Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1870-03-25
THE mANsFIBLD TRAGEDY.


The murder of Mary ]. Lunsford, al
Mansfield, of which we gave an account
last week, is one of the most revolving
tragedies in the criminal history of the
State. Ansel L. Robinson, whom the
Coroner's jury points out as the perpe.
traitor Of this frightful deed, is an iron
molder by trade, came to Mansfield from
Cincinnati about two years ago, and has
been employed by Blymyer & Co., as
foreman in their extensive shops. While
in Cincinnati he welded considerable
influence among the workingmen, was a
personal friend of Sam Cary and con
tnbuted largely to that gentleman's cleo
ton. During the political campaign Of
1868 he was elected Captain of one Of
the companies of Grant Guards at Mans
field, and exerted an efficient influence
among the shop hands in favor Of the
Republican ticket In the following
year he labored with equal zeal for the
election of PendIeton. Up to the time
of the murder he had borne an unex-
ceptionable character, of which circum-
stances since developed show him.
whether guilty of the murder or not, to
have been undeserving. He is 50 years
highly respectable family, consisting Oi
a wife and six children.
MARY ]. LUNSFoRD,
The victim of the horrible butchery
came to Mansfield about seven months
since on the solicitation of Robinson,
who had known her in Cincinnati. A
letter to the Commercial from which we
now quote, says she had been married
to a Colonel in the rebel army, but left
him after the commencement of the
war, and divorce was obtained by one
or the other; for her husband, it appears,
is married again, and living somewhere
in Kentucky. On her first arrival at
Mansfield she stopped at the Pacific
House, remaining three or four weeks,
when she moved into the small house
probably procured by or through Rob
inson. Here she had lived ever since,
ostensiblysa dressmaker, as a sign by
the front door indicated, but really, it is
believed, the kept mistress of Robinson,
as appears by testimony and letters; and
here she died, on that fateful Saturday
morning of last week. She had a little
girl by her husband, who is now in pos
session of the mother of David Evans,
living near Lima, and about seven years
old. What her real relations were
with Evans, or why the child was under
his protection, has not clearly appeared;
but she IS reported as saying Evans
wanted to marry her.
JOHN EBERsOLE
Became acquainted with Mrs. Lunsford
about-fve months before the murder
An intimacy sprung up between them,
and they were to have been married the
Wednesday succeeding the murder. 1t
seems Robinson had no particular OBJ
Jechon to the marriage until Ebersole
made known his intention of removing
his wife from the city. Robinson tried
to get him to remain, but he refused
He offered him work, but without chang
ing his purpose.
THE MOTIVE OF THE MURDER.
If Robinson did the murder, the mo-
tive was jealousy, and unWillingness to
lose possession Of the woman; and as
yet there appears to be no other motive
1t is not shown that she
had any enemies likely to do the deed.
or that she had any money or valuables
that would be incentives to robbery. In
fact nothing was taken away from the
house that can be discovered. The let
ter which she had written to Ebersole,
(the ''bloOdy letter, which is printed
below, had been sealed and reopened,
and was lying on the table on the morn
ing of the discovery. This letter breathes
pure affection for Ebersole. She had
-old Mrs. Culbertson she was going to
change her mode of life, and that She
would make him virtuous wife, 4"
The theory of the murder is, that
when Robinson visited her IN the even |
ng, this letter was reOpened and its con- |
ents discussed, and she reiterated |
ler constanCy to her new lover, and |
willingness to leave town with him
herself from Robinson's s |
protection, reused the demon of ieal-
,usy in the latter's breast, and he left |
Ter in anger. With her Inconsistency
ankling in his bosom, he visited a sa-
Don, fortified himself with several drinks,
nd returned to the house, letting him
elf in by the arranged signal, or night
ey. The conversation was resumed, i
e importuning, she resisting, until, be-
lg late, she put out the lights, undress-
d herself below as was her custom, and
rent up stairs to bed, leaving him alone.
hortly after he followed, renewing i'm
to break off the marriage,
he steadily refusing.
THE MURDER,
In the darkness of her bedchamber-
his is the theory that prevails-she still
SISTED his importunities, until all at
nee, in moment, with scarce a thought
what he did, jealousy burning into
IS hearts core like molten iron, and ,
helming him beneath a sea of unre-
passion, he threw himself up !
1 her, drew a knife pressed her head !
I'd shoulders down with strength and J
,wer that caused the Stats of the bed !
give way, his left hand grasping her