The Republican journal., 1869-05-06
An UnSoIved Mystery.
A JewcIer Murdered while Asleep in his
Shop.
From the New York Times, April 29.l

From the New York Times, April 90
Artistic murder frequently chooses the
solitude of the rural village rather than the
busting, prying city as the scene of its de-
velopment Hence we lately had the fright
full homicide at Spring Valley, and yester-
day another horrible mystery was found III
jewelers. shop in the quiet hamlet of Rye
Neck, TWENTY-FIVE miles from the City on
the line of the New Haven railroad. The
victim of his last outburst of homicdal
mania is Gilbert H. Robinson, aged %
years, a native of the village where his life
was so ruthlessly wrested from him. He
was known to every inhabitant of the vii
lage as young man, sober, industrious,
generous, almost faultless. Following the
occupation of jeweler he had established
prosperous business in small shop just
beyond the bridge spanning the small creek
separating Rye Neck from Mamaroneck.
His shop had narrow door and contract
ed show-window looking out upon the creek.
The shop is not more than eighteen feet in
length and ten in width, and at the rear.
close up against the wall, was a small iron
bedstcad furnished with mattresses, sheets
and pillows, and here, as the whole village
knew, Robinson had slept for two years
past. Sometimes it was his custom to offer
a share of this bed to friend from the
vicinity of the village who had been belat-
ed on his way home and sociable and con-
ding as he was IL his disposition, his shop
was frequently the resort Of young men Of
the villaga to pass weary evening. But
confding as he was with acquaintance, he
was cautious to fault and never retired
for the night without barring his door, nor
without placing loaded revolver within
reach Of his hand.
1t is necessary to go back in detail of the
last day Of his life to give all that is known
OF his bloody and mysterious death. On
Monday afternoon last he announced his
intention of visiting New York on the
succeeding day, to attend an auction sale
of diamonds, and from several requested
loans Of money, saying he wanted to raise
$500, but so far as is known, telling no one
how much he had obtained. Several of
these applications do not appear to have
been successful, but Michael II. Stuber,
keeper of drinking saloon some distance
above him on the same street, promised
HIM $50. and at 8 o'clock in the evening he
went TO the saloon to get the money. The
place, which appears to be the resort of the
village, was filled with crowd of idlers,
many of whom are remembered and named,
and in full view of everybody in the saloon,
Ntuber gave Robinson the money, which
the latter put in his pocket, and immediate
ly left the saloon and returned to his shop.
The saloon was open that night at least
until ! o'clock.
AT 10 o'clock in the evening, Julius Tim.
mer young man of the village, passing
the shop, seeing the door open and Robin
son standing behind the counter, stepped in
to have his watch regulated, Robinson com
pleted this task in five minutes, and while
thinner still fingered in the shop, Robinson
busted himself in putting away portion Of
his stock in his safe. He lifted large roll
OF money tied with a common Irvine string
from below the counter, and in plain sight
Of thinner put it away in the safe. He did
the same with handsome gold watch which
he took from his pocket, as be did also with
box Of rings and a box of silver spoons.
lie then locked the safe, and ZimmeI with
out noticing what he did with the key, bid
him goodnight and passed out. Robinson
had just wound up his music box, and with
its sweet strains sounding in his ears Zim-
mer crossed the bridge, not a hundred yards
away, and on which he met man dressed
in dark clothes, walking in the direction of
Robnsons shop, but whom he did not notice
in the gloom sufficiently to tell whether this
late straggler was villager or stranger.
All that thinner knows is that he met
man walking toward Robinson's whose shop
door was still open, and whose lamps threw
q band of dazzling light across the lonely
street.
This is the last seen of Robinson alive.
No evidence has been obtained as to when
he closed his door, or as to who, if any one
was with him when he closed his door and
retired for the night. The next morning his
shop was closed but the circumstance oc-
casioned no remark among his immediate
neighbors, who had been informed of his
intention of visiting New York, and who
knew it was his custom to close his place
during his absence. About o'clock in the
morning Daniel Stuber, aged II years, who
wanted to inquire about a watch, happened
10 try the door, and, finding it unlocked,
- Nt4' Ah' nv saw HO oue, Hodru 10 one III
The back part of the shop, which was
screened from view by large box. The
boy stamped twice to attract attention, but
receiving no response passed out, closing the
door behind. The boy knew of nothing
singular in the door being unlocked, and
did not happen to mention the fact during
the day.
At 30 o'clock in the evening, William
II. Seller, a neighbor of Robinson, sat be-
fore his door, just beyond that of the jew
eler, with VIM. Perrin, when Mr.. Fisher
crossed the bridge, and, passing Robinson's
happened to try the door. He found it I'm
locked, looked in, saw bundles lying on the
showcase, and called to the two men that
Gilbert had returned. They went in, called
Colbert twice, and getting no answer,
passed behind the box, and in the I'M
certain light saw Robinson lying upon his
bed. Surprising he was asleep, Seller put
his hand upon his face, and instantly ex-
claimed, He's dead" The village was
aroused, and, lights being brought, the first
murder in the annals of the quiet hamlet
was revealed and most horrible murder
II was.