Charged With Murder of 'Mail Order Bride'
Dixon Evening Telegraph, Wednesday January 14, 1948 page 9, columns 3 & 4, Dixon, IllinoisClinton, Ark, Jan 14 -
Lonnie ROBBINS, an Arkansas farmer charged with poisoning his 52 year-old "mail order" bride of less than a week. Hid his dead wife's jewelry in a secret pocket in his underwear. Sheriff Doyce CASINGER reported.
CASINGER said Mrs. ROBBINS' previously missing watch and ring were found in the secret pocket, together with $500. When ROBBINS was searched yesterday after being brought to the Van Buren County jail to await trial on a first degree murder charge.
ROBBINS was married at Abilene, Tex., on Christmas day to Mrs. Sadie Sue DUDLEY. An Abilene widow, whom he said he met through a matrimonial bureau. The couple came to ROBBINS' farm near Clinton New Year's Eve, and Mrs. ROBBINS died about 4 hours later. An autopsy showed a lethal amount of poison in her stomach.
The 49-year-old ROBBINS has denied any knowledge of how his bride met her death.
Lonnie Robbins Formally Sentenced
The Joplin Globe, 28 February 1948, page 5, column 1, Joplin, MissouriArkansas Farmer Convicted of Slaying Bride Ordered Imprisoned for Life
Clinton Ark., Feb. 27. - Circuit Judge Garner FRASER today formally sentenced Lonnie ROBBINS to life imprisonment for the poison death of his bride, whom he met through a matrimonial agency.The 49-year-old farmer was convicted Wednesday on a charge of first-degree murder of Mrs. Sadie Sue DUDLEY ROBBINS, 52, formerly of Abilene, Tex., and his sentence fixed at a life imprisonment.
ROBBINS attorneys asked for a new trial, but this was denied. They indicated they would appeal.
In a brief lecture to ROBBINS, Judge FRASER said he didn't understand how a sane person could have done the things ROBBINS did after the death of his wife on New Years Eve.
Disappeared Next Day
ROBBINS disappeared the next day and was apprehended several days later with another woman.The only comment ROBBINS made at the sentencing was when he was asked if he had ever served a prison term. He said he had, in California.
ROBBINS, only kin in the courtroom today was his brother Roy of California, ROBBINS elderly mother, Mrs. Jewell ROBBINS, at liberty on bond on a charge of murder in the death off ROBBINS' bride, was in town, but didn't attend the sentencing.
Also charged with being an accessory in the case is the ROBBINS' former hired hand, Henry PETTY. He is in jail at Marshall, Ark.
In court today, the trials of Mrs. Jewell ROBBINS and PETTY were continued to the September term of court.
