(2016) Our student, Katie Braet has been hard at work researching the history of the Elizabth Workman trial.
Who was Elizabeth Workman? Read a quick overview here.
Below are all of the Observer articles that covered Mrs. Workmans case from 1872/73.
Sarnia Observer: Nov 1 1872
A Man is Murdered in Mooretown
During the early part of this week it was currently reported round Town, that a man named Workman had died in Mooretown last Saturday, under circumstances which led to the presumption that he came to his death by foul play. The circumstances under which the affair occurred we believe to be as follows: The decreased, [James] Workman, is an elderly man, who has resided there for some time back, as a labourer. His family consisted of himself, his wife (who is a good deal younger than he was), and a boy of about eight years of age; and by all accounts both husband and wife were considerably addicted to intemperance, and, as is usually the case, were continually wrangling when in that state. About three weeks previous to the fracas which resulted in Workman’s death, a negro barber, of the name of Butler, came to the Village, and opened a barber shop near by where the Workman’s lived, and all at once formed an acquaintance with them, and was frequently at their house, especially in the evening. Moreover, according to common report, an intimacy at once sprang up between him and Mrs. Workman, which was the subject of free comment among the neighbors. On the Tuesday previous Mrs. W. went to the barber’s shop to scrub and wash it out. This she appears to have done against the wish of her husband, who went to the shop to remonstrate with her while she was at work, and to endeavor to get her home. Workman’s interference was resented by the barber; high words ensued, and eventually Workman was pitched out of the shop, receiving severe injuries thereby. He went home, however, and according to the evidence of the boy, more quarreling occurred between the deceased and his wife, on Friday evening and Saturday; and on Saturday afternoon it was rumored over the Village that Workman was dead, the rumor being confirmed by an inspection of the premises, – the body, moreover, presenting very strong evidence of having been foully dealt with. This led Dr. Gamble to hold an inquest on the body, which was commenced on Saturday evening, and continued on Sunday. As the body bore evident marks of violence, Dr. Gamble ordered a post mortem examination to be made by Dr. Oliver, who gave the following evidence as to the state of the body: He found the upper part of the body much discolored and swollen; the posterior part of the thorax was in the same state, and the limbs covered with [centered wounds (?)]; the inside of the left hand bloody; there was an incised wound of an inch and a-half long over the left temple, and a smaller wound beneath the left eye, the nose being partly fractured. Gave it as his opinion that the injuries were inflicted by powerful blows by some iron instrument. Such as a bill-hook, or something of that sort. The stomach and bowels were in a tolerably healthy state, but found some extravasation of the brain, the result of the blows inflicted. David Patterson and his wife, who lived above deceased and his family, testified that Butler had been a constant visitor at Workman’s before his death, carrying whiskey there, of which they all drank freely. Patterson had seen Butler leave the house at four o’clock on Saturday morning, coming back about six, and returning in a few minutes. Patterson moreover stated, that he heard deceased moaning heavily during the night. The boy stated that his father and mother often quarreled, and that his mother beat his father with a mop handle on Friday, and again on Saturday. There was, however, no direct evidence to show how, or when the blows were given which were the cause of death; but after hearing all the evidence, the Jury rendered the following verdict on Sunday afternoon:
“That deceased James Workman, came to his death by excessive violent abuse; and that the evidence induced us to believe that said abuse was inflicted by deceased’s wife, Mrs. Workman or one Sam. Butler, a negro barber, or both. The Jury would recommend that the Coroner would issue his warrant for the apprehension of the above-named parties at once.”
Mrs. Workman, we believe had been placed under arrest previous to the verdict; and Butler was not arrested till Sunday evening. Both have been committed to jail to stand their trial for the offence but with what result it is difficult to conjecture. Between them there is no doubt Workman met his death, but whom the blows were inflicted which led to that result, has not yet been discovered. That the sad occurrence is the result of intemperance, there is, however, no reason to doubt; thus adding another to the many evidences of the sad effect of indulgence in strong drink
- Since writing this above, our reported interviewed both the persons charged with the crime. They both talked about it with the greatest freedom, apparently anxious to tell all they knew about it. Butler boldly and bluntly denied all knowledge of Workman’s death, having never so much as seen him from the Thursday previous, till after his death on Saturday afternoon. Mrs Workman confirmed this statement, and gave a plain, and seemingly straight-forward account of his husband’s illness and death; and from her physical appearance, (she being a very weak, delicate – looking woman, apparently very prostrated(?) and broken down by hard work) our reporter thinks it most unlikely that she either could or would be guilty of the crime laid to her charge. Want of time prevents us from saying more at present, but we may give more of the interview next week.
Sarnia Observer: Friday, March 28 1873
The Assizes.
The Grand Jury having found a True Bill against Samuel Butler and Elizabeth Workman, for the murder of James Workman, at the village of Mooretown, on the 2th(?) of October last, they were brought up and arraigned. They both pleaded “Not Guilty.” They both stated they were ready for trial, but as it appeared that they had no Counsel retained to defend them nor any means of procuring(?) any, at the request of the Court J. A. Mackenzie, Esq. undertook their defence and it was arranged that the trial should commence at the opening of the Court next day.
The Court then adjourned till half past nine on Friday morning.
FRIDAY, MARCH 21 The Court opened at half past nine, pursuant to adjournment; and the trial of Samuel Butler and Elizabeth Workman, for the murder of James Workman, was proceeded with. The Counsel for the Crown then related the circumstances connected with the case, as set forth in the depositions(?), and called the witnesses for the Crown as follows
SARA PATTERSON, sworn. Lived at Mooretown on the 26th(?) of October last; was well acquainted with Mrs. Workman, but knew little or nothing about Butler; deceased James Workman and wife lived in the same house as witness did, occupying the lower story, while witness and her husband lived above them; there were two rooms, one used as a kitchen, and the other as a bedroom, in each flat; the stairs to the upper flat was on the outside; the bedrooms were in the back part of the house, and there was a back door to the lower flat, which opened under the landing of the stairway; the Workmans had only one boy living with them, but they had a girl who lived in the village with Mrs. Skirving (?), a daughter of Workman’s of a former wife; witness was often in Workmans after they came there first, but not much of late, as witness had found fault with him about(?) his drinking habits; saw deceased on the day of his death; her husband, David Patterson, sent Workman’s boy to tell her to come down, went down, and found her husband supporting deceased’s head; but he was dead then, and had been so for some time; saw that his arm was swelled and his shoulder black and discoloured; did not remain long, but saw the body in the evening; took the girl with her to see the body; this was before the Inquest; saw that the body and limbs were all bruised and discolored, but did not look at his head; after witness went to see deceased the first time, about three o’clock, her husband gave the alarm, and people came in; heard loud words and quarreling between deceased and his wife on Friday forenoon:and about two o’clock heard the sound of blows, and heard Mrs. W. ask if he had got enough; he called her an abusive name; witness was on the stair landing, and the back door being open, saw her come out of the bedroom ; soon after heard blows, and saw her come out of the bedroom a second time; heard blows several times after that, and about four o’clock heard deceased call out loudly that he was killed; before that he only moaned when the beating was going on; heard only one blow after that; during the following night, heard deceased talking to his wife; could not tell what he said, but it appeared as if he was lecturing her about what she had done; heard him talking in the morning before she (witness) got up; and she heard Mrs. Workman’s voice, but could not tell what was said; heard nothing more till the boy came to ask her to go down in the afternoon, after deceased was dead; not other person had been in the house that morning, expect the family themselves; never saw Butler there but twice, once during the previous week, and on the previous Thursday evening, when he came there with some washing. On the Friday afternoon, previous to Workman’s death, Mrs. W. came up to witness and asked her if she had heard her that afternoon; witness replied, Yes. Mrs. W. then said she had given deceased what he would not forget for a while, referring to the beating; witness replied, Yes, if you have not given him too much, it might do him good. On the cross-examination, witness said deceased drank too much, and had a very abusive tongue when in liquor, abusing both wife and child; Mrs. Workman had frequently to leave the house, and had stopped with her four or five nights, to get out of his way; he had been drinking heavily for about a week or two previous to his death; Mrs. W. was a quiet, industrious woman, and did all she could towards the support of the family; heard her say, if it took all she earned to keep him in liquor, she would do so till he killed himself.
The evidence of Mrs. Patterson was corroborated by that of her husband , David Patterson, on all the points which had come within the range of his observation. On Saturday afternoon, about 3 o’clock, prisoner asked him, while he was cutting wood in the yard, to come in and see what was the matter with deceased; went in, and found he was dead; thinks he had been dead about four hours; found some of his clothes wet, as if the body had been washed; the body and limbs were all bruised and discolored, especially the right shoulder; and there were two cutts upon the head, as if inflicted by a heavy sharp instrument, such as a butcher’s cleaver; corroborated what his wife had stated as to Mrs. Workman admitting she had beaten deceased. Witness had seen Butler one or twice, but had no acquaintance with him; on Friday morning, about 4 o’clock, heard some one in Workman’s apartment, as if putting on his boots, and on looking out saw a man going away from the house, whom he took to be Butler; and having seen Butler going away from the house at 8 o’clock, he was the more impressed with the belief that he was the man he had seen that morning.
Dr. Oliver, who made a post mortem examination of the body of deceased, described the bruised and discolored state in which he found it, and the wounds upon the head; found the abdominal viscera in a healthy state, much more so than he expected, but there was extravasation on the brain, caused by the blows and wounds upon the head. He described the wounds on the head, and one on the nasal bone, and had no doubts they were the cause of Workman’s death. Several other witnesses were examined, but their testimony was not of material importance, so far as it affected Mrs.Workman’s guilt or innocence, with the exception of that of her own boy. He testified to having seen his mother beat his father with a mop-handle, and to his mother telling him on the Thursday before, that she had given his father a beating; and he saw her strike him once with the stick referred to, on the morning of the day on which he died. He had seen Butler several times at the house; he came with clothes to be washed; he brought some whisky there on the Thursday night, and gave his father some. One or two of the witness gave evidence as to deceased going to Butler’s upon the Wednesday or Thursday before he died, both in the morning and evening. On one occasion Butler thrust deceased away from his door with such violence that he fell over some timber which was lying there; and upon another occasion, to hearing Butler threaten to “boot” him if he would not go away from his shop, Mrs. Workman being in the shop scrubbing it at the same time; but nothing was adduced to show that Butler was in any ways directly implicated in Workman’s death. This being the case, the Court ordered him to be discharged.
Mr. Mackenzie did not call any witnesses for the defence, but addressed the Jury at considerable length on the prisoner’s behalf, using such arguments as occurred to him, of an exculpatory nature, and calculated to produce a favourable impression on the minds of the Jury in her behalf; referring particularly to his intemperate habits and tyrannical temper, and the way in which he abused not only the prisoner, but the other members of his family. His Lordship, having summed up the evidence very carefully, charged the Jury rather strongly against the prisoner, giving it as his opinion that they could not avoid convicting her of murder, for it was either that or nothing. The Jury accordingly rendered a verdict of guilty coupled with a strong recommendation to mercy.
Sarnia Observer: May 9 1873
The Petition in favor of the commutation of Mrs. Workman’s death sentence is now in process of signature, and we believe is receiving the signature of nearly all to whom it is presented. So far as popular opinion is concerned, that will no doubt prove to be largely in favor of commutation; but much will of course depend on the view Judge Wilson may take of the case, as the Executive look a good deal to what the Judges have to say in such matters.
Sarnia Observer: June 13 1873
Mrs. Workman’s Case
In our last reference to the case of this poor woman,we announced that a reply had been received from the Secretary of State, to the effect that the Executive, in considering the prayer of the petitions asking the communication of the death penalty in her case(?), had failed to see anything in the circumstances which would justify interference with the sentence of the law and that the Sheriff had received instructions to make the necessary preparations for carrying the sentence into execution. We also stated that the only step which could be further done in the matter would be for the County Council to take similar action to that which was taken in Horton’s case; Mrs. Workman, in our opinion, and in the opinion of the public generally, being much more worthy of clemency than Horton was.
The Council met in Tuesday last, and we are glad to be able to state that the proposition found favor with the members generally, and that prompt steps were taken to carry it into effect. The matter was first brought before the notice of the Council, by a deputation of influential genetlemen in Town, namely, Hon. A. Mackenzie, Rev. Mr.Ellerby, Rev. Mr. Thompson, Chas. Taylor, Esq., Mayor, T Gloosin(?), Esq, and others, who waited on the Council to take prompt actions as a body, in endeavoring to get Mrs. Workman’s sentence commuted.
On motion of Mr. Rae, the deputation was invited to address the Council. Hon. Mr. Mackenzie then addressed the Council in very forcible terms; Rev. Mr. Ellerby followed; Rev. Mr. Thompson spoke feelingly on the matter, and as her spiritual advisor, said he believed the poor unfortunate woman was not guilty of murder in the ordinary, legal definition of the term. He also stated that her character in St. Mary’s was that of an honest, industrious woman who had very often suffered severely from the brutal treatment of her husband. The Mayor also spoke in her favour, and from the information he had received, could [corroborate] all that had been said.
Some discussion ensued among the members of the Council, when Mr. Nisbet moved that the Council adopt the Resolution submitted , and that John A. Mackenzie, Esq. and Robert Rac, Esq., be a delegation from the Council to press on his Excellency the Governor-General the unanimous wish of the Council, that executive clemency should be extended to this poor woman.
The Grand Jury also adopted a petition to the same effect; Messrs, Mackenzie and Rae went [by the] Grand Trunk on Tuesday night, to lay both memorials(?) before his Excellency.
The delegates will have to go to Quebec, as the Governor-General has already removed there; the Warden, R. Fleck, Esq., having received a telegram from Sir John A. Macdonald on the morning of the 11th instant, stating that he (Sir John) would leave for montreal on the morning of the 12th inst., and that his Excellency was in Quebec. The delegates will accordingly proceed to Quebec, and will place before the Governor-General the Resolutions and other facts which have come to their notice in connection with the matter. We need only further add, that we wish the delegates God speed, and hope the generous action of the Council and the Grand Jury will have the effect of securing the mitigation of the sentence, and that we will be spared the sad sight of seeing this poor woman suffering the extreme penalty of the law, the more especially when the feeling of the whole population who are acquainted with the facts is, that the carrying out of the sentence would be an act of extreme rigor, when contrasted with the mercy extended to Horton, who had no ground whatever for wantonly and in cool blood shooting Robinson; or with the comparative leniency of the Court in only sentencing Peter Macdonald to imprisonment for three years in the Penitentiary, for an offence of a more aggravated character, as viewed by the community generally.
Sarnia Observer: June 20 1873
Execution of Mrs.Workman.
The efforts made to pressure the commutation of the sentence of death passed upon this poor woman at the late. Assizes for this County, having failed the Executive declining to interfere with the carrying into effect of the death penalty, the execution took place in the Jail Yard here, on the morning of Thursday, 19th inst. Our readers are already aware of the general feeling which pervaded the public mind in reference to her case: of the recommendation to mercy by the Jury at the time the verdict was rendered, and of the very strong efforts made to secure commutation by the petitions went to the Executive some time ago: and latterly of the action taken unanimously by the County Council, in adopting a Resolution affirm the expediency of commutation, and the sending a delegation to Ottawa to urge the matter on the favourable attention of the Minister of Justice. In short, all was done that really could be done in the matter, but without avail. The Executive Council failed to be impressed with the reasons assigned and urged for any mitigation of the sentence; so that there was no alternative but to carry it out at the time appointed.
During the interval which had elapsed since the trial took place, the clergymen of the Town, and especially Rev. Mr. Thompson, of St. Andrew’s (Presbyterian) Church, in the faith of which church she had been brought up, had been most assiduous(?) in attending her spiritual interests; and they had the satisfaction to find that their efforts in imparting knowledge and instruction to her were highly appreciated and produced a most favourable impression on her mind, and that when it became evident that there was no reason to hope for any mitigation of the sentence, she was able to look forward to the end with great calmness and composure. From the first, while admitting that she had assaulted her husband on the day previous to his death, having been provoked thereto by his cruelty to her in his drunken frenzy, she all along persisted in declaring that she had no intention to kill him, or even to do him any serious bodily injury; so that while admitting she had done errors in resorting to violence in retaliation for his cruelty, she never could regard(?) herself as having done that wrong with murderous intent.
During the inquiring (?) Reyde(?) Mesors(?), Thompson Goalson(?), and Smith, attended her in the cell, where some time was spent in prayer, reading of the Scripture, and singing some of the Psalms of the Scottish verdon(?); and when informed that her hour had arrived, she quietly prepared to meet her fate, evincing even greater fortitude in going forth to her doom, than did the clergymen who accompanied her. She was escorted from the cell to the scaffold, by the clergymen, ascending the ladder with a firm step, and with very little assistance.
Rev. Mr. Thompson repeating the 23rd Psalm, and other appropriate passages of Scripture during the journey, and while the fatal preparations on the scaffold were in progress. Mrs. Workman repeating these passages after him, and in some instances anticipating and rehearsing what she evidently was familiar with, before Mr.Thompson uttered them. After the preparations were completed and the poor woman was placed on the drop, she produced(?) the hope her case would be a warning to all wives who had drunken husbands, and all husbands, who had drunken wives. Mr. Thompson then fervently commended her to the grace and mercy of the Saviour, in which she joined with great earnestness, and with the prayer of faith and hope on her lips, the drop fell, and the poor woman was launched into eternity. The fall was at least seven feet, to that death was instantaneous; the only indications of life observable after she fell, being brief convulsive motion of the arms(?), but in the course(?) of two or three minutes all appearance of life and sensation had finished. At the time the drop feel she had in her right hand a white pocket handkerchief and a bunch of white flowers, and these continued to be held by the hand till the body was taken down and were placed in the coffin beside it. After hanging about twenty minutes, the body was in readiness for the occasion, and the usual Inquest being held, she was buried in a grave prepared immediately under the scaffold, into which the body had previously descended to give it the necessary fall. The number present at the execution, exclusive of the Sheriff and the Jail officials, was only fifteen or sixteen.
Deceased never made what could properly be termed a confession of her guilt; but spoke at all times of the circumstances connected with her case with most perfect apparent candor and truthfulness, having told the same story about them from the first day of her imprisonment, and always telling it in the same way. She never disguised, or attempted to disguise the fact, that she had beat her husband with a stick, which he had seized hold of for the purpose of beating her, and which she wrenched out of his hands; and she admitted that she was in a passion when this took place; not(?) that she intended to kill him, drunken, worthless, and debased as he was, spending all he could get hold of, of her hard earnings, in ministering to his craving for strong drink[. She] always emphatically repudiated, and asserted most persistently(?) that she never had cherished any intention of taking his life. She dissented, moreover, from the opinion expressed by some of the witnesses, that her husband had been dead for several hours before she called in assistance, persisting in declaring, that at the time she sent for Patterson on Saturday afternoon, he was alive; that she had asked him if she would send for Patterson, and received an affirmative reply before she did so; and that her husband died in Patterson’s arms, after he had raised him, and given him some liquor to drink. But though feeling that in a number of points the evidence had borne harder against her then she deserved, she cherished no ill-feeling towards any of those who had testified on the trial; but freely forgave all.
She was remarkably grateful for the kindness she had experienced from all with whom she had any intercourse since her imprisonment, especially of the kindness of the matron of the Jail, Mrs. Allen, and the other ladies of the Town who had from time to time visited and [instructed] her. Of Mrs. Allen’s kindness, in particular, she spoke to Rev. Mr. Thompson, in the most feeling way; as something for which she had deep cause for thankfulness. In conclusion, we may at the same time state that she has left a most favourable impression on the minds of all who had an opportunity of visiting and conversing with her during her imprisonment.
Mrs. Workman was a native of West Killbride, Ayrshire(?). She had both parents when about seven years of age, and then went to reside with some relatives living on the Island of Bute. Here she remained seven years, returning to Killbride when fourteen years of age, and there residing with some brothers and sisters, till she was married to Workman shortly before they came to Canada, which is about sixteen years ago. She has no relations in this country, but has a sister, a Mrs. Mitchell living in Greenock(?), Scotland, from whom she received a most affecting letter lately, which was written after being made aware of her conviction. At the time of her death, Mrs. W. was about 40 years of age.
