Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-08-23
A STARTLING DISCOVERY
In the Somerville Poisoning Case-Dr.
&. G. Beers OF Boston Under Arrest,
Charged With Numbering Lizzie A.
RObInson-Placed in Cambridge Jail.
BosToN, Aug. 81.

L..
Another startling chapter in the notorious
Robinson-Smith poisoning case was developed
yesterday in the arrest of DR.. c. c. Beers
of Boston on charge of numbering, by
poison, Lizzie A. Robinson, in conjunction
with Mrs. Sarah Jane Robinson, who is now
in Jail under tie charge OF poisoning her son,
William j. Robinson. Sergt. Cavanagh of
the Somerville police force arrested Beers at
his Office, corner of fremont and Eliot
streets, Boston, Friday afternoon, and locked
him up in the Somervlle police station. The
fact OF the arrest was kept profound secret
by the police until yesterday morning, when
Beers was arraigned in the Somerville police
court shortly after 10 o'clock, before Judge
Storey. Mrs. Robinson was brought over to
Somervile from the Cambridge jail in hack
by Sergt. Cavanagh and arraigned with him
DR.. Beers is IA years of age, has a ruddv
| compile xion, full gray beard and blue ewes
He is remarkably smart appearing man,
carries his head high and has good presence
When brought into the dock he came in with
an elastic step and the first person his ewes
met was Mrs. Robinson. .attred in her sombre
mourning dress and closely drawn crepe veil
He involuntarily stopped and gazed at her
before he took his seat, and she looked at
him. A slight nod passed betwe them and
he took his seat alongside of her. He was
dressed in blue diagonal Prince Albert
coat and dark pants and wore a standing col
lar. There were but four people in the court
room beside the officers. The clerk asked
DIR. Beers and Mrs Robinson to
stand up and listen to the read
ing of the complaint The complaint is
made by Chief of Police Parkhurst, and
charges that DR.. C. C. Beers and Sarah j.
Robinson on the first day of February, 1886,
and on divers days and times between the
first day of February and the second day of
that month, did feloniously, wilfully and with
malice aforethought administer white arsenic
to Lizzie A. Robinson, with intent to kill said
Lizzie A. Robinson, and that she did swallow
and take into her body same white arsenic,
not knowing it to be poison. That she was
made sick thereby, languished and languish-
ing, and did die on the 22d of February, 1886,
in consequence of swallowing said poison.
What do you say to this complaint" said
the clerk to DR.. Beers.
DR.. Beers drew himself up to hi. full
stature, and with great deliberation and In a
clear voice said in solemn manner, like one
about to make prayer I'm the presence of
a holy God, am not guilty"
"Mrs. Robinson, what do you say to this
complaint" asked the clerk. "Are you
guilty or not guilty?"
Mrs. Robinson stood up and said with a
good deal of emphasis: mo, sir, am not
guilty. l was out West when my daughter
was taken sick. She was taken sick in No
vember and died in February"
Mrs. Robinson's counsel, Mr.. ID. F. Crane,
was not present, being out of town. DR..
Beers was represented by Mr.. Charles W.
Turner of Boston. He asked for a continu-
ance of the case, and Judge Storey continued
- ,~tI AZ n-.L Al
which the Robinson-Smith case was contin-
ued to. The couple were committed to
Cambridge Jail without bail.
Chief of Police Parkhurst did not care to
enlighten the public at this time of the evil
dence he was in possession of against DR..
Beers. but said that he had sufficient evidence
to hold him.