Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1896-03-06
CHARLOTTE WOOD.


member Of her family who knew her aw-
full fate, that she would die without re-
vealina it. In 40 years that she has spent
In Sing Sing Auburn and Matteawan but
one person, a woman, has visited her who
knew her true name. Even she did not
know the name she bore after her mar
hiage. This woman, on going to sec the
|veiled murderess, promised to tell the au7
Hborities Of the asylum Mrs. Robinson
maiden name.
The moment Mrs. Robinson saw her in
the ward she placed her finger on her lip.
When the visitor went, after two hours, she
said:
II cannot toll you who she Is. have
promised her that will not"
It was in 1863, in the spring, that a
man named flanagan, living in Troy, and
D young woman visiting ut his house
drank in Lanagan's cottage two glasses OF
beer at the invitation of woman calling
herself Mrs. Henrietta Robinson. Both
died inside of Ave hours, and Mrs. Robin
son was ut once arrested, at the instigation
of Lanagan's wife, charged with admins
tering arsenic In the beer. Arsenic was
found under the carpet in the cottage OF
the eccentric Mrs. Robinson, who had re-
peatedly threatened to kill somebody or
anybody.
A lannon's politician of Troy, known
throughout the state of New York, who
had been living with Mrs. Robinson In
this cottage, had not been to see her for
long time. She believed he had deserted
her. She claimed him as her husband,
and the desertion apparently unseated her
reason. She was an extraordinarily beauti-
ful and proud woman, but when she
found the man neglected her she began
70 drink unreasonably and frequent the
flanagan cottage and store across from her
house. She lad left her husband in Eng
aAnd, returning to this side. Disowned
Z by her family, she went to Troy, drawn
BY memories of the young man she had
1Dyed before her marriage.
Mrs. Robinson was promptly arrested
lpr Lanagan's murder. When the trial
va1ne she appeared richly dressed, but
Nailed. The Judge requested her to remove
hhe veil. She declined. Her counsel could
not persuade her to do 90, they said. She
insisted that rather than have her face ex'
bosed to recognition, she would run the
TAX of all the damage 1t might do hel
bsse. The courtrooms were thronged with
beople curious to SEQ her face. Day after
lay counsel and judge endeavored to get
her to remove the dark blue veil that che
Wore twisted about her face and ever
bout the back of the head. The extraor
i Ainary spectacle was presented Of jury
!. nod Judge trying . prisoner whose face
Whey had not seen. Once or twice thu
ndae made q determined order that sht
must throw back the veil and the prisoner
beyed, but never 10 that clear view Of
her face could be had BY even tho jury
When the veil was partly removed, CHI
brew q rioh mantilla about her face, *
& hat it bid part of her features, and uset
her handkerchief to hide the rest. But I'm
haVs absolutely compelled the thick blut
Nsil was never disturbed. .-. H..
The excitement as to the identity Of tin
prisoner was intense. It was asserted thai
she was Emma Wood, daughter Of riof
Englishman Of Canada, who had been a.
the Emma Willard academy In Troy. Thu
|Willards issued cards saying she was no
s Emma Wood, but 1t didn't satisfy tn
bublio or the newspapers, who vainl!
Sruggled to find out who she might be
Ia Mr.. William Wood of Canada visitet
N Var. She would not zee him IN the pres
lence.of any one, but they were alone tw'
VOo>
h tated she was not his sister Emma, ant
kried by letters to prove she did not belong
TO his family. IT, ~
VII Mr.. Wood did have one sister namet
charlotte. A marriage notice, to whicl
Mrs Robinson has once made reference q
being hers, says that Charlotte Wood wa
married to the eldest son Of William Fran
pis Elliott, Bart, of Stob's Castle, Rox
burgshire, Scotland. The bridegroom wa
X named William F. Elliott and he was III
4 n61cer OF the Ninety third Highlanders.
Mr.. Wood showed letters trying to prov
Mr.. Robinson was neither Of his sisters
i but It Is generally believed that her nam
was Charlotte Wood. She has guarded he
secret we'll all these years, and the family
having cast her of, has never interferet
with her attempts to do SO. Every indica
tion points to the fact that her maidel
name was Charlotte Wood. i2r.s.-7-.-. g.
Ma Robinson was undoubtedly insan
= the time the murder was committed
But evidence . TO insanity va not I'D
stt..s. Ttay was dssaEn3nsd 70 avsng