Gazette Of The United States, & Daily Advertiser

By this Day's Mail.
VERGENNES, October.
The following shocking murder was committed in Wilmington, Massachusetts, by a man of the name of Robbins, who is subject to temporary fits of insanity; being at work, threshing in the barn with a young man by name of Bixby, he suddenly flung down his flail and declared he would work no more, but would kill himself, caught an axe and ran hastily out of the barn, young Bixby pursued him to prevent any act of designed violence, at the same time calling upon a younger brother to follow him: as he approached near, Robbins turned upon him and with a stroke of the axe separated an arm from his body; Bixby fell by the blow, and Robbins, with this weapon of death ran toward the younger brother, who was not far behind. The youth attempted his escape but found that Robbins gained upon him and would soon reach him; having a dog he set him upon the mad man, which impeded him so much that he was able to save himself from danger: Robbins finding that the younger brother had got beyond his reach, returned to the victim of his rage and with the axe cut off the head of this unfortunate young man, as he lay weltering in his blood, and literally hewed the body in pieces. He then fled to the woods, but was pursued, taken, and is now lodged in Worcester goal. A jury of inquest was summoned upon the body, who supposed the action to be murder.