Honor Robinson

Background

Honor Robinson arrived in Phoenix, Arizona, in connection with Vera Nadine Whipple and William Bischoff, who had traveled together from the State of Washington and had been living together as common-in-law husband and wife. They were destitute upon their arrival in Phoenix and were aided by the Salvation Army for a few days.

Robinson took Vera Whipple and William Bischoff to his home at 4214 S. 34th Street, Phoenix, Arizona, where the three persons worked together upon a scheme to obtain money through the commission of burglaries and robberies.

After a few days, Robinson became amorous attracted to Whipple, and this attraction culminated with an affair at the Paducah Hotel in Phoenix on the night of December 30, 1958. After their return to 4214 S. 34th Street the next morning, they found William Bischoff waiting for them. Bischoff appeared angry at the actions of Whipple.

Robinson, Vera Whipple, and William Bischoff were connected through a plan that included burglaries and robberies, and Robinson’s attraction to Whipple also shaped the circumstances leading to the killing.

The offence

Honor Robinson and Vera Whipple planned for William Bischoff to go to Papago Park in the City of Tempe on the pretense of burglarizing a house.

The evening of December 21, 1958, Bischoff and Robinson went together into Papago Park in Tempe for the ostensible purpose of burglarizing a house in the area. After parking the car, both men walked up a dirt road. Robinson dropped back a few feet behind Bischoff and shot him twice in the back.

Robinson contended at trial that he shot because he thought Bischoff was going to lunge at him with an ice pick which the deceased supposedly carried. After shooting Bischoff, Robinson dragged the body off the road and removed such items that Bischoff had on his person. It appeared that Bischoff lived several hours after he had been shot.

William Bischoff’s body was found on December 23, 1958, by a member of the Tempe Police Department.

Investigation

Robinson related the planning details to the Tempe Police. The excursion was pursuant to the preconceived plans of Robinson and Whipple. The plan was that Whipple and Robinson would have Bischoff and Robinson go to Papago Park on the pretense of burglarizing a house, and after arriving at the park, Robinson was to get rid of Bischoff.

After Bischoff was shot and his body was found, the clothing worn by Bischoff was traced to a Catholic charitable organization and thence to Robinson, who had received the clothing from the organization.

Robinson’s neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Marks, were asked by Robinson to keep the gun after the shooting. The gun was recovered from their home. The weapon used in the shooting was identified by Robinson. The weapon was tested by the F.B.I. laboratory in Washington, D. C., and it was found to have fired the slugs which killed William Bischoff.

The F.B.I. report showed that the defendant had a criminal record dating back to 1935:

• He served time in Alabama in 1935 for burglary and grand theft.
• He also served time in Alabama in 1938 for Receiving Stolen Property.
• He served time in Georgia in 1940 for Voluntary Manslaughter.
• He was convicted in Florida in 1952 for Assault With Intent to Murder and Assault with a Deadly weapon. FBI 793 860, State Board of Penal Corrections, Atlanta, Ga:
• murder and escape 7 to 15 yrs State Prison Reidsville Ga vol msltr.7 to 15 yrs.

Arrest

Robinson and Vera Whipple were found living together at 4214 S. 34th Street and were arrested on December 31, 1958.

Thereafter, both Robinson and Whipple gave statements to officers. The statements finally indicated that Robinson had shot Bischoff and that Vera Whipple was not present at the shooting. She stayed with Robinson when he returned and thereafter changed her name to Kim Anne Raber.

Trial

Case information identified the proceeding as Statement of Facts on conviction CAUSE NO. 33460.

Judge B C Stanford Jr. was referenced, and County Attorney C C Stidham was referenced. The defendant was charged with the crime of MURDER (FIRST DEGREE), a felony.

• 4-8-59 Defendant arraigned and entered a plea of not guilty.
• 6–4-59 Trial commenced. At the close of the States case, the court directed a verdict of acquittal as to the co-defendant VERA WHIPPLE.

At the close of the trial, the jury returned a verdict of guilty as to ROBINSON and imposed the death penalty.

Sentencing

• 6-30-59 In Division 9 of the Superior Court of the County of Maricopa, State of Arizona, the death penalty was imposed.

Execution on of Sentence Stayed by notice of appeal filed with Supreme Court, as by Court order No- 3160, Dated 8-28-59.

Appeals

A notice of appeal was filed with the Supreme Court, and the execution of sentence was stayed by Court order No-3160, dated 8-28-59.

Outcome

Honor Robinson was executed by asphyxiation-gas in Arizona on October 31, 1961.

Other details

Honor Robinson’s scheme involved burglaries and robberies with Vera Whipple and William Bischoff. Robinson became amorous attracted to Whipple, culminating in an affair at the Paducah Hotel in Phoenix on the night of December 30, 1958. The planning of the Papago Park excursion preceded the shooting, and Bischoff appeared angry at the actions of Whipple after the return to 4214 S. 34th Street the next morning.