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Who Killed William Robinson?

Key Players for the Prosecution

Who is Tshuanhusset?

Who Is William Robinson?

What Does the Crime Tell Us About Society

  • Was an African American
  • Was a resident and farmer on Salt Spring Island
  • He lived in a log house by himself
  • He was a contingent of Black Americans fleeing persecution and slavery in the years leading up to the American Civil War
  • Had a wife and four children in the United States
  • Was a regular church goer
  • A Native American man
  • Also referred to as Tom
  • A member of the Halkomelem-speaking Penelekut people
  • Sold salmon and deer to settlers
  • Claimed to have caught the "fire-sickness" two years before Robinson's murder
  • Claimed he was made an Indian constable by the Nanaimo magistrate, Mr. Franklyn

This crime tells us that in Salt Spring Island there was a lot of racial discrimination. This crime was a senseless crime committed against a man of color. It also tells us that there was a sense of distrust and poverty in the community. Tshuanahusset committed this crime in order to rob William Robinson, taking away an innocent mans life. The society that William Robinson lived in was un-accepting and cruel and for that he lost his life.

John Norton: Brings to the authorities evidence of the Indian threats being directed towards settlers. He claimed to have found the augur allegedly stolen from Robinson by Tshuanahusset

Sue Tas: Claimed he was with Tshuanahusset when he murdered and robbed William Robinson

Armstead Buckner: Buckner's testimony supports Tshuanahusset's guilt

Who Committed the Crime and Why

Key Players for the Defense

The Times William Robinson Lived In

Bibliography

"1860s." Victoria's Victoria. Accessed April 26, 2016. http://web.uvic.ca/~hist66/vicvic/1860.html.

"The Black Community." The Black Community. Accessed April 26, 2016. http://saltspringarchives.com/multicultural/blacks/.

"Black History Canada - British Columbia." Black History Canada - British Columbia. Accessed April 26, 2016. http://blackhistorycanada.ca/topic.php?id=129&themeid=5.

"MysteryQuest 3." MysteryQuests. Accessed April 26, 2016. http://www.mysteryquests.ca/quests/03/indexen.html.

"Welcome." Who Killed William Robinson. Accessed April 26, 2016. http://www.canadianmysteries.ca/sites/robinson/home/indexen.html.

"Who Killed William Robinson?" Who Killed William Robinson? Accessed April 26, 2016. http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/432.

Historical Context- Violence Against African Americans

Charlie (Tshuanahusset's brother): Charlie claimed that he made the axe handle found in Tshuanahusset's house. Others claimed it was William Robinsons

Thomas George Askew: A sawmill owner who sold an unusual axe head to Tshuanahusset

  • Racial discrimination was a very dominant theme
  • People of color were seen as the lesser race; however they worked with their neighbors to build up their society
  • Most settlers did not have a lot of money so they were offered free land to migrate to the Island
  • In 1895 there were aroun 105 farms occupied
  • While some of these were former slaves they were all free citizens of the United States when they immigrated to British Columbia

Through my extensive research it is my belief that Tshuanahusset (Tom) is guilty of the murder of William Robinson. All of the evidence points towards his guilt and all other evidence is purely circumstantial. The fact that there were other murders of African American men I think translates more to the racial discrimination at the time then a serial murderer. The prosecutions chief witness, Sue Tas put Tshuanahusset at the scene of the crime on the day of the murder. I think Tshuanahusset committed this crime for a personal gain, in order to rob William Robinson.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I strongly believe that Tshuanhusset did indeed murder William Robinson. A local resident, John Norton was told by an Indian fishing near his house that Tshuanahusset had killed William Robinson and the murder weapon was hidden in a box in his house. Also a member of Tshuanahusset's tribe Sue Tas, claims to have been with Tshuanahusset when he murdered William Robinson. While there may have been circumstantial events that had occurred, in my opinion it was purely circumstantial. The other murders of the African American men were not connected to the murder of William Robinson.

William Robinson was one of three African American men murdered over the course of two years. Historically seen there were many crimes against African Americans. Robberies, even though they have little to no possessions. Physical abuse, which included beatings and sexual assault. African American people were not treated to the same standard as white people. All people of color in Salt Spring Island were subjected to emotional and physical abuse by the white settlers.

Who is Sue Tas?

  • Also referred to as Dick
  • Lived on Plumpers Pass
  • Likely a member of the Saanich people
  • Originally charged with accessory to murder, this charge was dropped
  • Banished by his chief because of his testimony and threatened with death if he ever returned to his village

By Georgia Finch

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