Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-02-06

Lanaean's poisoning, and the jury found
her guilty. A motion for new trial was
refused, and the sentence that Mrs. Rob-
inson be hanged was sustained. On the
night she heard of this she procured can
dies and illuminated her room in tine Jail.
AL night crowds stood outsids watching
her dancing about the room. Occasionally
she appeared Mt the window, when the
crowd cheered and shouted at her.
When sentenced, she denounced judge,
court and jury and told the judge that his
was the soul God should have mercy upon.
Then came q reaction in public opinion.
People began to think shc was insane.
No one wanted woman hanged. Even
the judge who tried the case went to tho
governor to advise communication OF her
sentence to imprisonment for life. Sim
Rularly enough, Mrs. Robinson bitterly
opposed the plan. She begged to be hang
ed. II want TO die. / am sick Of this
cold, wicked world, where cannot trust
anybody. l want to die now. have
promised my brother" she said, Ito die
without betraying anything, and when I
am gone shall cease to worry and distress
them any longer. I might live 80 years
In prison, and death seems better. No one
will sec my face. The sisters have prom
Used to stay with me and to take INC away
and cover my face, that no one may 500
me. Tell the governor I beg him not to
commute my sentence"
IL spite of Mrs. Robinson's desires the
governor did change the sentence to i'm
prisonment for life.
When Mrs. Robinson learned this fact,
she tried to burn the jail She wore the
blue veil about her head even in jail and
drew it over her face whenever people tried
TO sec her. She wore it even until the
doors OF the old Sing Sing prison for
women had closed behind her.
Only few days ago. when visited at
Matteawan by a New York journal re-
porter, Mrs. Robinson denounced the COM
mutation of her sentence. Il still wish
to God that my sentence never had been
commuted,'' she said. II wish that had
been hanged. have been getting better,
and now my memory is coming back to
me, and the things 1 did when l was a lit
tie child in the nursery ut home are all be-
fore mo, as clear rs if I did them yester-
day. But Of tho murder have no recol-
lection. Now, when my memory brings
remembrances of my childhood at home,
and of my girlhood, and of the man
loved, suffer. did not wait to live,
what have you done all that timer"
AT first used to read at Sing Sing.
spoiled my eyes reading in the dim light.
played tho organ in chapel until my
wrist was broken, and I used to train the
girls who sang. 1t was q grief to me
when couldn't play any longer. Then I
knit and embroider and sew. Yes; must
have sewed miles and knit pretty near q
mile Of edging. During the war knit
stockings for soldiers. Now / am getting
old. Ihave forgotten my French and every
thing. have done it purposely. WANTED
to hide every trace of my former existence.
I even use illiterate language. Don't you
notice it? used that SO people would not
know me and think 1 was educated.
would not have my family know Of my
whereabouts for anything. Why, I have q
son in the English parliament. He was
living and had succeeded to his titles the
last knew, and not for worlds would
let such disgrace como upon him.
"You know" and Mrs. Robinson's
voice sank almost to whisper, "hc does
not know live. He believes his mother
dead.
My father was a gentleman. He was
brave, and such u fine man. l was born
in England. My father was the third son,
and of course he had to go into tho church
OF else serve his country. He became a
MILDLY in the navy.
my husband was the son of q man of
| title-a younger sor-but he succeeded in
| time to the title after came back to this
| country. Our son now has tho title and
| property. One Of my sisters married the
son Of q peer and another married a peer.
after a time" she went on, ''my IA.
Their succeeded to tho family title, and re-
turned to England to live. That was after
| they had turned mo from the doors. Both
my mother and father were dead when my
trouble occurred in Troy. My mother had
nine living children. I was the baby of
| the girls.
Like most insane people, Mrs. Robinson
has long intervals of lucidity, and many
of her statements have been verified. She
is fine looking woman, although nearer
80 than 20 years. She has served longer
time for murder than any other woman in
the prisons of the state, and few IL any
| men have served longer.
Her skin is fair and fresh. There arc no
wrinkles or crows feet about tho eyes.
Her teeth have fallen out lately, and she