Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1898-08-04
TRIPLE TRAGEDY.
Far Haven Has a Case OF Deepest
Mystery.

Mystery.
A case OF unusual mystery is occu-
pying the attention of two Rutland
county towns, Poultney and Fair Ha-
ven. 1t is either a most remarkable
instance of coincidence or of double
suicide and murder, or Of triple muir
der.
The parties concerned are Beverly
Robinson, aged 20, his wife and little
daughter and his wife's sister, Mrs.
Frances Metheny. The story is as fol-
lows
Last week Monday evening the
campers at the northern end OF Lake
ST. Catherine in Poultney were star
tied by series of shrieks which came
from small tent situated on the mar
rows on the entrance to the smaller
lake. The tent had been occupied
since Friday night by Robinson and
Mrs. Metheney. Officer Gates of
Poultney was sent for. He arrived at
The lake about o'clock and forced his
way into the tent where he found a
woman lying on some straw and Bev-
erlv Robinson sitting near on box.
The woman died few moments after
the officer arrived.
During the night Robinson went to
Fair Haven TO his home where his
wife and child were. A little after
o'clock Tuesday morning Mr.. Robin
son, who had gone from Poultney to
Fair Haven during the night, called
for help from his Second street resi-
dence, and investigation showed that
his wife and child had been shot in
their bedroom. The officers found |
the following note in her bedroom
from Mrs. Robinson to her husband:
''Bev, dear, dear Bev, forgive me.
think | am not quite myself. | cam
not, cannot bear it. Forgive me for
everything / have ever done, and re-
member am your wretched, heart
broken Kit"
Mr.. Robinson gave the officers a viii
signed by Mrs. Robinson and dated
July rs, 1898. Ii was written on let
ter paper on both sides of the sheet in
a firm hand and in many respects in
legal phraseology. In the will many
were remembered and Mr..
Robinson was given a generous por-
ton OF the estate, most OF which, it
seems, came to Mrs. Robinson on the
death of Mrs. Metheney.
Robinson is an Englishman who has
dwelt in Fair Haven quite number
of years. According to his own story
he reached home at about TAO O'Clock
and, finding the doors locked and hav-
ing no key, he was obliged to climb in
through a window. AS soon as he en-
Tered the house he smellcd smoke and,
rushing to his wife's bedroom, he
found her and the child lying dead
upon the bed. Their clothing was
lfire and Mr.. Robinson fastened to
,xtinguish the flames. AS he moved
he body OF his wife pearl-handled
'evolver fell to the floor. He placed .
his upon the bed and ran out to noti-
y the neighbors.
Several people heard the two shots
fred at about 6:35 o'clock in the
and two women tell a mys- |
erious story Of how they saw team !
irive by at about O'Clock in the
morning. AS the team passed the
Robinson house some one blew three [
lines shrill whistle. The team then
urned about and drove into the Rob-
nson yard, the three whistles being
epeated.
Investigation shows that Mrs. Rob-
! son and Mrs. Mctheney were cigar
tie fiends and given to the use of
rugs.
Robinson'S explanation is that Mrs.
detheney died of heart disease and i
bat his wife, on hearing of il, shot her
hid and herself. The cause of Mrs.
detheney's death will be determined S
y analysis. Robinson is in Jail.