The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-07-07
MURDER IN WINSTED.
Mrs. Homer Robinson Was Killed by
Paris Green.

| Paris Green.
Winsted, Conn, July 6.-Mrs. Homer
Robinson, aged twenty-six years, wife
of a Norfolk farmer, died at her home
in Norfolk early this morning, appar-
emily from Paris green poisoning.
The womans body, however, bears a
large number of cuts and bruises. and
it is quite evident that she was the vic
tim of a. most brutal assault. No ar
RESTS have been made, but Coroner H1g-
gins of Winsted is investigating the
case and it is expected that something
will be done before they day is finished.
Mrs Robinson became notorious in
| that section of the state through the
/ large number of Opponents which have
been placed to her account.
The last episode of this kind, and the
one which, 1t is thought, Is in a great
measure responsible for the woman's
death, took place on July last. Her
companion was Herbert Surdam, and
after the affair was extended by excit-
ing incidents in which shot gun in
| the hands of the Woman's husband
played a conspicuous part.
| 1t was late In the evening of Wednes-
day that Robinson, who suspected that
his wife was preparing to again elope,
concealed himself with a shotgun In a
clump of bushes near his home. A few
minutes later Surdam came along and
started to approach the Robinson home.
He was halted and informed that 1t
would be best for him to go about his
business. This, it Is said, he refused to
do, and continued on his way to the
house. AS he raised his hand to lift the
latch of the door Surdam fired the
charge from the shotgun taking effect
in Surdam's wrist.
Thinking that he had put all danger
Of possible elopement at an end, the
husband then went away. When he
entered his home, however, his wife
was not 20 be found and 1t soon be-
come known that after binding UP the
wound on Surdam's wrist, Mrs. Robin
son went away with him.
About midnight Robinson heard
groans outside the door OF his house
and on going out found lying there his
wife, bleeding profusely from num-
erous wounds. She was suffering in
tensely, and physician, who was call
ed, said the woman evidently was suf-
fering from Paris green poisoning.
quantity of Paris green was found
scattered about the yard and in the
house
About 2 o'clock this morning Mrs
Robinson died, and Coroner Fl, Higgins
of Winsted was notified. He made an
investigation this afternoon
The last words of the deceased, ac-
cording to Mrs. Nancy Robinson, the
mother of Homer. who was at the house
from early yesterday morning up to the
time Of Hatties death were: II re-
member nothing after taking that drink
at the house until I awoke in the
Pines. The pines" referred to are
located on an elevation in the rear of
the summer home of c. M Howard of
New York. In her rawlings, Nancy says
Hattie would repeat over and over
again. Herb has me-" shut that
door--here comes Herb with a gun to
kill us ALL"
Mrs. Charles Hotchkiss, the nearest
neighbor to the Robinsons, who was
among the witnesses examined by Cor
oner Higgins testified that she saw
Herbert Surdam and Lorenzo Ball with
two shotguns going toward the Pines"
about 6 p. m. Wednesday and Mrs Hat
tie Robinson was with them. One of
the shotguns was recovered at the home
of Hiram Surdam, where Herbert Sur |
dam boarded, and the other one Her. |
bert claims he left in the possession of |
Hattie when he left her near thePines |
Wednesday night. That gun has not |
been found.
Fannie, the eight-year-old daughter,
and Arthur, aged twelve years, children
of Edward Surdam, who Is q brother of |
Herbert Surdam, who were with their
parents at the Robinson house July 4,
testified that they saw Mrs Robinson
swallow Paris green in her pantry |
about p. m. Wednesday, The mother
of the children told the coroner that as
she was about to start for home Hattie |
rushed out and begged to go with her. |
Her face was covered with Paris green
and she cried out, Il am going to die; l |
have taken it.
The dead womans body was terribly |
bruised. In addition to scalp wounds |
there were unusually large bruises on .
both knees, on the forehead, over the
right eye and left side of the chin. An
ugly wound on the right arm below the
elbow gave the impression that 1t might
have been inflicted while trying to ward
off blow
Robinson, who is thirty-nine years of
age, takes his wife's death in a most
nonchalant manner.
Both Robinson and Surdam were ar
rested last night, charged with assault
and attempt to kill each other. The
arrests were the outcome Of Robinsons II
Surdam before the runaway. /
Surdams friends paid the nominal fine
imposed. while Robinson's case was
continued until tomorrow morning and
he was released on bail furnished by his
mother.
Surdam was found at his boarding
house this afternoon and was interview
ed by Coroner Higgins. The man de-
MED any connection with the woman's
death, but 1t is alleged that he told sew