New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-03
WHERE MRS. COee IS
LEARNING TO FOR CGV pte
YEARS IN PRISON
sycres ~ -~sV~S sr.Ss srer.S~ss<<s
After 80 Years in Prison
Pride That Conquered De-
spair Prompts Her
to Face Past.
By EMMA BuGBEE.

By EMMA BUGBEE.
Lebanon. Conn. Feb. Kate Cobb
IS home again. After thirty-siN years
IN prison she is learning how 70 live in
real house wth piano, a puppy and
dishes 10 wash three times day. She
IS learning how 70 be grandmother
and sit IN the corner while her six
tccn.year-old granddaughter entertsins
friends. She is learning 30 talk 10
callers.
And Kate Cobb IS making good.
ven, ID 10 Lebanon. expecting TO find
some sort OF pitiful wreck, living
mummy, with spirit and MIND dcadened
b.. the awful routine Of thirty-siX years
IN Wcthersfeld State Prison--to say
E5thng OF thirty-SiX years OF mental
agony.
Mrs. Cobb never admitted the crime
OF which she was convicted, the poi
soning Of her husband Charles Cobb,
but al least she had il 70 think about.
Innocent or guilty, thirty-siX years OF
thinking about such a thing would up
set most peoples reason,
her partner, the tragedy. though on
his deathbed in Wethcrsfield prison
four years ago he pleaded 20 see her.
evidence that Mrs. Cobb was found
guilty.
What ! did find in the home of her
daughter, Mrs. Luther Spaulding, Of
Lebanon. was gentle, little old lady.
With mind Of her own and some
remnants even Of sense Of humor.
For example: ! burst in upon her even
ing reveries armed with a box Of
flowers and my most ingratating smile.
She was as pleased as any old lady
would be with, the flowers, but even as
she lifted them from the box she
turned with quizzicsl CLEAN in her
eyes. 81 suppose you're a reporter"
she said.
Looks Back Over Prison Past.
Then We talked for more than an
hour. She tried 10 tell me what il was
ike 20 have spent half a lifetime be
hind iron bars. and couldn't compre-
mend il st all because as she sat With
her sewing BY the evening lamp she
was so like all gentle old ladies who
have had supper tables and puppies
and evening lamps all their lives. Her
hair was not even gray and was primly
crimped, as snybody's grandmother's
hair would be. Had she curled II all
those thirty-six years in prison? |
forgot 20 ask. If she had not. think Of
the personal pride which would sur
vive those years and take up hair curl
ing again at siXty-siXl The same per
sonal pride has kept Kate Cobb erect
in posture and direct in her loo. Her
gray eyes arc diInmed with suffering
and tears blur them often as she speaks
Of the past, but they are gone in a
fash like April showers, as that in
domitablc pride reasserts itself.
81 always kept my self-respect when
! was out, and made up my mind that
7 could keep il there, too That c.
plains Kate Cobb as ! saw ner.
II knew ! went there an innocent
woman" she continued, land ! never
lost hope that some day ] would be
vindicated That will never happen
/ ow. but al least | am free. ! can work
out my own salvation, i people will
give NE a fair chance.
"Prettv soon when the walking is bet
ter, I shall try 10 return some Of the
calls my friends have been kind enough
10 make. II won't be easy. My instinct
is 10 run away and hide where no one
will ever stare a. me again. have
been. out OF the house only twice since
! came home, and that was just up 10
the store. You don't know what il is
10 feel that everybody is watching and
gossiping about you. ] am not brave
enough 20 face the world yet.
She Cannot Laugh Yet.
NV friends tell me to make bold
stand, TO 60 out and laugh. can't DO
H. Not yet ! shall make the calls.
though. before long. reel il is my
duty, since people have been so kind.
How does il feel 10 be al home
again? We'll. OF course. an very
happy. but in 2 quiet wa. hnd !
cont care much about the things
went without all those wears TAKE
candy, for instance. When was there
Mrs. Cobb never uses the Tord
nrison-"we would often long 10 have
somc chocolate drops. We never were
allowed TO have candy except on nou-
davs Now have il before me all the
time and ! don't care about II at all.
40. | don't care about looking out
ever the hills, either. From my WIN
GOV, 7 can. see across the valley and
over miles Of snow covered pastures
hut never think 70 look out. ! am so
used TO living N small! space "!
daughter likes 10 look out and see nc
ncople passing. Look, mother, sne
ssys. that's Martha Jones gong by,
is it?' / ssy. People all looA alike %
me
Home - Strange 10 Her.
Sometimes re Isugn because aon
know, about the little things IN the
house. Nobody thirfs 20 tell ne be
cause the little things arc 50 slmpie
and other people take them 50 foI
granted. The frs, morning ! was out
didn't know how - raise the Vindo"
curtain. When ! was out before VIC
had cords al the side Of the window
that raised the curtain. ! hadn't 1een
. window shade in thirty-siX years, yor
must remember. so | didn't know how
% work Che modern springs. ] didn
Jare touch il for fear ! would break
something. so just waited until my
friend. Mrs. Bsgley, came ana pulled
II up for me.
This morning We had a great laugh
because I didn't know how 70 use the
DeU Kind Of cake pan. IL has little
niece IN the bottom that turns so you
rsn remove the cake # IT mas stuck 70
the nan. | couldn't imagine what 1t
was. .rI;I,,, L,o.,