Robson, Richard (1888-1903)

ROBSON, GODWIN, CLINE, KLINE, SHRAUGER, BAKER, BAYLOR, PERRY, ROSE, BROOKS, NEWLON, WALKER, NICHOLS, CUMMINS, SHINGLEDECKER, BONWELL, WELLMAN, ROSE, ANDERSON, BURRELL, BIRREL

Posted By: Ken Akers (email)
Date: 9/4/2018 at 09:39:12

Audubon County Journal (IA)
Thursday, Dec. 10, 1903, pg. 8
Death of Robert Robson
--------
Disappeared from Home Four Weeks
Ago Wednesday.

--------
MYSTERY SURROUNDS THE CASE
--------
Body Found Within Two Hundred
Yards of Where He Was Last
Seen At Work.
--------

Four weeks ago yesterday Robert
Robson, of Audubon township,
nine miles southeast of Exira, went
to the field and husked corn until
noon, came in for dinner, unloaded
the corn and then talked with his
brother, Henry, for an hour before
returning to his work. In the evening
about 6 o'clock, the team came
to the house with the wagon and
about fifteen bushels of corn in it
but no driver. The father, Joseph
Robson, and the sons sat down to
supper and when the meal
was finished the boys took
a lantern, went to the field and
made a search and called his name
but receiving no response returned
to the house, when the father went
out and searched, we understand
until about midnight, his efforts
revealing nothing.

The next day a messenger was
sent down into Cass county to see
if he was not visiting friends and a
messenger was likewise sent up into
Greeley, where his sister Mrs.
Sid Godwin resides, to learn if he
had been there. When they could
hear nothing of him the search was
given up, the members of the family
believing he had ran away and
thinking he would return in his
own good time, gave no further
alarm and made no other efforts to
locate him. The matter remained
this way until last Tuesday, Fred
Cline, a neighbor, was out hunting
rabbits and about three o'clock discovered
an unusual looking object
in the field about two hundred
yards from where the last husking
had been done and upon investigation,
he was horriffed at finding the
body of the poor lad cold in death's
embrace. The corpse was lying on
its back, limbs straightened out
with the exception of one arm
which was pointed upward; the
coat and vest torn and pulled
around his arm pits, what appears
to be a bruise on the top of the head
and more mysterious than all else
a leather hitch rein around the
boys neck, the buckle end being
drawn taut and looped about the
neck. Mr. Cline immediately went
to a brother of the boy, a half mile
from the father's home, told him
what he had discovered and together
they went to the father's
home imparted the news, went and
viewed the body to make certain
it was the lads. Then one of the
brothers came to town and informed
Undertaker Shrauger who at
once phoned the Coroner, Clyde
Baker at Audubon who came with
other officials that night and went
out to the Robson home and took
charge of the remains, had them
carried to the home where by this
time a large crowd of neighbors
had collected. He told them all to
be there yesterday morning when
an inquest would be started.

Promptly at that time an investigation
began, Wm. Baylor, E. B.
Perry and John Rose being sworn
as jurors. The investigation was
held behind closed doors and yesterday
evening was not finished
but it seems that something must
have been elicited of an important
nature for the body was brought
here last evening and is in charge
of the Undertaker Shrauger. The
body is frozen stiff and efforts are
being put forth today to thaw it out
so that an autopsy may be held
tomorrow at ten o'clock. The case
is mysterious all around and the
Coroner is determined to sift it to
the foundation before the jury discloses
their verdict.

Audubon County Journal (IA)
Thursday, Dec. 17, 1903, pg. 6
Local News

At this writing the mystery as to
the cause of the death ot Robert
Robson of Audubon township five
weeks ago and whose remains were
found one week ago is still unknown
to the general public. The
autopsy was held in this city last
Saturday Dr. Brooks of Audubon
and Dr. Newlon of this city perform-
ing the operations. After their
work was done and their report
made to the coroner's jury and proper
officers, a sealed verdict was returned
by the jury and what that
verdict is, is only known to those
through whose hands it has passed.
All sorts of rumors are afloat but
none seem to have any support.
Time may reveal every thing, but
now to the public all is darkness
and obscurity. The funeral over
the remains was held on last Saturday
in the M. E. church conducted
by Rev. Walker, assisted by Rev.
Nichols, after which the body was
borne to the Exira cemetery and
interred in the burial lot where the
remaines of his mother and
brother repose.

Audubon County Journal (IA)
Thursday, Jan. 7, 1904, pg. 1
Local News

Gov. Cummins has offered a $300
reward for the discovery of the person
or persons who murdered
Richard Robson, eight miles southeast
of Exira some weeks ago. We
have heard it asserted that this
county will offer an additional $200
to that offered by the governor.
This it is hoped will be an incentive
to some person to prosecute the
search in hopes the guilty will be
brought to justice.

Audubon County Journal (IA)
Thursday, Jan. 14, 1904, pg. 5
BOARD PROCEEDINGS.
--------
Jannary Session.
Auditor's office, Audubon, Iowa,
Jan. 4, 1904.
Board of Supervisors met in regular
session according to law. Members
present J. Shingledecker and J. C.
Bonwell.

The Board proceeded to organize
and elected J. Shingledecker chairman
for the ensuing year.

On motion Board adjourned to meet
again at one o'clock p. m.
--------
One o'clock p. m.
Board met pursuant to adjournment.
On motion the following claims
were allowed:
D E Shrauger, work on account
Coroner's inquest
Richard Robson .... 13 00
W A Wellman, taking photos
of Richard Robson .... 2 00

Audubon County Journal (IA)
Thursday, Jan. 21, 1904, pg. 4
BOARD PROCEEDINGS.
(Continued from last week)
Fees were allowed as follows in Coroners
inquest on body of Richard
Robson:
C W Baker, coroner .... $7 00
J C Rose, juror .... 3 00
Wm Baylor, .... 2 60
E B Perry .... 3 00
A L Brooks, post- mortem examination .... 25 00
(Continued on Page 8)

Audubon County Journal (IA)
Thursday, Jan. 21, 1904, pg. 8
BOARD PROCEEDINGS.
(Continued from page 4)
J C Newlon. post mortem examination .... 35 00
Fred Kline, witness .... 60
C W Baker, expense .... 11 50
F L Anderson, expense .... 11 00

Note: Parents of Richard Robson were Joseph "Joe" Robson and Mary Burrell or Birrel.

photo of grave-marker
 

Audubon Obituaries maintained by Cheryl Siebrass.
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