Norwich bulletin., 1912-06-11
THREE COUNTY CASES FOR PARDON
Appeals Made by Joseph Toscano Manual Sylvia and Kate CobbSrong Pleas For Last Named by Attorney Barnes and Ex-Governor WalIer-Addie Burns Withdraws Ap- peal

At the meeting Monday in Hartford of the state board of pardons to hear the applications of prisoners seeking their freedom, the following withdraw als were announced
 New London county-Addie Burns, Harry Wilson.
 Middlesex eounty--Cora Weir,
 Hartford county-Joseph Sarton.
 Fairfield county-Joseph Eardley.
 New Haven eounty-Guiseppi Fran CO., George, Kelly, Demenico Gricco, Frank Mccarthy,
 Litchfield county-Guiseppi Brignolo.
 The following constituted the board: Governor Baldwin Judge John M. Thayar, Morris w. Seymour, General Edward Harland, Hon. Lewis Sperry and Dr. George H. Knight.
 Among the cases to be heard were those of Kate Cobb, serving a life term for the murder of her husband; John Warren, life prisoner, who was sen fenced for the murder of his wife, and George Bedding, who. was sentenced to death May s, 1912, for murder in the first degree.
 The first petition heard was that of Joseph Toscano, who was sentenced for life in New London county, No vember, 1904. He claimed that he shot in self defense.
 Attorney Hadlai A. Hull said that the prisoner came up from New York to New London, drmsd with d revolver, and he fired four shots with the inten tion of killing Attorney Manton said that the shots vera tired in self de- fense. The fact that Q carried revolver was characteristic of his race and not an indication of a determina- tion to take life.
 Manuel Sylvie of New London coun- ty, sentenced in 1906 for life, applied for a pardon for the first time. His attorney said there is some doubt as to whether the man whose death was the basis of the charge did not walk off the dock in New London.
 States Attorney Hadlai Hull said that the victim was Charles Witter. a Or ton boy. Four men, among whom was the accused, took Witter to the dock, struck him on the head and robbed him. It was made clear to the jury that the victim was thrown into the water The injuries which he re- ceived would not have caused death The murder was committed in perpe- tration of a robbery.
 Kate Cobb, who has been in prison for 93 years, asked for a pardon on the ground that she had been punished sufficiently and that she wanted to save her children and other offspring from the disgrace of her death in state prison
 Taree Confessions by Bishop.
 Attorney John H. Barnes, who with former Governor T. NJ. Waller appear cd for the woman, said that he had a petition signed by 129 persons and in cluding State Treasurer Costello Lip pitt and Charles F. Thayer, exmayor of Norwich, for the pardon of the woman. Mrs Cobb was convicted on circumstantial evidence. Bishop, who was convicted with her, made three different confessions Which was right? On one of these confessions Mrs. Cobb was convicted. MT. Barnes read the confessions of Bishop He said that Mrs Cobb was convicted on the confessions of Bishop, who lied three times or told the truth once, but which time he did not know
 Argument by sx-Governor Waller.
 Governor Waller said he did not appear as counsel, but in the execu- ton of promise made many years