The Dark & Wicked Case Of Henrietta Robinson

Today we are looking at a

case

from the mid-19th century, so sit back while we go to the USA. Henrietta Robinson lived in Troy, a city located on the eastern bank of the Hudson River in the state of New York, she was a very mysterious lady. she that she resided in a very pleasant cottage in what was considered a good neighborhood and that she also lived in the charming residence of she was a maid and an elderly gardener. Locals often talked about her and heard rumors about where she had come from and why in 1852 she had decided to move to Troy, but Henrietta had never revealed to anyone exactly where she came from or why she decided to move to the city.

Most people also questioned whether Henrietta Robinson was actually her real name and the general opinion of her was, but it was probably not what she was. What was known about her was that she was very beautiful and she did not live with a husband or children. She didn't seem to have any friends either. Many people considered it strange that such an elegant and distinguished lady would choose to live such a closed existence in front of her cabin. a grocery store run by a man called Timothy Lanigan above the store was an apartment where Mr Lanigan lived with his family, the store was well known in the area but as well as selling the usual items such as bread, cheese and milk , this store sold alcohol and there was a bar in the next room where Mr.

Lamie gun would open so people could gather for four nights drinking and dancing, having a place where people drank and made a lot of noise was something that worried Henrietta , not only would she feel uncomfortable because there were so many people near her cabin, but she also felt uncomfortable. intimidated as she was often stared at, after all she was a very curious character to the residents of Troy Henrietta did not stay in her cabin all the time, she was sometimes seen in town, however, it was rare for anyone to would bring him closer. She was known for being an unpredictable woman and very quick to take offense.

She was known to point the revolver she carried in her purse at anyone who bothered her, even if the person concerned had done so unintentionally. She had sometimes gone to the police station to complain. from a man who lived near their cabin, told them that they should send someone to watch his residence while the police were sympathetic, they never sent any officers since a man Henrietta complained about had never tried to harm her or enter her cabin. his house. whenever she went out, it was usually at night, at this time she felt less conspicuous, but stories circulated that there were occasions when after midnight she had been seen wearing only her nightgown and being saved from any embarrassment by charitable ladies who covered her . with a shawl or coat and escort her home, these events also provided much gossip for the locals in the shops and tea houses where Henrietta Robinson was a regular topic of conversation, although some sympathy was felt towards Henrietta, the mystery surrounding her was also generated in part. alone when different stories emerged about the circumstances that had led her to live in Troy, she neither denied nor confirmed them, although some were very elaborate, all of this contributed to the fascination that many of the locals felt for her.

Her father was a man who had banished her from her home, this was often accompanied by the story that her stepmother had encouraged him to do so. Another story was that she was the daughter of an Irishman from Vermont. Conversations will be had every time there is a new story. arose about her arrival in the city some people will believe one theory and another and some thought that none of them were true but everyone seemed to agree that Henrietta had come to Troy to escape something or someone that Henrietta used to do her shopping. and as far as lanagin's shop was in front of her house, many of the items were bought there by mr.

Lam Egon he considered her a very good customer and always tried to make sure that Miss Robinson was taken care of; However, he had noticed that whenever the maid was sent with an order, she always included a fairly large amount of alcohol. Beer was the most common. shopped, but occasionally she bought brandy, her buying habits did not remain a secret for long and soon everyone in my neighborhoods knew that Miss Robinson liked to have a drink in the evening, as rumors spread, soon some drinks would be garnished for Miss Robinson. Being in a constant state of inebriation as time went on, he would occasionally leave his property and cross the street to join the people drinking and dancing at Timothy Lanagin's makeshift bar, but usually not long after arriving. , she would start arguing with anyone who knew her.

Thought she might have been talking about her or looking at her in a derogatory manner, this usually ended with Henrietta pulling her revolver and she was politely asked to leave the premises for a while. Henrietta stopped buying food at the store and went elsewhere except shopping. her in front of her house was much more convenient so she resumed her custom on the morning of Wednesday, May 25, 1853 at 6:00 a.m. That morning she went to buy a strong beer and some crackers from Mr. Lonegan She was out She was attended to by his wife Henrietta She went to the store again at 11 o'clock and this time she went into the bar where there was a group of men drinking Mrs.

Lanigan watched, but after Miss Robinson arrived the men began to make quite a noise, so she asked her to leave, saying that a lady was not to be seen in the company of so many gentlemen. Henrietta reluctantly left and crossed the street to her cabin, but Mrs. Lanigan was surprised to see her again at one o'clock, when Mr. Lanigan had returned and was sitting at his table having dinner with his wife and her sister-in-law named Catherine Looby, they offered Henriette the uneaten egg and potatoes and she happily sat down at the table when they were finished. .

Henriette asked if she could buy everyone a beer as a thank you. It was noon and Mrs. Lanigan had to serve the customers, so she refused, but Mr. Lanigan omits that Looby agreed and Mr. Lonegan went to get the beer. Henriette said that she would taste much better if she were sweeter and asked her to also bring some sugar when she realized that there was not enough beer to fill her glasses. Lonegan returned for the sugar and more beer when he returned. Henriette informed him that she had found some sugar and that she had already put it in the glasses for Mr.

Lonegan filled them with beer and the three of them toasted each other's health and began to drink, only drinking one glass each before saying goodbye. Henriette returned home and mr. Lonegan and Miss Looby returned to work shortly after Miss Looby began to feel quite unwell at 3 p.m. Sir. lonegan returned he also felt very bad and went to bed for some reason miss

robinson

returned to the store but mr. lonegan asked him to leave and mrs. Lanigan pushed her out of the door; Her condition was getting worse, so Mrs. Lanigan called a doctor and examined his patients, but it was 7 p.m.

That night Timothy Lanigan, Sr. died. Looby was cared for by Dr. Adams and dr. Skilton but despite his best efforts he died at 5am. The following day, Thursday, May 26, an autopsy was performed on both bodies and it was discovered that large quantities of arsenic, 40 grams, were contained in the body of Mr. lonegan and a little less in the body of his sister-in-law mr. Loby the police launched an investigation mrs. Lanigan told investigators that Miss Robinson had gone to her house the day before and put what she thought was sugar in her husband and sister-in-law's beer, so police visited the pharmacy. close to the lord.

Robinson's estate and the chemist confirmed that she had sold him arsenic on three separate occasions during the month of May. Police also searched his property and found some arsenic in a box, as well as something placed on the floor in the corners of the rooms that were there. to rid her cabin of rodents, but Henrietta did not admit that she was responsible for Mr. Lanigan and Miss Lou B, she believed the poisonings were committed by someone else, possibly by the lady. Lanigan told police that Ms. Lanigan had asked her for a loan of $100 but she refused to lend him the money.

Henrietta Robinson was already considered a strange figure in the city and the fact that she had been present just before two perfectly healthy individuals fell ill and died only contributed to the mystery that surrounded her, however, it was not until February 1854, nine months after the death of the lord. Timothy Lanigan and Miss Catherine Looby were charged with her murders. Three months later, on May 22, 1854, the trial of Henrietta Robinson began. It had taken her a long time to bring what many considered such a simple

case

to court and rumors had circulated in Troy that someone or something was trying to protect her.

Henrietta appeared in court dressed in the most elegant dresses and with her face covered by a black veil that she refused to remove from her when witnesses were called to identify her. It would be lifted, but only in According to the witness' opinion, on the third day of the trial, the judge ordered Henrietta to remove her veil or face charges of contempt of court, something she refused to do and informed her lawyers. that he would rather submit to whatever punishment was necessary, but remove her. veil the judge relented and she was allowed to wear it throughout the trial the prosecution presented a strong case they had evidence that the defendant had purchased arsenic the witnesses had also seen her arguing with mr. and Mrs.

Lanigan when they asked her to leave the bar and others testified that after taking her business elsewhere she only returned to the store on the day of the murders. Henrietta's lawyers told the court that she had a history of erratic behavior and that she went out at night. she only in her nightgown, she often spoke like a child and burst into tears. They said that she had absolutely no motive to commit such a terrible crime and that she could only have done it if she suffered from temporary insanity. The prosecution responded by informing the courts. that on the day in question, May 25, 1853, the defendant was drunk and drunkenness is neither insanity nor a defense against the charge of murder.

When the trial ended the jury was sent to deliberate. Upon their return the judge asked them if they had found the defendant guilty of not guilty the foreman responded guilty upon hearing the verdict

henrietta

jumped and screamed shame on you judge shame on you there is corruption here there is corruption in the courts Henrietta Robinson was found guilty of two counts of first degree murder she had not been found guilty insane and the jury held her fully responsible for her actions before the sentence was handed down, the defense filed an appeal and demanded a new trial while the legal arguments were considered.

Henrietta was sent to prison to sing-sing the crime and trial. of Henrietta Robinson had caused some sensation in the press and newspapers asked if anyone knew the true identity of this beautiful but mysterious lady, the story emerged that the real name was Mrs. Campbell, who owned a tavern in the suburbs of Quebec but that she had left her husband to live with a taxi driver, another claim that she was the daughter of a Montreal doctor Robinson who had died nine years earlier in an asylum, a local journalist wrote that he had been told that her father was a distinguished Irish gentleman who had disinherited her after she married a butler's son all the stories sold newspapers and kept the Troy residence talking about the mysterious Miss Robinson requests for a new trial were finally denied and on June 14, In 1855, Henrietta was brought back to court to be sentenced.

The judge insisted that she lift her veil while he briefed her, but on August 3 she was to be executed for her crimes as a date was approaching. Henriette was visited by priests who said she had made her peace with God, but the locals in Troy never believed she would be hanged because they were still convinced that something or someone would protect her and a few days before her execution date, the governor of the New York state agreed to commute his sentence. she to life imprisonment she Henrietta she spent the next 18 years in Sing-Sing Prison before being transferred to Auburn Prison in 1890.

She was transferred again to the Matawan Hospital for the Criminally Insane. When she was at this institution, a woman came forward who claimed that she had gone to school with Henrietta, she said that her real name was Charlotte Woods and that she was one of the four ORN daughters of a Canadian merchant named William Wood. She said that she was well educated and a brilliant linguist when the story was printed. At the time of Troy, the family categorically denied that the lady in question was their relative. Henriette Robinson died in prison in May 1905. She remains as mysterious in death as she was in life, as she took her true identity to the grave.

Hello everyone and thank you. Thank you very much for listening to us as always. Please leave any comments you may have and see youin the next brief case.