Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-08-20
CUT HIS WIFE'S THROAT.
Terrible Crime of a Negro Man on
Hooper's Island, Md.

Hooper's Island, Md.
He Butchered His wife in a Thicket
Near Their Home and Almost Severed
Her Head From the Body--Eiight and
Escape of the Murderer.
CAMBRIDGE, Nd, Aug. 17.--State's
Attorney Pattison, accompanied by
County Treasurer Tubman, left Cam
bridge Sunday morning for the scene of
the reported Hooper's Island tragedy, TO
investigate the reported killing Of
colored woman by her husband, Will
liam Robinson. Mr.. Pattison was
anxious to investigate the case
thoroughly, and has not yet returned.
MIR. Tubman got back to-day. From
him 1t is learned that William Robinson
colored, and his wife occupied small
house on the eastern side of upper
Hoopers Island, on branch of Honga
river, called Long creek, mile from
the main county road. Adjoining the
house occupied by them, and connected
with II by plank platform, is another
dwelling, occupied by John Barnes, an
old colored man and his family.
Robinson and his wife had only been
married month, but it was remarked
by many of their colored associates that
they did not seem TO get along well to-
gether. On Friday night they retired
as usual. A child of Robinson's wife
by previous husband was with them.
The old colored man Barnes says he
heard very little noisy talk or anything
that would indicate struggle during
the night, but thinks he heard moaning
sometime after midnight or early Satur.
day morning. Barnes was somewhat
afraid of Robinson. When it was fairly
daylight he ventured forth, and seeing
the Robinsons' house closed up,
which was contrary to its usual APP
pearance at that hour, tried the door
opening on the platform. He could not
get the door open. He then went to
the side of the house and tried window
which also resisted his efforts. Going
to the other side Of the house he found
door wide open. He went in and
Robinson came in shortly after. His
wife's clothing was lying on the floor
and the child was in the middle of the
bed. Barnes asked Robinson where his
wife was, and at first he replied that she
had left him, but upon being reminded
that there lay her clothes, he changed
front and said she was out, but would
be back in short time.
Barnes then looked about the house.
inside and outside, and while he was
thus engaged Robinson left. Barnes
then made a search of the yard and
premises, and about hundred wards
from the house, in clump of pine
bushes, shocking sight met his view.
Lying on her back, with her night
clothes on and her hair disarranged, Law
Robinson's wife in a pool of blood, her
throat cut from ear to ear and the head
nearly severed from the body. The
corpse was hardly cold, indicating that
the awful deed had not been long perpe-
trated. Near by was found razor-case
and marriage certificate given by the
minister who had united her to Robin
son. An empty pocket book, recognized
as ltobinson's, was also found near the
body.
Robinson is still at large and it is
thought he escaped on an oyster boat.
Justice Henry 9. Woodland about
noon on Saturday summoned Jury of
inquest, which, after viewing the body
and considering all the circumstances,
rendered a verdict that the woman came
to her death by having her throat cut
by razor in the hands of William Rob-
Inson. The remains were then prepared
Tor burial and decently inferred in the
cemetery adjoining the colored church
in Meetings. Neck.
Robinson came to Hooper's Island
about six months ago from Gloucester
county, Va. lie was regarded as a sui
len fellow and nearly all the colored
people were afraid of him. The woman.
previous to her marriage with Robinson,
lived with james Brscoe, colored, now
serving term in the Maryland peni.
tertiary for breaking into Messrs. TYLER
x Bros store about Is months ago.
Barney johnson, colored, who was in
Jail in Cambridge few weeks ago for
attempted assault on Mrs. Worth Sim.
mons, but who was released on habeas
corpus, passed the night of the homicide
with the colored man, Barnes. in the
house adjoining the one occupied bv
Robinson, The cause generally assigned
Tor the deed is that on Friday Robin
sons wife received a letter from
Brlscoe, which made her husband yery
angry. lie raised a quarrel with his
wife about il and she told him she was
going to leave him, to which he replied
with a curse and told her she would
never have a chance after that night.
The room and furniture showed signs
OF a struggle, but no blood stains were
visible, and the belief is that Robinson
dragged the woman away from the
house afterstunuing her by blow on the
head or gaggng her so that she could
not cry out, and butchered her In the
thlcket where she was found.
kilograms have been sent by the
states-attorney's order To Baltimora
Cape Charles City, Crisfield and othT
points, notifying the authorities "a A.
ON the lookout fol Robinson and r,S,sg
a description of him. He is of brighf
color, I'VE feet eight inches high, rs
years OF age and weighs 100 pounds.
MRS. POLK's List HOURS.
Peacefully, QuIetIy. and in Fnll Posses.