that was in bedroom
near by, and, stepping quickly behind Fred
dies chair, placed one hand over his mouth
while with the other he dealt the blows.
This hypothesis would account for the sis
ter's hearing no struggle.
There were very few discrepancies in the
accounts given by the neighbors, though
| when questioned as to his probable insanity
there was, as usual, a wide disparity of opin-
ion, some thinking it was done through in
sanity, others attributing it to ''pure cussed
ness" The father, however, claims the
former to have been the cause. AS to that
we venture no opinion, leaving such q decision
to more competent judges.
The unfortunate victim was buried al
Parsons Corners, on Tuesday afternoon
July 18th.
w. M. Branch-Music, Etc.