The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-11-26
BLoODsHED IN THR00P
A Jealous Husband Shoots His Wife
and Then Suicides.
SOME MOST UNUSUAL SCENES
He Repeatedly Kisses and Carcsses Ills
Wounded Vito Before Taking His
Own Lifc-Iuhuman Action Of the
Wretch Who Caused tho Trouble.

Throop was yesterday the scene Of
| the most sensational shooting ARRAY
that has probably eve occurred in
Lackawanna county. Zera Robbins,
| frenzied by jealousy, put a bullet in his
| wife's head and after some time had
elapsed deliberately committed suicide
in plain view of a throng of n%eighbors,
| who were attracted to the scene by the
report Of the first shot. Robbins died
two hours after he fired the bullet into
| his brain; his wife is at the Lackawan-
ma hospital, lowering between life and
death.
Robbins and his wife were boil origi-
nally from Cherry Ridge, Wayne
ty. where they were married twenty
two years ago. He was a carpenter by
trade. and As years of age. She was
five years his senior. They came to
Throop about twelve years ago and
lived happily and quite ~peaceably until
about two months ago., when a dis
turber in the person of Robert Brown
| Zerling, commonly known as Robert
Brown, came between them. He Is a
miner, employed in the Rough and
Ready" colliery and from the speech of
the people Is none too well thought of
by the residents of the quiet little
borough.
Robbins Went to Wayne County.
Robbins was q hard drinker. but while
he neglected his wife and children, he
was never known to have abused them.
His neglect finally eliminated In a dis
ruption. He went off on a drunk and
drifted owe to Wayne county about
five weeks ago, where he stayed until
yesterday. Before going he had sus-
picions of Browns intimacy with his
wife. and it is said this vas the cause
of all the trouble.
Robbins owned two small adjoining
properties on Sanderson street, both of
which were In the wife's name. Just
before he went away she sold to Brown
the smaller property, which Is located
between the Robbins and Brown resi-
dences. On this lot was a 12X15 e
story building used as a butcher shop.
Brown caused this to be moved onto his
original property and set up In front
of his own house, not twenty feet from
his door. After Robbins went away,
Brown induced Mrs. Robbins to rent
her own house and take her abode In the
butcher shop structure, which was par
titioned into three rooms n would
serve very well for her and the young
est daughter, the only n of the three
children left her, the eldest daughter
being hayward and the little boy being
in Cherry Ridge, where he was taken by
his father when he went away.
Robbins Goods Thrown Out.
Mrs. Robbins secured a tenant for her
house, threw her husbands belongings
into the yard and went to live in
Browns house. A week later she took
legal steps to secure a divorce. The
case Is now pending.
All these things came to the ears of
the jealous husband, who, as after
events proved, loved his wife fondly.
Although not wishing to confess to her
that he was not able to Danish her
from his mind he could not brook the
thought of his detested neighbor.
Brown, paying attention to his wife
without molestation. 81 he brought
| himself to write a letter begging her
to make w. and take him back again.
| She paid no heed to his opportunities,
| whereupon he sent her another letter
warning her that unless she consented
to live with him. he would kill her.
This letter she received on Saturday
last, and knowing her husbands temp
erament, was much worried for fear he
would put his threat into execution.
She told some of the neighbors of the
receipt of the letter, and yesterday
morning stated that she had dreamt
for two successive nights that her hus-
band had shot her.
Robbins Put In an Appearance.
Yesterday morning about 20 O'Clock
Robbins appeared at the house Of his
uncle, Alvin Shaffer, at Dutch Gap.
a little this side of Throop, where he
spent a part of the day. leaving about
2 o'clock in the afternoon, after! avow-
ing his intention of seeking out his
wife and making an effort to effect a
reconciliation. He was sober when he
left his uncle's house, but drank more
or less after reaching Throop. At 4
o'clock he reached the little house in
which his wife was living. He paused
for awhile at the gate and was about
to enter when he saw Brown come out
of his house. which is about twenty
feet In the rear Of the little building
occupied by his wife. Brown saw him
at The same time, and beat n hast
retreat into the house.
This guilty action on Browns mari
seems to ave aroused all the insane
jealousy within the furious husband
for he Immediately drew his reyolye,
and followed Brown into the house. IN
chased Brown up and down stairs
and from room to room for about fiyt
minutes, when evidently refectine
that his wife would take the alarm ant
flee, he gave up the chase and rushed
over to his wife's place.
Tried to Bolt the Door.
She was in the little sitting room al
the rear of the house when she saw he,
husband, revolver in hand, pass by the
side window. Remembering the threat
she vas paralyzed with fear and coult
do nothing but scream to a little girl
Nellie Wallace, who vas visiting her, t.
bolt the door. The girl attempted t.
do this, but before she could slide thu
bolt. Robbins burst in, brushed past thu
Wallace girl and walked into the room
where his wife was.
The Wallace girl was so terrorized al
sight of the revolver that she fled from
the house across the street. Before she
could give an alarm, the report of a pis.
toll was heard, and when the neighbor.
rushed to the scene, Robbins was at the
door with the smoking pistol raised II
a threatening manner He told thu
crowd that he would shoot the first one
who attempted to enter. He then wen
back to where his wife was lying ant
those outside could hear him crying
and saw him, through the window
kissing her passionately.
II had to. JOSIE" they could heal
him say. II left you to ichoose be
tween me and Brown and I told you
I'd do this. Don't blame me, Josie. II
be with you as soon as you co."
Two or three times the wounded
woman was heard speaking to him, ant
once she was overheard to remark: 90
didn't think you would do 1t, Zera?'
From their actions and the scraps o.
conversation overheard those outsid,
were led to believe that both husband
and wife were not harshly disposed to
ward one another. He seemed to de,
plore that circumstances compelled
him to do his rash deed and she accused
herself for not becoming reconclled.
Brown and His Revolver on the Scene.
While this most unusual scene wal
being enacted. Brown, the cause of al
the trouble, came out Of his house will
a revolver and started to enter tn,
pohhipo ho,,ae exclafminU fhat h.