Summary
Personal Information
Transportation
Thomas Robson was transported on the Nile, departing 18th Sep 1857 and arriving 1st Jan 1858 with 271 passengers.
Nile (generic)References
| Primary Source | UK Convict records, Battye Library, Perth. Convict No. 4576 |
Claims
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Convict Notes
FOOTNOTE: From 'The Manchester Guardian', January 16, 1856: THE ATTEMPT TO POISON A WIFE AT NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE Thomas Robson, alias William Wilson, a blacksmith aged 22, who was remanded by the magistrates on a charge of having attempted to destroy the life of Elizabeth Robson, his wife, by giving her a quantity of poison in a small bottle of whisky, was on Monday brought up before the magistrates at the Police Court, Newcastle, for further examination. The evidence she had given before (and which we have already published), her fellow-servant at Mr. Forster’s, St. Thomas’s Crescent, stated that she saw the prisoner at that house on the 1st December last. His wife came to witness that night with a bottle in her hand. She said it was very strange, for her husband had given her a bottle, which he never did before. It was nearly full of a white liquid. She put the bottle to her mouth and took some. She said it was very strong and queer stuff. In consequence of a conversation they had, witness took about a tablespoonful of it. Mrs. Robson held her side as if she was pained. That was a short time after she had tasted the bottle. The witness took some of it to see what it was like. It made her very sick and she shivered - she did not vomit. It drew her mouth together as if it was alum, and had a very sweet taste; she felt sick for some time. A sediment settled to the bottom of the bottle during the night. Mrs. Robson poured the liquid off and put the sediment into a wine glass. The glass was three fourths full, but did not know what she did with it. On the following morning witness took the bottle to Mr. Malin, chemist, and gave it to him. He afterwards returned it to her; but it was never out of her sight. She took it back, and afterwards delivered it to Charles Mockey Forster, one of her master’s sons. That would be about ten minutes after her return. Other witness duly identified and traced the bottle into the hands of Mr. Dunne, police superintendent, who delivered it to Dr. Richardson, analytical chemist, and he analysed the contents of the bottle, and stated that it contained sugar of lead. There were about five liquid ounces when he received it, and each ounce contained not quite 20 grains of sugar of lead. Sugar of lead was a poison. By the Bench: Sugar of lead was commonly sold by the chemists without any question. It was used for external application as a lotion. It was generally known as a poison; he could not say in what quantity it was applied as a lotion. Septimus William Rayne, surgeon to the police force, said he had heard the evidence given by Dr. Richardson, in reference to the finding of sugar of lead in the bottle. The effects of the whole quantity would have been severe vomiting, great prostration, and considerable pain in the belly; but in smaller doses, such as the girl had stated, would in his opinion, produce vomiting, but not so soon as the girl stated. In large doses sugar of lead is a poison, but not in two or three grains. There was sufficient poison in the liquid analysed to destroy life. By Mr. Stoker, (who watched the proceedings on behalf of the prisoner): If she had taken 20 grains all at once, it would have killed her. A tablespoonful, apothecaries’ weight, contained about half an ounce. A liquid ounce, containing sugar of lead, would destroy life. If 18 grains had been received into her system it would have produced a very injurious effect, unless counteracted by an antidote. The effects described by Robson, on her mouth, he attributed to the astringency of the whisky and the lead. If she had taken half the quantity in the bottle, as he husband recommended, she would doubtless have died from the effects. John Elliott, inspector of the county police, apprehended the prisoner at Acomb, when he said his name was William Wilson, and that he was not at Mr. Forster’s on the 1st December. After being cautioned, he asked witness; “What do you think will come of me over this.” He afterwards said he was not a married man, and had no wife named Robson. Mr. Dunne said he had ascertained from enquiry that the prisoner had made an offer of marriage to a girl named Temperly, and an arrangement had been made for the marriage to take place at Acomb church. His wife had been over at Acomb to get some support from him, when this young woman hearing that he was a married man, declined to have any further acquaintance with him. Mr. Stoker said that the prisoner denied that he had given this to her, but he (Mr. Stoker ) declined to say anything further at present. The bench though it better to remand the prisoner for the production of fresh evidence, which might be of importance. The prisoner was then remanded to Thursday. (http://www.perthdps.com/convicts/w4576.htm)
His Fremantle jail record follows: ROBSON, Thomas 4576 1 Jan 1858 Nile Date of Birth: 1836 Marital Status: Married Occupation: Blacksmith Literacy: Literate Sentence Place: Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, England Crime: Attempted poisoning Sentence Period: Life, commuted Ticket of Leave Date: 1 Aug 1860 Conditional Pardon Date: 23 Mar 1871 (https://fremantleprison.com.au/history-heritage/history/convict-database/)
The charge was "administering poison with intent to murder". His record from WA can be found at Western Australia, Australia, Convict Records, 1846-1930; Convict Department, Registers; Character Book for Nos 4508-5585 (R8). Listed as prisoner #4576, he had been held at Portland prison before boarding the Nile.
Thomas was found guilty of attempted poisoning of his 1st wife in England.