The New York herald., 1869-04-29
SHOCKING MIRDER ~ WESI CHESTER
COUNTY.

A Man Brutaliy Killed Ia His Store at Rye
Necls--No Motive NJ Yet Discovered for the
Deed-COrOncr's Inquest.
Last Tuesday evening the residents OF the quie'
village OF Mamaroneck-from which the hamlet o
Rye Neck is separated only by narrow stream
were startled by the intelligence Of an airoclous
murder which had been perpetrated in their midst,
and nat honest and peaceful member of their com
munity had been sent to his final reckoning by the
hand OF an unknown assassin. In little store adj
Joining the Mamaroneck bridge and overlooking th'
river Gilbert II. ROBINSON the murdered man, Ia
carried on The trade OF a jeweller and watchmake
for the past two years. ana being steady, industr
Gus man. it was well known that his business wa
in a prosperous condition Deceased, who was abou
thirty years OF age was well known in the neghbor
hood having been born and brought up in the tow
OF Mamaroneck, where his father still pursues III
calling of a farmer. He was quiet and unassupin
in his manner and none OF his neighbors are aware
OF his having an enemy. Not the least mysteFi
ous part OF the tragedy Is the fact that the store IL
which il was enacted ad!oins one kept by the lad
who owns the building and whose sleeping apart
ment is situated directly over the spot in which th
nurderous blows were dealt. In short, IL might
stated that the unfortunate leweer was surrounde,
py stores and families to such an extent that no
would ever dream that 4 murderer would dare selec
such thicAly populated locality.
Throughout The day named 1t was observed by tn
neighbors that the shutters and door OF the mur
dered mans store renamed closed; but As he hat
mentioned the evening previous his intention o
gon0 10 the city the condition OF the store dd moi
attract unusual attention. as deceased nad no assist
ant and was always compelled TO close whenever h
lett his place OF business About hali-past sevel
O'Clock In the evening young man named Flshet
who mad purchased watch from deceased, called Z
nave It regulated and seeing the place close(
SaSa to the pressue esn .s oncng into m
store he saw some packages on the snow
case, ana, not seeing the owner inside
called to a couple OF neghbors who wer
sitting few feet from the spot and asked wher,
Robinson was, remarking that his store was no
locked. The two neighbors whom Fisher had Spoken
To approached the door and called loudly Tor Robin
son. but received no answer, and at this time one
them discovered that the key was in the lock on th'
Inside OF the door. The three men entered the store
ana on going to the back part, where deceased
slept, were horrifed 10 lind him corpse upon III.
three rushed into the street and alarmed the neigh
bors. DR.. Joseph Hoffman, the village physician
having been called, light was soon obtained
III being then darKl and on viewing the body
revolving spectacle presented itseli. Lying Ini
length upon q pallet, the head slightly
inclined to the right ana partly resting on the rish
hand the body OF the Jeweller, quite cold. The
shoulders and part OF the head lay ia pool OF &C
agulaed blood the features almost obscured by the
same CORY substance, While the wall was bespar
tered with the life current or the murdered man oA
the upper portion or right SIDE Of the skull the bon,
crushed IN three or four places as by blows d
q heavy instrument, the nature Oh WHICH was ut oiH
explained 10y the metal portion OF doube'bit
relied gun WLlch was lOnnu Iliny against Tue par
low, with one end resting on the door, within feF
inches OF deceased's head. This weapon, on beng
examined, was found to be covered VITA
blood, and, as portion OF it htted one q
the WOUNDS III the mans skull, no doutt
remains that that was the instrument used b. the
murderer. The body was dressed, with the eXcelt
OF the coat, shoes and stockings, though de-
ceased lay down prepared to get up early, IN orde
as he stared on Monday evening, TO reach the ciy
by the irst train next morning. The scene OF the
murder, together with the store having been placed
| in charge Of town onlcers nothing was disturbed
nm no al rriV a
terday afternoon. \ search was then maze OF de-
ceaseds clothes, but nothing was found on the body
except sixty cents in currency and bis Enlfe irWas
observed turning cut the right hand pocket oi
the pantaioOns worl by deceased that the insrie
showed bloody marks, - though hand slneared
With blood had been inserted thefe most uiiigcnt
search made l0f the safe Key but without asal
winch, taken IN connection witn othef cTcum-
stances warrants the theory that the murderer,
knowing Robinson mad borrowed money on thai
ovening sought some excuse 10 remain VITA MN n
the store unit late hour and, selecting his OppOr
tunliy, While lIs vicjil was lying on the pe1 not
thinking Of naric dealt the fatal blow from behind
following tins ~ with repeated strokes. =
Having accomplished one part OF his object II Is
supposed that the next move was 10 take the SAFE
Key from the POCKET OF the murdered man and open
sirgcllOn refused 10 obey the murdercr's Iin-
gers, on seeing which he ief5 the premi-
SEES closing tGe door ai;er HIM t may here DC re-
marked pareniheucaily mat ile ohy othet ,hdV
o, egress except the door was through bacN
window. situated in u wall rising perpendculariy
from the river about twenty-five feet-at once eN-
clul1g the probability mat au entrance was eDecto.
in that wsy i.y order OF Coroner Smith the
services OF a blacksmith we're procured, who, after
con ideraDle LABOR ana nard knocks, sgcceeced IN
breaking open The safe, WleD, 20 Inc Surprise OF al
present. the stock OF lewe.ry, 20 the value oI tnfee
Or four thousand dollars; was found undlsturDed,
"a was also a package Of money, containing aooat
two hundred dOuars, wnicB haG DCeu c0reilily put
away BY deceased, intending to use 1t In the cry
Vita tho exception 81 the missing safe key (Which
may yet he found The homicide ~ 70 Tar dWesrd oi
any motive lor its commission and the aiair for the
gn.gi0ugg mystery, WnCu. ~ II 10 DB
hoped, the jury their iuyctigalOn rs concluded
vii. ne enabled 70 solve 80 tne satisfaction 90 all whO
love justice. fhe following testimony Yves aoduced
On the nuuesr -
William II. FISHER, being sworn, says--f wen to
the store OF deceased about aaii pass seven O'Clock
on iuesday evening, as hsd bou. :. @dte1 lIoDi
hin last Friday anu wanted 20 see how II was Keep
lug time; the shutter. OF ,he sefe "e,e mp ald me
aonr ci0seI; tried tie handle. oi iho doOr ana
| found IL uniocSed; tlel Called the de-
| ceased and obtained no sr1wer; thcn wen. 70
the front Of Mr.. settlers store, where nc and Nl-
! liam Perrin we're aittng, and told them tn4. thc
| store was open; AZ three Ot VI then Wen5 10 TIE
doOr OF .he store which Mr. Seltzer opened, aud g
went inside: called deceased three or four time
| but gOt no answer; We then came outside, ana had
an GrEument az TO what train deceased w0lid come
up on ,he city; having noticed pack lses ioose
On the Showcase shu leita|t nejeaaeu Nos ~ tMhe M
| store, when Wiliian Pcril lasriaIiy 0peued tGe
door and sdS Che Key ina'Sti &c sheh Naised lito
| toe store, ana ddFanc.i 4 yJHdlu5 iue piCH part,
VIXEN Ar. setter, who Vas iirs., .u ais hand On tno
| hei aud sald "iie IL ,, lead;, an VI Us were 9.
tine bed by tNis tue and sli, "f.s, he - dcau1
we hurried ont oi the store ana ran iJf Dr. iol
| man; that Is al ! know Oi t1C affair.
| Dr. Josern Holman, OC Ig sworn, says-l am
| practising ,hys,csn IA tGo village oi MaDGrOneck
1 when called 10 the body on Tuesday evening
| ioond tha, ,Ae man had been dead perhap. nearly
| twenty-lJl hours. have since examined the body
and dissaCtnj down ~ Lhe skul on tle right eide;
found a wound about one and halt iuehe. long
where tue skuu mad been broken in; there were asC
| lesser fractures IN the same i0catty: the larger
| wound corresponds Ia size with the lower thlmbi'
y tAe Rdn lalrcl !ound; that blow woald 10 ltse
| have caused death; the blow was stt8ck from th'
| siue Ui lne bed towards tiie ead; when called IN
picked ay zoe gun barren end found blood upon IL
II was hnnan uOOu; have no doubt but :. was IN,
| Instrument which caused tue death of deceased.
| william 1. 3cltL.r, sworn, aoy5-on Tuesday
night, abou. har-past seye1 O'CLOCK was sitting a
| my door, tI1t being only two doOTs from the stOr,
| oi The doceand when William Fisher came over IN
| bridge auQ vent To NcoinsOns uoor: ~ n few min
| uses al el he came 20 where 1 was sitting and sait
that b. h1 opened JBe door Of deceased's store
| IOoHlLE i1aIae baw s0iAe packages Iyi1g ON TIA
counter; another Young man, named Whlafn Per