MURDER AND DEATH OF A DWARF On the 15th September 1904, an accident occurred in Elizabeth Street where Sarah Ann Robins, her husband James and her 27 year old daughter, Rosina Hubbard, who was described as a dwarf were thrown from a cart. This accident set in a motion a series of events that would leave only James still alive 12 months later. Sarah required attention for her injuries, and was nursed at home by her daughter, Rosina. However doctors became concerned by her unusual symptoms and engaged a nurse to assist the family in caring for her. Sarah continued to decline and was admitted to the Melbourne Hospital. Nurse Flower, who had been engaged to look after Sarah before she was admitted to hospital, deposed at the inquest that she witnessed Rosina administer some medicine to her mother. When the nurse rinsed the glass it turned her rings black. Sarah was heard to remark they wont prosecute my Rosie will they? after doctors accused her of poisoning her mother. Rosina maintained that her mother wanted to commit suicide which was why she had given her the arsenic and quicksilver. Sarah died in the Melbourne Hospital on September 30, 1904. Doctors asked Sarah before she died whether she had taken anything, which she denied but doctors felt she was holding something back. After her death, analysis showed arsenic in every organ that was examined. Rosina on her arrest for the wilful murder of her mother, Sarah, was heard to exclaim me murder my mother! And then swooned. When she recovered, Rosina stated that she did not murder her mother, that Sarah had asked for it. During the inquest, Rosina was described as a cunning shrewd little woman but it was not certain she had her wits about her. However, evidence was brought that it was James a Robins who had purchased the arsenic to poison a dog who had bitten someoneThe inquest occluded with a verdict of wilful murder due to arsenic poisoning, wilfully and maliciously administered by Rosina Hubbard. During the murder trial, it was revealed that James Robins had also buried his two previous wives! One wife died in Launceston about 15 years previously and the second wife in Melbourne about 16 years previous. It was also alleged that James had fed his wife oysters sprinkled with white powder. This was denied by James which caused an outburst by Rosina, screaming that he did! It was also revealed that James did not have much money to his name when he married Sarah, who herself owned properties. James would gain the money from these properties on his wifes death. It was also alleged that James was the father of Rosinas infant and that there had been improper relations between the two. In March, 1905, the Government was unhappy that Rosina had been acquitted for the matricide of her mother Sarah. They deputised Detective McManamny to make further inquiries in to the case. On re-interviewing, Rosina admitted that she had poisoned her mother using quicksilver and arsenic. Her reasoning was that her mother knocked her about and had accused her of relations with her stepfather. However, she also admitted to the detective that James Robins was the father of her child. As Rosina had been acquitted of the murder, she could not be retried! Rosina was not to enjoy her freedom for very long. She died in the Melbourne Hospital on the 24th May 1905, after being hospitalised since the 5th. Her inquest was again sensational, as it was originally suspected that Rosina had killed herself by taking the same poisons as she had administered to her mother! Dr Mollison, the coroner described Rosina as a congenital dwarf whose arms and legs were considerably smaller than the rest of her body. She was 3 feet 10 inches in height and her head measured 22 inches. there were no marks of violence and samples of her organs, muscles and bones were taken for further analysis. After analysis, the official cause of death was exhaustion due to ulceration of the intestines. You would think that would be the end of the story! But there was one more twist! Rosinas will was contested on the grounds of her sanity when it went to probate. Evidence was brought to court on how James Robins held a magnetic influence over Rosina. It was stated that Robins banned anyone from seeing her in hospital especially the black fellow, who was her half sister, Isabella Webster, Indian husband. Isabella had described her father as a brute. The Chief Justice was to dismiss the content stating there were no grounds on which to contest.
Posted on: Tue, 14 Oct 2014 02:59:21 +0000