Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-05-23
a DuDed Widow


May /, 1872, in his thirty-hith year. At the age
of nineteen Mr.. Robinson visited Europe, and
spent several years exploring France, Germany
Italy, Spain, the Holy Land, traversiug the
Nile, bathing in the Dead Sea, and perambu-
latng the streets of Jerusalem. He graduated
with distinction at a German college in Berlin
after his travels, and returned to his native land
in 1861.
Shrewd and venturesome, he went into Wall
street and began specializing in stocks. Success
marked all his efforts, and after few months
he became the head of the house of Robinson,
Cox & Co., stock brokers, in Wall street, where
he had many financial transactions with Drew
Vanderbilt Jay Cooke, Henry Clews, james
Fisk, Jr., and jay Gould. He amassed a for
tune, and about two years ago retired from
business millionaire, his property estimated
at million and half, principally in stocks
aud bonds.
Last November he purchased an elegant coun-
Try seat at Brewster Station, in his native
county, on the New York, harlem and Albany
railroad and furnished ii gorgeOusy. A large
room in the house was fitted up as museum,
where were arranged an endless number of
curiosities gathered during his travels in foreign
countries. Mr.. Robinson, with liveried servants
and team of spanking bays-the envy of the
surrounding farmerS-could be seen almost any
day daShing over the country roads seated in a
neat little pheton. A man of generous i'm
pulses and of a socabe disposition, he made
many friends, and no enemies until after his
death.
On the first day of last January, Mr. Robin
son gave a wooden wedding reception in his
house to the Rev. Mr.. and Mrs. Fletcher. the
Baptist minister of the village Among the
guests was MIR. James d. Little, editor of the
Putnam County Courier, of Carmel, and his
daughter Florien, a girl of sixteen, not yet out
of short dresses. For the first time the million
aire fell in love. He was a iavorite of the SEX
but matrmOny was the last thing in the world
lA had ayar MT MI OF cd CHI
he proposed to her on the spot and was as
speedily rejected. The young miss rather
treated his proposition as good Joke. About
the next thing Mr.. Robinson did was to get on
a terrible spree which lasted nearly two weeks,
during which time he talked of nothing but
Florien, declaring that he would marry her if it
was the last act of his life, and he kept his word
On the 18th of the same month, Mr. Robin
son gave another reeepton-this time 10 his
cousins, j. I. and A. T. Smith. Miss Little at
tended, attired for the first time in the robes of
a manageable girl. Mr.. Robinson, infatuated,
pressed his suit again, and was again rejected
Then he appealed to her father and implored
him to use his influence with his daughter in
his behalf. What passed at that and at subSe-
quent interviews between Messrs. Robinson and
Little on that subject is not known. But from
those interviews il seems Mr.. Little learned that
Mr.. Robinson had previously made a will, and it
is common report that Mr.. Little promised the
sutton that his daughter should marry him pro.
Vided he would destroy that will and agree not
to make another unless il should settle the bulk
Of his property On the BRIDE elect. Mr., Robin.
son agreed to the proposition, and said that he
would destroy it. But Mr. Little would not take
a promise. He must see the will destroyed.
Mr., Robinson always carried his will IN an
inside coat pocket. hut to guard against acct
dent or theft, he kept duplicate in Robinson,
Chase & Co.'S safe, in Broad street, New York.
Mr.. Eugene robinson, Of that firm, is a cousin
al 1 N
gene HobinsOn's wife. The Will settled SO 900
u piece on three cousins in Buffalo, SO 600 more
TO the society of natural sciences in Buffalo, of
which Mr.. Robinson was member and the
rest of his property he bequeathed to his sister
Mary. This is the will WHICH Mr., Little wanted
destroyed
According to promise Mr., Robinson appeared
at Mr. l4itte's house about month ago having
with him the original will and the duplicate
lie called the Little family into the parlor, and
in their presence he threw the duplicate into the
fire. The old man smiled all over his face and
promised Mr.. Robinson that his daughter should
become Mrs. Robinson whenever he said the
word, The wedding day was fixed on the lst
of May, aud Mr. Robinson resumed his spree,
On the 2Sth of April, whilej driving furiOusly
on the Danbury road about mile from Brew
sters, Mr. Robinson reined his horse too hard to
one side, which cramped and upset the wagon
threw him out, and broke his left thigh close to
the femOral joint. Dir, Harris set the fractured
limb, and on Tuesday the a0th of April he sent
for Miss little, requesting that abe should nurse
him; but her father refused to allow her to do
SO unless Mr.. Robinson would consent to have
the marriage ceremony performed at once, it
being Mr.. Robinson's desire that the marriage,
which was to have been sOlemnlzed on the next
day, should he postponed until after he recov-
cred, Mr.. Little seemed determined. Finally,
Mr.. Robinson consented, and the ceremony was
performed at six o'clock P. NJ, by the girls
grandfather, Elder Gilbert Beebe of Middle
town.
About one O'Clock that night Mr.. Robinson be.
came insensibe, and died at six o'clock the next
evening, just tW6nty tnnr hours after his mar.
riage.
Immediately after his marriage Mr. Robin
son called his friend, Mr. o. II. Miller, editor of
the Standard at Brewster's, and told him that
he had not destroyed the will, as Mr.. Little had
supposed, and thai he had PLACED it in his sec.
rotary drawer, and requested Mr.. Miller, in the
event OF his death, to place the instrument in
his sisters possession, Mrs Robinson his sister
was telegraphed her brothers condition on the
afternoon of his DEATH and she arrived there
one hour after he breathed his last Mr. Miller
did as his dead friend had requested, and before
Mrs, Robinson had been in the house fifteen
minutes She had the will,
Meantime, it is said, Mr.. Little told The vii
layers thai his daughter was a millionaire, and
said that he should move TO Brewster's and Dr.
Beebe to preach in place of the Rev. Mr.. Clapp,
saying he would pay him, and he said to the
servants, fAly daughter is llstl6sS here now,
You will receive orders from her only From
Wednesday night until Saturday night the Lit
Ties ruled supreme in the Robinson mansion
The ri@htlu owners kept in the background and
allowed them to enjoy their brief authority in
as lOrdly q manner as they chose,
Mr., ltObGsQI was hurled on Saturday the 4th
instant The maid, wife and widow of a day
attended the burial the same as any other child
would have done, and with abont as much emo
tiQn. After having returned from the funeral
and while the temporary mistress was giving
orders TO the servants for their guidance on Sun
day, Mr., Eugene Robinson called Mr.. Little into
a room ana the following dialogue ensued:
Mr.. Robinson-Mr, Little, perceive that your
daughter has taken possession of this house
and has assumed control of matters over which
she has no authority.
Mr. I.ilte-MY daughter is the widow of the
late Mr. Robinson. As his widow she has the
right, sir, to assume the control of his house
Mr.. Robinson-But there is a will left by Mr..
Robinson, which disposes of all his property.
and 10 that will your daughter is net mentioned,
but my wife is,
Mr.. unfortunately for You and your
wife, MIR. Robinson destroyed that will about
two weeks ago.
Mr., Rohinson-pnIortpnately foryop and your
daughter, can lLlQrm yoq that you are mis-
taken. The will is not destroyed
Mr.. little-That is all very well to tell ont
sderS; but allow me to say for your future ben
eht that there is no will. saw il DESTROYED.
lie has made n0ne since NY daughter has
possession, and will retain possession, and Will
allow such persons to remain here as | see fiji TO
suggest to her.
Mr.. MISUNDERSTANDING neatly folded dozen,
ment from his poeket-Alow me, sir, TO present
Tor your inspection the last will and testament
of Coleman Townsend Robinson This is tbe
Originate you saw the duplicate DESTROYED and
for the sake Of getting possession Of my Oousnis
property, you allowed your daug hter 10 marry
him. He saw your motives, and caught Won
with Your own bait, and you have no one TO
thank hut your own avarce for the humiliation
which you must now experience
MIR. Little Cunning white and trembling yio-
lentIy as he elatPhed the wiIll-l-sl-zl-de-
de--declare, that's COleman's signature. What
id fool ! have made of myselrI On
do? '''' 'l"'i
Mr. Robinson OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES tell Won
what to do. Take your daughter and 90 home
to Carmel. Myself and wife will take possession
of this house now
Mr., Robinson walked out of the room and
Mr.. Little followed mechanically. He lost M
time in informing his daughter of the sin be.
tween cup and lip, and in less than half an onr
Mr.. Little and Mrs. Litle-Robnson were on their
way to Carmel, sadder and wiser than before the
funeral, WY