Kate Ellen Robinson, born to Thomas Mitchell Robinson, a corn merchant, and Kate Ellen Greenard in Ware, Hampshire, in 1863, was the fifth child among their eight offspring.
In 1877, at the tender age of fourteen, Kate found employment as a domestic servant for Mrs. Elizabeth Wenden, an elderly widow. All seemed ordinary until that fateful Sunday evening in April, when chaos erupted.
It all began with the disappearance of items and innocent questioning. However, events took a terrifying turn when Kate approached Mrs. Wenden under false pretences, claiming to need the baby the widow was caring for—a child of an ailing neighbour. Unaware of the impending danger, Mrs. Wenden allowed Kate to take the baby, who was promptly returned to his parents, with Kate claiming his crying had kept Mrs. Wenden awake all night.
Returning to her mistress's bedroom, Kate mercilessly attacked Mrs. Wenden, employing a hand broom as her chosen weapon. The defenceless old lady fought back, managing to wrestle the broom away. Undeterred, Kate resorted to even more extreme measures.
Armed with a billhook, Kate continued her assault, leaving Mrs. Wenden battered, unconscious, and lying in a pool of her own blood. Believing she had successfully executed her sinister plot, Kate covered up the crime and fled, absconding with a significant portion of her mistress's belongings, including Mrs. Wenden's gold watch, gold earrings, money, plate, and clothing. Astonishingly, Kate was also found in possession of over £12 in cash.
News of this heinous crime spread rapidly, leading to a highly publicized court hearing. The audacity and cruelty of Kate's actions captivated the public's attention. The jury found her guilty, resulting in a sentence of 12 years of penal servitude.
During her time in prison, Kate committed multiple offenses, leading to disciplinary actions, including a total of 70 days in close confinement. Despite her actions, she fervently sought redemption and release, submitting petitions to the Secretary of State annually. Sadly, her pleas were met with disappointment, and her sentence remained unchanged.
Following her release in 1884, Kate endeavoured to rebuild her life. She resided with her mother in Saxmundham and later met Nathan William Rudder. The couple relocated to Acton and welcomed a daughter named Ruby. Tragically, Kate passed away when Ruby was only 9 years old, with her husband following a year later, leaving Ruby orphaned.
Finding solace in the Orphans Home in Gravesend, the young girl eventually married Arthur Beeney, a man 24 years her senior and twice widowed. Although they did not have children together, Ruby lived out the remainder of her days as a widow, passing away in 1966 in Hampshire at the age of 71, forever carrying the legacy of her mother's tumultuous past. Photograph of Kate Ellen Robinson
© The National Archives TNA PCOM4/49
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