St. Clair County
Remnants Of The Past

Appleton City Journal
25 March 1909

Guilty Says Jury.
An Interesting Trial at Osceola.
Rolla Robbins Charged with Murder of his Brother-in-Law.
St. Clair County Republican

Nothing of particular interest to the public has occupied the attention of the circuit court which has been in session at Osceola during the past ten days or more, save the trial of Rolla Robbins for the murder of his brother-in-law, Frank Conway, which occurred last April. Readers of the Republican will recall that young Conway and his wife had been having trouble, occasioned as the Republican learned by his drinking and also his abuse of his wife. The latter left and returned to the home of her father and instead of improving matters rendered them worse. After indulging in various threats against the lives of the entire family Conway went to the Robbins farm on various occasions and was seen skulking about the premises. On the day of the killing he was seen approaching the house and knowing there was trouble brewing, Rolla Robbins, a brother of Mrs. Conway, went to the door to see what was up. Soon after steeping out of the door he was fired upon by Conway. The shot went wild and Conway ran through blackjack grove which stands near the house. Young Robbins followed in a circuituous route as he claims, to satisfy himself that Conway left the premises, and it was while the two were in the field that the fatal shooting occurred. After one or two delays the case of the state against young Robbins was called for trial in the circuit court at this place last Thursday morning. In addition to the regular panel of twenty-four, twenty-five other men were summoned from which to select a jury of twelve to try the case. The trial jury was completed Friday morning and at once the taking of evidence was begun. This feature occupied the entire time of the court until Tuesday evening of this week when court adjourned until Wednesday morning. The attorneys occupied most of the day presenting their arguments, they having finished after 6:00 o’clock p.m. Judge Denton charged the jury and turned the case over for its consideration. As The Republican goes to press Thursday morning the jury is still out.
Later – The Jury brought in a verdict assessing the punishment at two years in the penitentiary for the defendant.