The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-05-15
Carbonda1e Department.


dressed. he wanted to leave the hosri"
tai. He was SO overwrought. how
ever. that the surgeons knew 1t would
he imprudent for him to venture out
and he was induced to remain for "a
few days.
Osborne. as he walked about the
streets yesterday. showed the effects
of the knitting the suffered. He was
pale and pinchcd, and his steps We're
slow and feeble. He carries three
wounds, one across the lower part of
the chest. which is the deepest; one
on the left side, in the region of the
small ribs. and one on his left arm.
Where Cobb's knife penetrated the
side. the opening is about two inches
deep
The clothes of all three of Cobb's
victims are cut in Il half dozen places.
evidence of the ferocity of the attack
OF their assistant.
Osborne. in conversation with a rep
resentative of The Tribune yesterday
afternoon. detailed the circumstances
Of the trouble. and according to his vcr-
sion a young heifer belonging to, Cobb,
which was addicted TO strolling away
and eating whatever clothes came be-
fore her singular appetite. was the
commencement of the affair.
Osborne's story il that Monday even
ing he joined Dempsey. who was talk
ing to Il Mrs. Brady. their neighbor.
Mrs. Brady was complaining to Demp-
sey about Cobb's calf. which was in
the habit of devouring clothes that
were left out to dry. The calfs repu-
tation was talked about the neighbor-
hood. but it was not until the aston
ished Dempsey and Osborne actually
saw the heifer munching on a garment
that they believed what was supposed
to be a joke.
In answer to a request from Mrs.
Brady for advice, Dempsey and Os-
borne agreed that Cobb should be sent
for and be requested to take his calf
home. Mrs. Brady set out for Cobb's
hermit home. a few stones throw
away. and returned with the aged oc-
cupant. Cobb was displeased over the
calf being tied in Brady's she'd and he
grew wrathy. Dempsey, so Osborne de
clares, urged Cobb to calm himself but
this seemed to enrage the old man and
he turned on Dempsey, and before
either of them could interpret his move
he had drawn a knife and had plunged
it into Dempsey's side. He then
wheeled about and made a half dozen
lunges at Osborne, intlictng three
wounds and cutting his clothes in as
many more places. Dempsey wasn't
aware that he was stabbed. and as
Cobb turned on Osborne he shouted Il
warning to the latter, for it was only
then that he observed the knife in the
enraged asSailant'S hand. After stab
bling Osborne. Cobb, who has wonder
full agility. turned on Dempsey again
and cut him in two other places. He
fled then. but. on his way home. OBJ
serving Mrs. Brady at some distance,
he gathered stones and hurlng them
after her drove her into the house.
During the attack, Osborne says. Cobb
was in Il terrible rage and seemed al
most maddened with anger.
When Osborne came to town some
time after o'clock, to have his wounds
dressed he reported the happening, and
Patrolman McAndrew apprised Con-
stable Neary.
Constable Neary has a host of warm
friends here. and when the news of his
disaster went around the town there
We're expressions of sincere regret on
hii SiutS' nc 10 ItSdIutu one ol tnt
most fearless officers in the city. and
generally he is careful and discreet. In
all the years of his faithful service this
is the first misfortune he has encoun-
tered, and everywhere the unfortunate
happening is exceedingly regretted.
Neary says that he was taken un-
awares by Cobb, when he raised his
hands and held them above his head,
ostensibly as surrender, but really to
decoy the constable to his death
Many stories regarding Cobb are
passed around in the neighborhood of
his hut. He has always been regarded
as queer. and his eccentrcities have
caused his neighbOrs to fear him. En-
cept when he visited a saloon, Cobb
stunned everybody and was equally
anxious about people stunning him.
He never worked since locating there.
about twenty years ago. except for a
short time, but seemed to be well
supplied with money.
Cobb has always had at least half
dozen dogs. and he trained them to
snap and bark at the approach of
strangers and to such an extent that
neighbOrs always feared to pass close
to Cobbs desolate abode.
A half-dozen rifles and collection Of
knives We're among the few possessions
that the old hermit priced and guard
ed. Another indication of Cobbs war;
like characteristics is the large calibro
of the rifles in his small-sizcd arsenal
Not any of them is less than 54-calibre,
fact which is vouched for by Osborne
who at one time purlOined one of the
rifles from Cobb's dwelling.
Among the crimes which are reputed
to Cobb are the killing of his wife and
brother The murder of his wife is
said to have taken place in Jcrmyn.
over twenty years ago, and the killing
of his brother Is said to have occurred
prior to this, in the state of Ohio, where
he was located before settling in this
vicinity. The circumstances of his
brothers death are said to he as FOL
lows, and bear a resemblance to Mon
days happening:
ON the day of the crime. Cobb al
lowed his brother to cut his hair for
him. The brother intended To have a