The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1886-08-21

SoMERVILLE, Mass, Aug. 13.-Mrs.
Sarah Jane Robinson is held TO bail
here on the charge of poisoning her
husband and son, and nine other
deaths from similar causes are laid at
her door. All the parties referred to,
it is said, were insured in such a way
that Mrs. Robinson was benefited
directly or indirectly by their
death. Mrs. Robinson's son William,
who died yesterday morning, sui
fered terribly from convulsions in
his last hours. The symptoms
seemed to be those OF poisoning,
but the analysis OF the boys
stomach has not yet been CON-
pleted. Mrs. Robinson seemed COM
pletely broken down, mentally and
physically, when she was brought be-
fore the police court to-day with her
alleged accomplice, Thomas r. Smith.
Both the prisoners pleaded not guilty
TO the charge of administering poison
in medicine to William j. Robinson
with intent to kill. They were heldfo
trial on the 18th inst. Mrs. Robin
sons bail was fixed at $4,000, and
Smiths at $500. Neither has OBJ
tanned the required security, and they
remain in Jail.
Attention was first attracted to the
Robinson case by the illness OF Mrs.
Robinson's eldest son, William, a
truck driver. He was slightly injured
by box falling on him, and going
home, was nursed by his mother. He
grew rapidly worse, and the symptoms,
being so different from what should
follow an injury ike his, caused sus-
picion. He vomited freely, and his
attending physician, DR.. White, made
an examination and discovered q large
quantity OF arsenic.
Chief of Police Parkhurst was noti-
fed OF the physicians discovery. 1t
vas ascertained that Mrs. Robinson
had an interested friend and counselor,
Thomas r. Smith, and it was thought
prudent not to arrest the woman IN
til the whereabouts of the man were
determined. Sergt. Cavanaugh was,
however, detailed to shadow Mrs.
Robinson, Tuesday night and yester-
day morning. While the sergeant and
officers were watching, yesterday
morning, Smith put IN an appearance
at the house, and the two were ar.
rested and taken to the police station
Mrs. Robinson appeared much crest
fallen and refused to eat anything.
She told the chief that Smith had
known her husband for fifteen years,
and since his death he had always
looked after her welfare.
Mrs. Robinson is about Al years OF
age, blonde, and weighs about $50
pounds. She dresses well. She was a
constant attendant at the Park Ave
nue. Methodist Church in West Somer-
vile, and those who knew her thought
we'll of her She had a way OF smiling
on people and being pleasant that dis
armed suspicion. She kept q few
boarders. No one seemed to know
anything about her, and she visited
very little in the neighborhood. Sac
brought with her a family Of two
daughters and two sons. Her eldest son,
who has just died, was about % years
of age. Her eldest daughters name
was Elizabeth, and she was about %
years of age. She IS now dead, and
the grave alone can tell how she died.
One of the SONS was an adopted child,
Z years of age, Thomas Arthur Free
man by name, said to be Mrs. Robin
sons sisters child. He is now dead
and buried, his death occurring very
suddenly three weeks ago. Elizabeth
died last February. Since the death
OF the father, four years ago, Emma,
another daughter, has died, and it is
thought that she was also poisoned.
The police say they can trace large
number OF other vic. inns to the accused
woman.
The Developments connected with
the arrest have created @ feeling OF
horror among those cOnversant with
the facts, and the deeper the investi-
cation by the police and the press, the
more terrible the affair appears. The
actions OF Mrs. Robinson are con-
sidered suspicious. Yesterday noon
before her arrest she tainted apparent
ly ard Strengthened out rigidly, as
though dead. 1t is thought she will
plead insanity. The eleven persons
supposed to have been victims OF Mrs.
Robinson include her children and the
children OF parents who left them
in her care, and some OF those par
ents. In one case, that of James Free
man, it is alleged that she pois-
oned Freeman, who had his lfe'insured
for $1,000 in favor OF his son, and
that the son, who was left in her care,
died suddenly soon after, and that
she got the $4,000. Mr.. Robinson
died suddenly four years ago. 1t was
said that he was killed by drinking Ice
water while over-heated. The insur-
ance company contested the case, and
it is still in the courts. Mrs. Robin
son is also alleged to have moved fre-
quently from place to place in order
to avoid paying rent. The body OF
her daughter, who died two years ago.
will be exhumed. The police are max
ing thorough Investigation OF the