New Britain herald., 1914-07-22
USES STEEL SHANK
 TO END HIS LIFE Boston Police Inspectors Slayer
 Commits Suicide in Jail. kO3|NSO.,'S BODY FOUND IN CELL

Victim Bled to Death Quickly With
 out Having Made An Outcry. from
 Wounds in Neck and Wrist-Con-
 sidered Most Desperate Criminal
 Boston, July 22.--Suicide ended to- day the adventurous career of Law renee Robinson, who while posing as gentleman, was alleged to have committed four murders and an un- known number of jewelry robberies.
 The body was found in the cell at the Charles street jail where he had been confined since June 19, when he shot and killed Police Inspector Thomas J. Norton while resisting ar rest on charge of murder and rob- bery preferred by the police of Grand Rapids, Mich.
 Used Steel shank.
 The instrument of death was a steel shank four inches long and an inch wide which he had removed from shoe and the edge of which had been sharpened on the iron bars of his cell window. The medical examiner found two wounds, one an inch and half in length on the left of his neck that opened the jugular vein and another of similar size where he had cut an artery on his left wrist. He bled to death quickly without having made an outcry. A guard who visited his cell at 6 o'clock this morning found Robinson appar- ently in his usual health and saw nothing to arouse suspicion. On his next round, half hour later, the same guard found Robinson dead, stretched out on his bed.
 Letters found in Robinsons effects and dated July IS indicate that he contemplated suicide before his trial had begun. Tn a pathetic and repen- tant note to his mother and wife, he said:
 ITO My Dear Mother and to My
 Wife Dora Alice:
 "The loving sweetheart of my boy hood days. the only woman I have ever loved and who stuck to me through all the shame into which plunged her, I bid last fond good bye, and if there is a God Almighty and another world I pray that l may meet you there.
 LAWRENCE"
 To, Sheriff John Quinn, his keeper and to his counsel. John H. and Hugh c. Blanchard, he wrote
 You're against hard game when you've got to die to beat it. It seems to be the easiest solution for the whole difficulty. l wouldn't wait to go to the chair for the satisfaction it would give certain people and life or a long term in prison for manslaugh- ter are worse than death and I know what I'm talking about. I hate this on account of the sheriff who though very strict Is a man, and my attorneys. John H. Blanchard and Hugh Blanchard, who have gone to an immense amount of trouble and expense to prepare my defense
 The grim manner in which the man ended his trial, for the murder of Norton, which opened Monday. was characteristic of him as he was known to the local police. Since his ar- rest he had maintained a seeming stoical indifference to the legal pro- ceedings, and at no time sought to justify or explain the acts charged against him. He appeared in court faultlessly groomed and seemed to regard the trial as something apart from himself
 Most Desperate Criminal.
 The police had looked upon Rob- inson as one of the most desperate criminals with whom they have had to do in many years. Thirty-two years of age. he was man of un- usual mental attainments and the po- lice so feared his resources that they had planned to hold him at night in the court building to avoid the daily trips to and from the jail during the trial. Rumors were current that confederates from the west would at tempt his release by force and these rumors were taken so seriously that the prisoner was constantly surround ed in the court room by five heavily armed officers. The jury was drawn Monday and yesterday the Jurors visit cd the Boylston Cafe. where Norton was killed Monday night the pris- oner spent in the court house. but the apprehension of the police being allayed after the first day, he was returned to his cell last night.
 When court convened today. Med- ica1 Examiner McGrath informed Judge Heating that the defendant was dead from self-inflcted wounds and the jury was immediately discharged.
 Companion Awaiting Trial.
 Robinson appeared in Boston early in May. and for time successfully played the role of wealthy man of leisure, with refined tastes. He stopped at a quiet hotel and soon af- ter his arrival began taking lessons of an instructor in the modern dances This gave him an acauaint- x,f I,n,.