Haunted History: A Murder in Rehoboth Hundred

It was meant to be like any other day. A brisk morning out gunning (hunting) with a new friend. That's how the day started for Charles Marsh. He had made the acquaintance of Robert Goldsborough in the past few days, even inviting him to stay at his home, now known as The Homestead, in Rehoboth Beach. It would be the last time Charles was seen alive.

Charles Marsh, a young man of 26, was unmarried and living a good life, "a well-known resident of Lewes and Rehoboth Hundred" was found murdered and robbed on December 10, 1868. Shot from behind, "his head nearly blown off," Charles was never aware that Robert Goldsborough had evil intent. Perhaps being too cavalier with his money, rumored to be about $500 that he kept in cash in his home, or too open with his friendship and hospitality, all contributed to his unfortunate end.

Charles and Robert set off to go "muskratting" in the morning, carrying a turtle gig, grubbing hoe, and a double-barreled gun along a creek that led to a marshy area. Just a few minutes later, a neighbor heard a single gunshot. The neighbor later saw Robert walking rapidly toward the farmhouse carrying a pair of pants and boots. Two days later, when asked about Charles, Robert responded that Charles might be dead, that someone should go looking for him. Charles was found the following day, face down, missing his pants and boots. His wallet, with $15 in it, was found with the body. The rifle, which had been loaded with two shells, held only one. The grubbing hoe that Charles carried was never found. A brown paper-wrapped roll of $485 in cash, which Charles was known to have carried on him, was also missing. It was clear, according to court records, that the angle of and damage caused by the head wound meant that Charles was killed instantly by a shot to his head from behind.

Soon the manhunt for Robert Goldsborough was on! Within just a short time he was captured and indicted for "murder of the first degree."

Goldsborough was tried at the Sussex County Courthouse - a detailed record of the proceedings is still available today. From the Superior Court of Delaware, dated 5 October 1869:

At a Court of Oyer and Terminer held at this term, Robert H. Goldsborough who had been indicted at the preceding term, was tried for the murder of Charles Marsh of the first degree, on the 10th day of December 1868 in Lewes and Rehoboth hundred.

The verdict was guilty of murder of the first degree.

Goldsborough was sentenced to death by hanging, however, that isn't the end of the story. It takes another twist! Robert Goldsborough was scheduled to be hanged on December 17, 1869. With the aid of family, he successfully escaped imprisonment at the Sussex County Jail during the night and fled across the State line into Maryland (his home State).

According to the Baltimore Sun, he was seen in Denton, Maryland, on December 10, 1869.

Denton, Md., December 10. - Goldsborough, the murderer of Marsh, who was tried at the late term of the Sussex County (Del.) Court, and sentenced to be hanged on Friday next, and who subsequently escaped from jail at Georgetown, was in town to-day. He came in an open wagon, accompanied by a friend, about noon, and remained until night, when he hired Mr. R. K. Richardson, sheriff of the county, to convey him to Wye Mills. By his singular demeanor he aroused the suspicions of some of our citizens, and he was closely watched while he tarried with us, intelligence of the bank robbery at Middletown, Delaware, had previously reached us, and some supposed he was either one of the robbers, or a detective searching for them. Who he was did not transpire until after his departure, and only then by an examination of the effects he left behind him in his room at the hotel.

Upon his arrival here he procured a suit of clothes from the clothing store of W. L. Taylor, never once seeming to care about the price or quality, being mostly absorbed in watching the door. He seemed to have plenty of money and flourished his $100 and $500 notes in profusion. On his person were seen several pistols and other weapons were heard to rattle under his clothes. At supper he admitted that he was a half-brother of John Goldsborough, although he had registered as Bannister.

Robert Goldsborough, convicted murderer, was never recaptured.

While investigating at the Rehoboth Art League this past year, I sensed a presence just outside The Homestead. I was able to narrow down the possibilities to a young male from the Marsh family, but I found him to be confused about why he was there - on subsequent investigations, I was able to identify him as (tentatively) Charles Marsh. Once it was clear to him that he had been murdered and robbed, the pendulum responses became very animated, swinging wildly in response to questions about Goldsborough and the fact that he was never brought to justice. At least Charles Marsh is now aware of why he is tethered to the land and how his life ended.

It was a heinous and cowardly act that, unfortunately, went unpunished.

References:

Robert H. Goldsborough, Sussex County Geneology Trails. http://genealogytrails.com/del/sussex/news_crime.html

State v. Goldsborough, 1 Houston 302 (Del. Super. Ct. 1869). https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/3382159/state-v-goldsborough/

Sun - Baltimore, Maryland, Saturday, December 11, 1869.