George Robinson

George Robinson was convicted of the murder of his 18-year-old girlfriend Frances Florence Pacey and sentenced to death. He went to her house at Dorrington on 5 September 1922 with the intention of killing her and cut her throat. George Robinson had been a labourer and had lived in Dorrington, Lincolnshire. For about 12 months prior to April 1922 they had been walking out together, however, Frances Pacey broke off the relationship in April. Frances Pacey had lived with her mother and step-father in Dorrington a few houses down from where George Robinson lived with his mother. It was heard that after Frances Pacey told George Robinson that she didn't want to walk out with him anymore that George Robinson remarked: xxxqxxx The best thing I can do is to make away with myself. xxxqxxx It was heard that Frances Pacey's parents both approved of her decision, as although they thought that George Robinson was a respectable man, he was about nine years older than Frances Pacey, was madly jealous of her and didn't like to see anybody else in her society. After Frances Pacey told him that she didn't want to walk out with him anymore, relations between them appeared to have entirely ceased. However, it was noted that George Robinson appeared to have become very depressed, to have thrown up a good situation, and to have done little or no work since. Frances Pacey had been in the habit of sharing the bed in the bedroom with her mother. On the morning of 5 September 1922, about 7.45am, her mother got up and went out, leaving her in bed. Shortly after, at about 8.30am, Frances Pacey rushed into the house of her neighbour, dressed in her nightdress, saying: xxxqxxx I'm done for. xxxqxxx She was bleeding profusely from a wound about 2in deep and 5in long, beginning at the back of the neck and extending on the left side, severing the external jugular vein. She was then taken to hospital and died that afternoon from shock and haemorrhage without making any statement. George Robinson was found soon after at his house with his throat cut and also taken to hospital, where he recovered. It was heard that George Robinson had been seen shortly before 8am wearing a grey cap, and the grey cap was found on the pillow of the bed that Frances Pacey had been sleeping in. George Robinson was seen about 8am by his sister-in-law when he returned home. She said that he looked very wild and that she noticed blood on his chest. He then went upstairs and changed his clothes and underclothes, which were wringing wet and got into bed. His sister then called a doctor who found that he was suffering from a wound in the throat. A razor was found in his left hand coat pocket, the edge of which was broken. He was then taken to hospital in a motor car. On the way, a man that had accompanied him, asked: xxxqxxx Why is the reason you did it? xxxqxxx And George Robinson replied: xxxqxxx I don't know. xxxqxxx When they arrived at the hospital, the man said: xxxqxxx We've brought you here, George. xxxqxxx And George Robinson replied: xxxqxxx How's Fran? (meaning the girl). xxxqxxx It was not clear how George Robinson's clothes came to be wet. It was suggested that he had been in a river or a pond, but whether that had been with the object of getting rid of the bloodstains or in order to complete his suicide was not apparent. At his trial the only real defence was insanity, in that George Robinson had been suffering from melancholia. There was some evidence that he had since April 1922 suffered from depression, loss of appetite etc, but the prison medical officer found no signs of insanity or even of eccentricity. A medical expert, who was called for the defence and who had had one interview with George Robinson on 25 October 1922 said that he found him to be practically sane at that date, but expressed the opinion that he might have been insane at the date of the murder. However, the police report stated that there was no reason whatever to think that he had been insane. George Robinson's sister said that George Robinson had previously been quite happy and had been looking forward to marrying Frances Pacey and had been setting aside money from his wages each week to provide for a home. However, she said that when Frances Pacey ceased to walk out with him a great change came over him, describing it as most marked. She said that he became a different man. She said that he had never said he would take his own life before. She said that he had been a happy, cheery young man, looking forward to being Frances Pacey's husband, but that after she left him his happiness left him and he was depressed. She said he gave up his work about April and didn't go out with any other girl. She said he was out of work till September except for a fortnight although he had been offered work. She noted that he helped to support their mother. She added that his appetite went off and that he looked worse in health and looked different. George Robinson appealed his conviction, but his appeal was dismissed, with the Lord Chief Justice remarking: xxxqxxx The defence of insanity is becoming an invariable makeweight in murder cases and it is right that juries should scrutinize it with care. xxxqxxx There was no recommendation to mercy by the jury, which included three women. The police report concluded with the following: xxxqxxx For many years a severe view has been taken in cases of prisoners convicted of the murder of their sweethearts. From 1905 to 1921 in 21 such cases the prisoner has been executed, although in 8 of these cases there was a recommendation to mercy. In the same period 8 men have been respited, but in two of these cases on the ground of their mental condition. The average age of the 21 men executed was 23, four of them being under 20. In the present case the prisoner is 27 and there appears to be no mitigating circumstances whatever. The mere fact that the girl had put an end to their courtship is utterly insufficient. These girls must be protected against the danger of the man saying, 'If I can't have her no-one else shall'. It is clear therefore that the law should take its course in this case. xxxqxxx George Robinson was executed at Lincoln on 13 December 1922, along with Frank Fowler. George Robinson was described as having had a slight figure with fair hair and blue eyes. George Robinson who was a farm labourer from Dorrington who was convicted of the murder of his girlfriend, Frances Florence Pavey who was just eighteen years old. They had been going out together for a few months when she broke off their relationship. Unable to accept this he tried to persuade her to resume the relationship. When she refused he cut her throat and then his own. After being nursed back to health, he stood trial at Lincoln Assizes on 30 October, held inside Lincoln Castle. He was just 27 when he was hung on the 13th December 1922