Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-07-15
TWo TRAGEDIES MUCH ALIKE
striking similarity Between the Thaw
Case and the Famous HiscOck
Tragedy.

As Is always the case when a senss-
tional murder takes place like the shooting
OF Stanford White by Harry X. Thaw on
the roof OF Madison Square Garden, the
public at once draws on the past for the
purpose OF comparing the tragedy with
some similar occurrence. IL would be dim
cult to conceive OF more remarkable
similarity. In almost every detail, than that
which exists between the killing OF White
and the assassination OF l.. Harris Hiscock
In the lobby OF Stanwix hall, at Albany,
on January J. 1867.
Although nearly half century has
elapsed since the Hiscock murder. and the
majority Of the participants In the case
have passed away. II would seem that u
Major General George w. Cole. the slayer
Of Hiscock. and Harry X. Thaw, the slayer
Of white had together discussed their do
nestle troubles and had planned the same
method Of Kidding themselves Of what they
believed were the causes thereof. they
could have come no nearer to duplicating
each others sensational acts. The STINT
larlty Of the two cases Is all the more re-
markable In view OF the fact that the same,
defense that was put forth in Coles behalf
viii he offered to save the Pittsburg mill
! lionaire from the electric chair .' .
Hiscock, like white, was n man OF broad
intelligence. As an orator he won national
fame. Like White, he moved in the most
exclusive society circles, and his, nagnih-
cent homei in Syracuse was the scene Of
many an ultrafa shionable gathering. He
was a patron of the arts. He came OF an
excellent family. His brother was Frank
Hiscock, afterward United States senator.
Hiscock, like White, sdored women. ana
his gallantry and willingness TO spend Law
l.
attentions all the more acceptable. He
was a ready wit, an intrepid lover
The Hiscock murder like the White
tragedy, was the greatest sensation OF It's
time. The historic old Delavan House and
Stanwix Hall, in Albany, we're the start
ing points of the tragedy. II was during
the Christmas holidays and Just after tho
! legsla ture had begun the winters SEES.
| sion. The two famous hostelries were filled
with some of the nations most prominent
! people
The war had come to an end and the con-
/ stitutional convention, with Hiscock as its
most prominent member, was In session In
| the city. The state and country had not
| yet tired Of paying homage TO the soldiers
who had helped TO preserve the union.
Among the honored ones none was more
| distinguished than Major General Cole, who
rose from the ranks to be one OF the first
soldiers of the land His name was a syn
onym for bravery. with Mrs. Cole, he was
quartered at the Delavan House HiscoclS
had rooms at the stanwix.
On the evening of the tragedy Hiscocl
was lounEins Carelessly against a pillar in
the rotunda of Stanwix hail. faultIessly
attlred and enjoying his after-dinner cigar
Two friends were listening to his always
/ {pfareofIpo - 10,
While the three were in conversation Gem
ersl Cole entered the lobby OF stahwix hall
from Maiden lane. and, advancing directly
to where Hiscock was standing, pulled a
revolver. Without a moments hesitation
he held the weapon against Hiscock's eal
and fired Hiscock fell dead at his feet
what did you do this forr' shouted one
of the dead mans friends.
| "He has betrayed my wife! ! was at the
war; the evidence is clear; I have the
proof" shouted General Cole above tn,
commotion that ensued following the shoot
ing
1t will be recalled that after Thaw killed
white he turned to the witnesses OF his act
and said: HE ruined my wife, and got
him" s.,
Cole was tried twice for the crime, tn,
defense in both cases being emotional In
sanity. The first trial, begun on April 2
and ended on May Z, 1868, was before Jus
tice Ingraham, in the court OF oyer and
termner. The result was a disagreement
The second trial was ended December Z, OF
the same year, and resulted in the acqultta
OF Cole. No case of recent years has helC
public interest like the Hiscock case. Dur
ing both trials extraordinary efforts wer'
made to get seats in the court room. Tn,
railroads carried thousands Of passenger
to the city on the day the case went 20 tn,
jury, and when the verdict OF mot guilty
was announced the scene in the court room
and outside the building was indescribable
The cheering could be heard for severa
blocks, and 1t was in vain that the cour
endeavored TO restore order. sympath!
was strongly in favor OF Cole and he re
ceived many letters commencing him To-
the manner in which he had disposed O
Hiscock..
General Cole died at Mara, New Mexico
on December II. 1875 Of pneumonia. Hi
wife Joined the sisterhood OF the Eplscopa
church and died several years ago Ne,