The Death of Samuel Robinson.
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| Salisbury Railway Station circa 1890 |
For many years, Samuel Robinson and his wife,
Emily (nee Challender) lived with their children on a property “about half a mile from the railway station on the banks of the River Para.”[1] Later they moved to a small cottage, they had named “Pemberton” across from the Salisbury Railway Station.
Samuel worked as a
Bailiff in the local Salisbury courthouse[2]. Once he retired, the couple
lived happily in their cottage. In 1891, Samuel was due a large sum of money
from an investment of which he would have to travel into the Adelaide to receive, but only after
signing a document witnessed by his attorney.
The day before Samuel was due to collect his money, he was seen tending to his garden, happily waving to passers-by. That evening, another old man was seen to be visiting the couple in their home.
The next morning, the visiting man was seen waving off Emily Robinson at the train station. Samuel was not seen present to see her off, which made some locals suspicious.
The day before Samuel was due to collect his money, he was seen tending to his garden, happily waving to passers-by. That evening, another old man was seen to be visiting the couple in their home.
The next morning, the visiting man was seen waving off Emily Robinson at the train station. Samuel was not seen present to see her off, which made some locals suspicious.
Emily travelled to Adelaide and visited Mr.
Varco, Samuel's attorney, and signed for his money. She informed Varco, that
Samuel was dead. She then went to the funeral home and arranged his funeral and
the removal of his body. She also visited a doctor to try and persuade him to
give her a death certificate without the doctor seeing the body. He refused, so
Emily visited a local JP to get burial approval.
The Salisbury police were phoned about the situation. They went to Pemberton Cottage, spoke to Mrs Robinson, then removed Samuel's body to be taken to the funeral parlour.
The Salisbury police were phoned about the situation. They went to Pemberton Cottage, spoke to Mrs Robinson, then removed Samuel's body to be taken to the funeral parlour.
Six weeks later, Emily Robinson married her mysterious
caller who had seen her off at the train station on the morning Samuel died. His
name was Mr Thomas Smith, a neighbour to the Robinson's.
The marriage caused
outrage in Salisbury. 30 people signed a petition to get the police to hold an
inquiry into Samuel's death, but the police and local magistrates refused to investigate.
An unruly mob of angry
locals formed in the town and descended upon Pemberton Cottage and the newly
married Smiths, both in their 80s. They smashed the front door off its hinges,
they cut holes through the roof and pelted stones through. The mob pelted the
front of the house with rotten eggs and the whole neighbourhood descended into
pandemonium, with neighbours hollering and hooting and banging on kerosene
drums.
The local police trooper wasn’t present in the
town, so the duties of law and order fell onto one brave local J.P. who tried
in vain to settle the unruly mob. When the local trooper returned at 11pm that
night the mob dispersed.
Every evening, people would walk past the house and scream “murderer” in its general direction.
One night, the screams of “murder” came from
inside the house. Three men burst through a locked door and threw a meat
cleaver at Emily Smith (the former Mrs Robinson), badly cutting her toes. They also beat her savagely
with a crowbar. Mrs Smith put in a complaint to the police, but the men were
never caught.
The following day Mrs Smith released a
statement, in which said that Samuel had died from convulsions at the age of
86. He died in the same way as his father and numerous brothers and had
prepared for his own death. He had left instructions for her to attend the
office Mr Varco in Adelaide, his attorney who would have further instruction
for her. [3]
She had received those instructions and followed them. She had paid for his
funeral, which had been prepared prior to his death, and she had paid for his
headstone. The rest of the money that was received in the city, was to be
donated to the local Catholic church.
She stated that Mr Robinson knew of her relationship with Mr Smith, and had given them his blessing that should he die, they should marry to take care of each other.
A police order was issued
in Salisbury, that all abuse toward the Smiths should stop immediately or the
full extent of the law would be felt to those who disobeyed. The Attorney
Generals Office also spoke on the matter, stating that no inquiry into Mr
Robinsons Death would be needed. Statements had been collected on the day of
his death, and a full medical examination by Dr Nesbitt, showing he had died in
the morning, not the evening prior, had been submitted at the time.
The Police and the Attorney Generals Office
did not see anything suspicious in Emily Robinson or Thomas Smiths behaviour
and the case was never investigated.
As an interesting postscript, Mr Varco advertised in local newspapers the sale of Samuel Robinson's
goods only a week after his death. One must wonder if Mr and Mrs Smith received
the profits from that sale as well!
Researched and written by
Allen Tiller © 2019
1891 'STRANGE CIRCUMSTANCES AT SALISBURY.', Adelaide Observer (SA: 1843 - 1904), 5 December, p. 33. , viewed 15 Apr 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article160189151
1891 'Scandal at Salisbury.', Evening Journal (Adelaide, SA: 1869 - 1912), 1 December, p. 2. (SECOND EDITION), viewed 15 Apr 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article198424727
1891 'Family Notices', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA: 1839 - 1900), 1 October, p. 4. , viewed 15 Apr 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article48251974
1881 'CATHOLIC PICNIC AT SALISBURY.', South Australian Weekly Chronicle (Adelaide, SA: 1881 - 1889), 31 December, p. 11. , viewed 15 Apr 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article91288822
1857 'APPOINTMENTS.', Adelaide Observer (SA : 1843 - 1904), 19 December, p. 5. , viewed 15 Apr 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article158115670
1891 'THE MAIN ROADS BILL.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA: 1839 - 1900), 2 December, p. 5. , viewed 15 Apr 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article48251012
1891 'Advertising', Bunyip (Gawler, SA: 1863 - 1954), 6 November, p. 3. , viewed 15 Apr 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article97234453
[1] 1881 'CATHOLIC PICNIC AT SALISBURY.', South
Australian Weekly Chronicle, 31 December, p. 11., viewed 15 Apr 2019,
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article91288822
[2] 1857 'APPOINTMENTS.', Adelaide Observer, 19 December,
p. 5., viewed 15 Apr 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article158115670
[3] 1891 'THE MAIN ROADS BILL.', South Australian
Register, 2 December, p. 5. , viewed 15 Apr 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article48251012
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