Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-02-18
THE ssVEILED MURDERESS.' y

Only the older readers, and those with good
memories, will recall the case Of Henrietta
Robinson, who was best known as the "veiled
murderess," though also called the "Troy Bor'
gia." She was charged with poisoning man
and woman in Troy, N. Y, was convicted
and sentenced to be hung, but the sentence
was committed to Imprisonment for life. She
kept herself closely yelled in court and prison,
and would neither allow her face to be seen,
nor give any account of herself and family.
She has now been eighteen years in Sing-Sing
and generally enjoys good health and spirits,
and preserves her good looks. She was very
handsome, stylish woman when she went to
prison, and was supposed to belong to some
high family, either in England or Ireland.
She has never yet breathed word in regard
to her family, which has reached the public.
She is called "Mrs. Robinson by the other
convicts, who, one and all, entertain for her
the deepest respect, which almost amounts to
reverence. She sometimes appears abstracted
and engaged with her own thoughts far away,
and at such seasons her daily companions are
careful never to disturb her. They regard
her cell as shrine which holds some great,
untold sorrow, and they pass it, in moving to
and fro, with sealed lips.
The "veiled murderess" has yet an instinct
i've dread Of and shrinks from, strangers.
Having been so long in prison, and so uni
formly exemplary in her conduct, she is al
lowed many triAing privileges not granted to
the common herd of prisoners Among these
are separate eating apartment, and permis-
sion to leave the chapel on Sundays when ser.
vice is over before the other convicts are con-
Quoted to their cells. Her cell is curiosity
in its way. 1t is represented to be minia-
ture conservatory, embracing some rare floral
productions. 1t is also embellished with
many other evidences of refined taste and
culture. Though she has recourse to art in
preserving the ruddy hue of youth in her fea-
lures, the most rigid scrutiny has failed to dis
cover whence she obtains the vermilion-hued
cosmetic which she uses for this purpose. 1t
is supposed that she extracts it from the flow
ers by some process known only to herself
She is more communicative to the chaplain OF
the prison than to any one else, and toward
him she occasionally throws off portion of
her habtual reserve. It even supposed she
has made some important communications to
him under the seal of secrecy, and he states
that before many months are passed there
may possibly be disclosures given to the pub
lie, in regard to her case, which will present
her in a different light than that in which she
has heretofore stood. This chaplain, who at
tended her trial, has always expressed belief
in her entire innocence of the fearful crime
for which she was convicted. She has some
times, during her imprisonment, alluded in a
general way, to the tragedy, and has been
heard to say, eff am guilty, I have already
been severel y punished.' When asked, as she
sometimes has been, about her family rela-
tions and domestic history, she says, "1f my
freedom depends on telling who my relatives
are, 1 will die in prison." She is said to cling
to the hope of ultimately being pardoned,
and believes herselfto be the victim of politi-
cal animosty and ambition.
AN ANEcDoTE OF HENRY CLAY.-Many
years ago, when the great Kentuckian, Henry
Clay, was a candidate for reelection to Con-
gress from his native State, the following Incl
dent actually occurred:
On election day, Clay was standing near the
polls, surrounded by number Of friends,
when he was approached by an old friend
who was carrying a fint-lock rifle on his
shoulder, as it were customary for all back
woodsmen to do in that early day. When
he reached Clay, he extended his hand to him
and said, Harry, as a man I like you; but
you supported measure during the last ses-
sion which l think will prove injurious 10 the
best interests of the country therefore, I can
not vote for you again"
Clay looked at him for few moments in 81.