WHOLESALE POISONING.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2436, 27 October 1886, Page 2

WHOLESALE POISONING.

Mrs Sarah J. Robinson, of Hollandstreet, Soinervill. New York, has been arrested on a charge of causing the death of her son William by administering poison in his food. She is forty-seven years of age, and has been a vidow for four years. At the same time Thomas R. Smith, of Hyde Park, waa arrested, charged with being an accomplice in the crime. It is said that Smith and Mrs Robinson have been noticeably intimate since the death of the latter's husband, which took place while the family were living on Brooklyn-street, Cambridge. Soon after his disease Mrs Robinson moved to Howe-street, where her ten-year-old daughter died suddenly. Subsequently a move was made to De Wolfstreet. While the family lived there Mrs Robinson's sister died in South Boston, whereupon the latter's husband, a Mr and his two small children, took up their residence with Mrs Robinson. A short time Liter an infaut child of Mr Freeman died. This death was followed by auother change of residence, Mrs Robinson and her family poing tins time to No. 54, Boysten-strett, (lambridge, where Mr Freeman was taken suddenly ill and died. Next, Mrs Robinson went to live in Holland-street, near the corner of Cameron-street, Somerville. At this place last March her eldest daughter, Elizabeth, 24 year* old, was taken ill, and like the other soon died. This death was followed, a month ago, by the death of the other Freeman childi seven years old. These last two deaths caused some suspicion, for in neithe case could the doctors determine the exact nature of the illness. This suspicion was increased with the illness of Mr Robinson's eon William, and when Dr White attended tho sick young man lie secretly obtained some of the food given to the latter, and sent it for analysis to Proofessor Wood, of Harvard College, who made the discovery of a large quantity of arsenic in the food, and the police were notified. The result was another removal, this time involuntarily, to the police station, and the arrest of Smith. All of the deceased children had their lives insured in the United Order of Pilgrim Fathers for a sum not less th.m £9OO each, The probable motive of the alleged crimes was to obtain their. insttrance money. The bodies of the cUHtvu will be exhumed as soomas posaiblr.

Smith* and Mb Robinaou vilb raigned in the Diatrict Court. Bdh pleaded not jjuilty. The fpolioe have been very buy searching the house where the young wan liea 3e*d, and among other thiuga found a quantity of axaenic. Chief of Piilioe Parkhunt obtainedan ante-mortem statement of the aon joat dead, whicli he refuses to make public. Aaaotopay <**'

made.. The strinsch ta badljMtf>»>ed : as frotneomeadneral paMtst Apufe. .: over to * Harvard , Collage atpfrc for analysis*,, -Apiaftjpsy is ooir bfiM ule «a tha" fcody~oftl» dmghtar Bfinbcfh; who died in Muth, aod wfcuie body baa been efhaiaed. The caatthas created afeeliac of hoywn amoogtlnae coaftout ndi tb; &ed, and the deeper the inveatijgatMi by the - police and tbe Pteas the aon tenible the case appeals. - ft* latiadentood that the Somerville pulioe hare- iaforluation of the auspicious death af at least eleven persons. directly or indirectly related to ;Hn Sarah Jane ' Bobiasoo, who wera insured in" beaefit'uiganisatious. and where the money in moat cim fell into tliis woman's hernia Smith tMi Rpiiitedto the since'be death*<>f Mia liobinao'n's busband, eleven of her relatives .have died, all within four years. Theae include children <»f Sfra Rubinam aad others aha had care «»f, and the latter and mothcrr. Moat, of them were insured. On the death of the father or mother aba would take charge of therhildren. aadaa the insurance money came down to tha children, she. it it alleged,iradCf pat them out of the way. It baa besHkmd that her husband died very suddenly fmr years ago. ' "Thecause of his death," and Mr Crane, counsel for Mia BoUvni. "was overheat, and drinking ioff (ator. Ha life was insured in tha Sew England Belief Association for £SOO or JB6OQ. The association refused to pay the money to the widow, and I was called in as emmeel for her. Judip Hammond jraa also retained." • , 4

It was stated that when any of Mia Robinson's family were sick the aaaaa physician was iierer called twice. . • fe'{