, 1875-10-10
CRIMINAL RECORD.
4 Man Shoots His Wife Whi1e She Lay
Asleep in Bed.
An Escaped Convict Lynched Near Forest
City, III.
Additional Developments Concerning tho New
Hampshire Tragedy.
A HORRIBLE CRIME IN NOVA SCOTIA.

Hampshire Tragedy.
HORRIBLE CRIME IN NOVA SCOTIA.
Special CoTr<spondsnee Of Tbs Cn.eaoo Tribune.
HALIFAX, n. g.. Oct. Tho present Assizes
OF Digby County, in this Province, have been
relieved OF their usual monotony by murder
trial involving features Of atrocity all the mote
terrible when viewed In contrast with the gen.
eral pescefnl tranquility which prevails in tho
rural portions OF this Province. The case ia one
OF such peculiar horror that brief synopsis Of
lts leading events is presented to TIE TRIBUNE !:
Aug. u last, . wealthy farmer named David
Robbins, residing at Bear River. Digby County,
IN the early morning shot his wife "a she lay
asleep in bed. and completed his fell intent by
dAshing her brama ont With mni]et. The act
was premsditated and carefully planned, the
murderer having spent the earlier portion
OF the night IN putting together stock OF pro-
Visions which he removed to the woods to provide
him with means OF life while skulking from the
pursuit which be reasoned would inevitably fol-
low the deed. The murder was committed at
S:3o a. m. and was witnessed BY 13-year-oid
son OF Robbins, who, from 4 room upstairs,
beard the report Of the guu, and reached hls
mothers room in time to sec his father maBhing
his mothers head in With the mallet. Two
them struck. The murderer escaped to the
woods, and chAse WAS Immediately organized,
but proved Intellectual: and, . weak after the
murder. TWO barns. belonging respectively to
sydney and Nehemiah Chute. brother and cousin
OF the murdered wife, wers burned to the ground
with their contents. Later, farmer had waltz
able OF shot, and the deeds we're At once laid to
Robbins charge, aud the chase was resumed with
redoubied vigor. At last, through information
supplied By negro named Irvine, who ackuowI-
n rnr ~ With fhn hnfo+ ~~J
after its committal, Robbins forest hiding-place
waa discovered, aud the murderer captured. He
was removed to the Digby County Jail, where be
made full confession Of the murder
that the trouble between himself and wife had
been caused by reports circulated BY neighbora
refect1nR upon her character for chastity. but
which, he said, he had never credited He aud
his wife frequently qu1rreled. and fnsiis he
proposed q separation. to which she would not
than have her live to perseoate another
also acknowledged to tho burning Of
the Chutes. barns. In connection with the kill
his wife coup-de-grace. as he could not bear to
see her suffer. Contrary to expectations, Rob
bins pleaded pot guilty in cnurt but. after .
trial in which his three sons and other
Witnesses gave evidence, and none
was offered for the defense: he was
1S na1t tna nrisona- Irr;na ~ vbo o ~ ~
accessory before and after the act. being SEN
fenced to one years imprisonment at hard labor.
The affair has created intense excitement all
over the Province, and but little or no sympathy
GRIM. CON.
Special Dispatch TO 1he Cnteaoo 7rDtsne.
DEs Mo1xEs. Ia. Oct. 9--on the docket Of
the United States Circuit Court appears case
Tor trial At the present term, which promises to
xaesod-edoedneas- Tha n1.;nt;tr !. Thopn.a 4
White. and tna defandant Hanrv Rnah rha
piaintins petition a]ls1e,. ~
/ That be- i, ,,ttzen ~ N,hr,,t, and n. a.,s,s.
ant citizen Of Iowa.
al. ,cnn oo'oe a. "so s tao wife of tho plaintiff IN
3. That, IN the month OF October, 1874, whils tho
sald plsina0 Vas living and cohabiting with and sup
II sad sta:e Of Iowa, md While ths planti snd I'D
Chloe 4. White ware living together harpily a. man
tntend3n no oE,enaant ~ wrongfni1 contlrng md
prire him Of the comfort society, and assistance Of
hs satd VIE On the day Of October, 1874. at West
Ghoe Wiz a,d .3ta1 1'3a'1. sa oa sA
ciously debeuched and carualiy knew The sai Chloe 4
White. without pr1g1ty or consent Of tho plaintiff:
and he the said defendant has, from about tho 18th
gay q feoraar5, 1874 TO the present d1a, continued
. anq canaAg Know me eaa Ghloa White
Th,t thersnT ha ~ s9actao =. 1hieS ha aai5 ch,o.
A. whit had Tor tha n1.intta vss .i;snateJ md ds
sroyed and he pIaintf va denrved Of the comfort
society and assistance which be otherwise would hare
has suffered great distress Of bcdy and mind 70 his
aamage oi $5,ooo Wherefor the plaintiff prnys the
he s.d .nm ~ az M qSd H. ~ . d iot
buEseuenta tn this action.
me reputation OF the attorneys IN the case Is
@s W aun ~ an .ne
ii defendaut is ~ not vet tiied ~ 1'A0"'A