The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-04-24
WIFE NEAR DEATH.
HUSBAND A SUICIDE
Fearing Her End He Jumps
Into River.
BODY FOUND; GIVEN SHOCK
Policeman's Telephone Message Throws
Philadelphia Society Woman Into
Critical Condition.
BODY FOUND; GIVEN SHOCK

PHILADELPHIA, April 24.-Almost
monia. Mrs George Robbins. jr., a so
ciety leader of S55 North Ffrty-third
street, has been carried to the point of
death again by shock resulting from the
news that her husbands body was
taken from the Delaware river.
Robbins disappeared on February "a.
abandoning his wifes bedside when ne
became convinced that her death was
near.
The Robbinses had been ms rried for
nineteen years and the husband could
not reconcile himself to thought Of the
loss of his wife. From the hour when
she was stricken with the disease he
began 10 grow more and more despond-
ent, until az the end of a week he gave
up all work and applied himself night
and day to nursing Mrs. Robbins.
Promised to Die With Her.
His love for her was so great that re-
peatedly he told her as she lay lowering
in delirium that should she die he would
surely follow her. When she sank into
unconsciousness and apparently all
efforts OF the physicians to rouse her
were in vain Robbins began 10 talk
queerly He chided the doctors with
neglecting his wife, and positively re-
fused to meet any of his friends or rela-
tives
Robbins was q prosperous jeweler, and
he moved in select society He neglected
his business for his wife, saying he did
not care what became of il SO long as
she was not in health by his side. Never
hff0 illness
and Robbins was fearful OF her death
from the first.
About 9:30 o'clock on the evening OF
February "a he called n trained nurse
into the bedroom. He was kneeling by
the bed, holding his wifes hand. Mrs
Robbins was insensible and seemingly
ar the point of death. Robbins indicated
to the nurse to kReel beside him. anC
when she had done this he took hi:
wifes hand and placed it tenderly II
the palm of the nurse. Then he ros.
softly and stole out of the house,
No Trace Found of Him.
1t is thought he Went straight to tht
| Delaware and thew himself in. Search
was made for him in all the large East
| ern cities 1t was thought he had gone
| t. New York. but no trace was fount
| OF him there. Private detectives Were
| enlisted to search for him, but all II
| vain. The crew of Il scow saw the body
floating, and a patrolrlan finding th'
name and address on an Identification
plate attached to a key ring. he tele
phoned Mrs. Robbins.
The woman was propped up in bee
reading. Stul weak. she mas been III
only for a couple of hours each after
noon. The pneumonia had been entirely
| thrown off. but the physicians hav'
! feared to permit her any great eXertion
and SO have kept her close to her bed
| She had not been told of the dtsap
pearance of her hsuband. believing hin
| to be on a business trip in the West
! The policeman bluntly said:
| Your husbands body has been fount
| in the river.
| Mrs. Robbins asked him to repeat tn
/ words When she graSped the trutl
she sank back in a swoon. and 1t wa.
two hours before she was restored t
| consciousness. Her condition now is eX
tremely critical.