The Evidence
The Crime Scene
- March, 1868
- Robinson last seen at church on the preceding Sunday
- Found in his locked house, on his back, having been in the process of eating
- Gunshot wound in his back from a close range
Bittancourt Brothers
- Sue Tas sworn statement claims he accompanied Tom in the murder of Robinson
- Claimed Tom stole Robinson's axe, auger, saw, gun, and coat
- John Norton claims an axe similar to Robinson's found in Tom's house after second searching
- Left-handed axe
- Letter to the editor of local newspaper claims the story does not make sense since a left-handed axe would have different characteristics
- Must be a different axe planted there
- The auger was found in Tom's home by John Norton
- Tom had loaned Norton a similar auger earlier on
- Norton misplaced the auger
The Verdict
Injustices in the Trial
- Tom found guilty of Robinson's murder and sentenced to death
- All communication done in English
- Translator of a different ethnicity provided to Tom
- Likely translation errors
- All Caucasian jury during a time of racial prejudice
John Norton
Beneficiaries of Aboriginal and African American Deaths
Beneficiaries of William Robinson's Death
- Caucasian inhabitants:
- Opportunity to obtain land formerly owned by victims
- Easy to gain power when tension is present between the two majority groups
Conclusion
- Bittancourt Brothers
- Manuel migrated to Salt Spring Island prior to Estalon
- Persuaded by close friend John Norton
- Estalon migrated after Manuel obtained Robinson's land after his murder
- Went on to build a successful business and personal fortune from the land
Tshuanhusset (Tom)
William Robinson
Historical Context
The Bittancourt brothers, in my opinion, were responsible for the framing and conviction of innocent Aboriginal man, Tom, through the help of an accomplice, John Norton, and an all-Caucasian jury in order to obtain Robinson’s land and benefit themselves and their family.
- William Robinson one of three African American men murdered over the span of two years
- First case: allegedly murdered by young Aboriginal boy
- Second case: allegedly murdered by Aboriginal man
- Under same judge
- All white jury
- Created tension between ethnic groups
- Unsettled community
- Aboriginal Man
- Did not speak or understand English
- Deer and salmon hunter
- Claimed to have caught the "fire-sickness" two years before murder of Robinson
- Made Aboriginal constable by Mr. Franklin
- Was an African American resident and farmer on Salt Spring Island
- Lived in a house by himself
- A contingent of African Americans fleeing persecution and slavery leading up to the Civil War
- Sunday school teacher
19th Century on Salt Spring Island
- Racial discrimination was a very dominant theme
- People of color seen as a lesser race
- Many settlers had no money but were offered free land to migrate
- African Americans took up 50% of the land, outnumbering Caucasians
- Many ethnic groups inhabited the island including Portuguese, African Americans, Aboriginals, British, Hawaiian, and more
Criminal Code Violations
- Section 465a
- Conspiring to commit murder or to cause another person to be murdered
- Section 465b
- Conspiring to prosecute anyone for an alleged offence, knowing the person did not commit that offence
Who Killed William Robinson?