Who Killed William Robinson - Assignment Example

Who Killed William Robinson? Race, Justice and Settling the Land Name Institution Course Professor Date Who Killed William Robinson? Race, Justice and Settling the Land In any society in the world, there is a probability that it has its own historical murder mysteries that were successfully solved or has never been concluded. In Canadian society, there are several murder mysteries that happened centuries ago and have not been solved or there are too many irregularities in the way they were handled and solved. One such case is the murder of William Robinson in the Salt Spring Island. Tshuanahusset, commonly known as the Indian man Tom was charged, convicted and hanged for the murder of Robinson. It is not clear whether Tom did actually killed Robinson because of shoddy investigation, tampering of evidence and inconclusive evidence presented in the court. Although this case was solved, the evidence presented in court points to the possibility that Tom may have not killed Robinson but his long time friend Sue Tas may have killed him. This crime shows that this society has biased justice system; there is presence of racial prejudices and; ethnicity. Account of the Murder William Robinson was found murdered in his house having been shot from the back as he was having his meal. Robinson was not seen for some days and the man he usually assists him came to his cabin and found him death. Other settlers arrived but the resident constable did not come immediately but arrived on Monday according to the newspaper article of March 1868 (The British Colonist 1868). This is unusual occurrence as constable was supposed to arrive immediately as somebody’s life has been taken away. Furthermore, the scene of the crime needed to be secured for safeguarding the evidence that could lead to prosecution of the real murderer. This is irregular and settlers may have tampered with crucial evidence before constable arrived. Salt Spring Island Salt Spring Island is an area that has rich resources. It has smaller lakes that are favorable for fishing and the Island has several springs that are beneficial to the community. There is presence of mineral deposits with iron ore gold and silver show indications that they have been mined for quite some time (Wilson 1895). Farming is carried out in the area with large wheat fields, barley, and oats are not to be found at Spring Salt Island. The island received a lot of white settlers in the 19th century seeking to reside in the area. The Governor, Mr. Douglas proclaimed that any settler wishing to settle may choose land at a place desirable to them. A sum that does not exceed $ 1.25 per acre was set and the land owners have a right to pre-empt it at this value (Wilson 1895). As white people were arriving at the Island so did some colored people from United States who were fleeing persecution. The Indians intermarried with some white settlers. Politically, Salt Spring Island was represented by Mr. Booth at the time William Robinson was killed. Justice A. Walter and Joel Broadwell served the area while Mr. W. McFadden was the only constable (Wilson 1895). The relationship between the white settlers and native people in the early days was largely peacefully but with its challenges. Other Murders Mysteries at the Island In the British Colombia, Tshusanhusset was not the only person that was hanged. Other people had also been hanged for various crimes in the region. There was an Indian man named Allache that was executed for murder. He committed the murder when he was half-drunk and was charged of premeditated murder (Waddington 1860). Another man was charged in the same court with murdering a drunkard. The name of the accused was called Smelling and was subsequently given four years imprisonment for the offence. This is double standards as far as application of the law is concerned. Two men who have committed murder are given different set of sentences which clearly shows the inequalities and biased justice system in this society. A year later, another man, Cowichan Indian was convicted of killing Squamish and was sentenced to be hanged by Chief Justice Cameron (The British Colonist 1861). This is just some examples of other Indians that were accused of murder and subsequently hanged to death just like the case of Tshuanahusset. Investigation and Search for Robinson’s Murderer(s) After Robinson was murdered, investigation started on whom may have killed him and probably the reasons behind. As British Colonist (April, 10 1869) asserts, fifteen months after Robinson was killed, an Indian was arrested on suspicion that he committed the crime. Another Indian man swears that he was in the company of Tom when he shot Robinson in his house. The sworn affidavit of Sue Tas, nicknamed Dick says that he and Tom went to Robinson house and found him cooking food. He further stressed that he had the gun shot while he was outside and rushed inside where he saw Robinson dead and blood coming out of his nose and back. There are things to that can be drawn from this scenario. First, long time friend of Tom that was apparently with him at the time Tom shot Robinson did not actually witness the murder. He described the scene of the crime wrongly by saying that William Robinson fell off from his chair as he re-entered the house (Morley 1869). At that point, Sue Tas in his sworn affidavit says that Tom told him to help him steal some possessions from the house. The investigation into Robinson’s murder was shoddy and questionable. It is unbelievable that a jury that is independent, unbiased and dedicated to fairness and justice to all would convict Tom of Robinson murder with the kind of evidence presented in the court. For example, John Norton, a local resident was allegedly told anonymously by an Indian man that was fishing close to his residence that Tom killed Robinson and the weapon that was used by Tom is in his house (Morley 1869). This does not seem to be credible story and the question needs to be asked is how this anonymous person knew that the murder weapon is in a box in Tom’s house. Furthermore, Norton may have made up the story to implicate Tom of Robinson’s murder for personal vendetta or for other reasons. This anonymous person should have been called to testify about how he knows about the murder weapon in a box. In point blank, it may seem that the evidence that were presented in court against Tom was overwhelming to convince the jury of Tom’s guilt. However, there are many pitfalls in the investigation and the entire case against the Indian man. For example, the auger that was alleged to be the property of William Robinson and found in Tom’s house ‘accidentally’ drop off from constable canoe in the lake and was ‘lost’ (Needham 1867-1869). This cannot be taken as merely coincidence and actually the one thing that would consolidate the case against Tom could be lost in such a bizarre a situation. If really the auger was found in Tom’s house, the constable would have been careful with it and never allow anything to happen to it. Salt Spring Island Community Most of the first people who settled at Salt Spring came from United States consisting of former slaves and their children and others were free citizens that Immigrated to British Columbia. The common thing that all these blacks had in common was the fact that all were escaping from discrimination they were facing in California. With little money they were having, the offer of free land made the Island appealing to them (British Colonist 1859). The families of different races settled in the Island and they started intermarrying. The murder of William Robinson tells us many things about Salt Spring Island society including presence of racial prejudice, ethnicity, and dysfunctional and biased justice system. Investigation It is apparent that only Tom was seriously investigated although there were some other individuals that should have been number one suspects hence form basis of a strong investigation. This includes the long time friend of Tom, Sue Tas as he alleged to have been with him at the time of William Robinson Murder. His story is unbelievable as he told the court that his friend of 5 years threatened that he will kill him if he ever tells anyone about what happens at William Robinson’s house. This tells us that in this community long time friends can turn on each other and community members does not hold friendship in high esteem. As a person who has been accused, Sue Tas had no reason for waiting until Tom’s trial to start before he could speak up about the threats. This raises the questions as to whether he was coached to immediately tell to the investigation officers about Tom in order to implicate him about the murder of William Robinson. It is also illogical that he re-entered the house where Robinson had been killed. Moreover, it is absurd that another Indian would agree to ride on a canoe together back to town with a murderer if at all he was afraid of his own life. It is told by other settlers in the trial of Tom that he was a good Indian and a person who respects other people and property and there was no reason at all why he would kill or even hurt William Robinson (Needham 1867-1869). Against this claim, the investigating officers should have considered Sue Tas as a prime suspect given the fact he was with Tom at the time Robinson was killed. Racial Prejudice It is no apparent that there were racial prejudices at Salt Spring at early days that people were moving to the Island. This may be due to too much time being spent on establishing their homes hence no time to worry about racial differences. Furthermore, there is little evidence that there was presence of racial prejudice in early days. The intermarriages consisting of different ethnic backgrounds conducted in early days made it unlikely that people born in Salt Spring would at all have been prejudiced. One instance in Rev. Wilson book (1895) shows how a couple would attend a meeting that colored people associate freely with the white people. However, the murder of William Robinson casts some doubts about the absence of racial prejudices. As the jury that tried Tom were all Whites, it is possible that race did play some part in their decision as a jury that is not racially prejudiced would not have given guilty verdict against Tom with the kind of evidence presented. A letter by Walter to the British Columbia premier about the appointment of a constable in the name of Anderson- a colored man shows there were racial prejudices. In the letter, Walter stated that there were men that were threatening not to let a colored person to arrest any individuals that belong to their race (in this case the Whites majority) (Walter 1885). This shows that people had racial prejudice against each other in the island and they were not willing to be ruled by a person who does not belong to their racial background. Ethnicity The murder of black man William Robinson, the conviction and hanging of the Indian man Tom for the crime, all White jury in the case portrays how ethnicity thrived in Salt Spring Island. People at the Island were of different ethnic backgrounds. There were other two people that were murdered at the same period Robinson was murdered. All of them belong to the black community and those accused of committing the crimes were Indians. This may seem coincidence but it points out to sour ethnic relations at the Island. Sue Tas, the chief witness of prosecution in the case of Robinson murder was threatened with death threats after he gave evidence against his fellow Indian, Tom. Furthermore, he was outlawed by the chief of his area (The British Colonist 1869). The ethnic community of Sue Tas feel that he betrays his own tribe by giving evidence against Tom and they may have been okay if Tom was not an Indian. Dysfunctional and Biased Justice System The jury that tried Tom was all White and unbiased ruling can be a possibility. There were other suspects in this case but all were acquitted in circumstances that were not clear while Tom was heavily investigated. For example, Hiram Clark Whims who was one of the suspects was paid $2 for giving information to Constable Sampson about Robinson’s death (Killian 7). He was the first person to give report about the whereabouts of Robinson body to the Island Constable. Although he was suspected of killing Robinson, he was later absolved and given a reward. This is not right as there was no reward announced to anybody that discovers Robinson body or information leading to arrest of its murderers. Conclusion Historically, there have been several murders that have largely remained unresolved for many centuries while others are solved many years later after those murders were committed. Different societies react differently to murder and their tolerance towards violence. In the years between 1867 and 1868, Salt Spring Island community witness three brutal murders. They seem unconnected but the fact is that all the murder victims were black and Aboriginal people were blamed for their murders. Officially, two of the murders remained unresolved while William Robinson case was solved after Tshuanahusset was charged and convicted for the murder. William Robinson body was found in his cabin some few days after he was shot from the back. Tshuanahusset may have not committed the crime but Sue Tas that was with him at the time Robinson was killed may have committed the offence. William Robinson did deserve a retrial and a fair one for that matter. Works Cited "Another Hanging." British Colonist (16 November 1861). In Who Killed William Robinson? by Ruth Sandwell and John Lutz. 02 January 2004. (16 March 2015). "Land Reform Meeting." British Colonist (24 June 1859). In Who Killed William Robinson? by Ruth Sandwell and John Lutz. 02 January 2004. (17 March 2015). "The East-Coast Murders." The British Colonist (10 April , 1869). In Who Killed William Robinson? by Ruth Sandwell and John Lutz. 02 January 2004. (16 March 2015). “Salt Spring Murder.” British Colonist , (March 24, 1868). In Who Killed William Robinson? by Ruth Sandwell and John Lutz. 02 January 2004. (15 March 2015). Alfred Waddington, "Judicial Murder" (Victoria, B.C.: n.p., August 27, 1860), 1-5. In Who Killed William Robinson? by Ruth Sandwell and John Lutz. 02 January 2004. (16 March 2015). BCA, Attorney General Documents, GR419, John Morley, Sworn Testimony of Sue Tas (Dick), April 7, 1869. In Who Killed William Robinson? by Ruth Sandwell and John Lutz. 02 January 2004. (15 March 2015). Killian, Go Do Some Great Thing , p. 7.; BCA, Supreme Court Records, GR 1303, Box 31, File 13. In Who Killed William Robinson? by Ruth Sandwell and John Lutz. 02 January 2004. (14 March 2015). Morley, John. BCARS, Attorney General Documents, GR-419, Box 8, John Morley, Sworn Testimony of John Norton, April 2, 1869. In Who Killed William Robinson? by Ruth Sandwell and John Lutz. 02 January 2004. (14 March 2015). Needham, Joseph. BCA, Vancouver Island, Supreme Court of Civil Justice, GR-2030, Mflm. B-9802, Bench Books of Criminal Cases Heard Before Judge Joseph Needham 1867-1869, Trial of Tom, June 2, 1869, 85, 107-145. In Who Killed William Robinson? by Ruth Sandwell and John Lutz. 02 January 2004. (14 March 2015). Rev. E.F. Wilson, "Salt Spring Island British Columbia 1895" (Victoria: The Colonist Presses, 1895), 1-30. Notes: Courtesy of Sue Mouat, Salt Spring Island. Also available at the BC Archives, Victoria, B.C. In Who Killed William Robinson? by Ruth Sandwell and John Lutz. 02 January 2004. (13 March 2015). Walter, Arthur. BCA, B.C. Premier's Office, Correspondence Inwards, GR-0441, File 3, Box 1, Arthur Walter, Letter to Hon. Mr. Smithe, B.C. Premier, April 28, 1885. In Who Killed William Robinson? by Ruth Sandwell and John Lutz. 02 January 2004. (15 March 2015). Read More