NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR
All names on our list are entered, however there are many more we haven't found. Notable executions include a married couple and five Irishmen who participated in an uprising at the St John's garrison in 1800. No executions took place after Newfoundland joined confederation in 1949.
There is a book which contains accounts of almost all executions in Newfoundland. Click here to see more about TEN STEPS TO THE GALLOWS.
NEWFOUNDLAND (1729-1825)
John Cabot discovered Newfoundland in 1497. England eventually claimed the island but fishing fleets from many nations visited and established seasonal ports. Prior to 1729 the British governor was the captain of the first English fishing boat of the season. In 1729 the post of Commodore-Governor was created. He was responsible for overseeing the administrative and judicial functions of the island.
Name Date Method Location Crime Sex Race Age Occupation Executioner Notes Gillmore, William 1750 abt September hanged St John's theft M ? ? ? ? Stole a cow. Fielding, William 1751 hanged St John's rape M ? ? soldier ? Raped Elizabeth Melville on 8 Jul 1751. Halleran, Matthew 1754 October 10 hanged St John's murder M ? ? ? ? Participated in the murdered of William Keene. McGuire, Edmund 1754 October 10 hanged St John's murder M ? ? ? ? Participated in the murdered of William Keene. Power, Eleanor 1754 October 11 hanged St John's murder F ? ? maid ? Participated in the murdered of William Keene. Power, Robert 1754 October 11 hanged St John's murder M ? ? ? ? Participated in the murdered of William Keene. Stacklhaid, John 1762 November 09 hanged St John's rape, arson M ? ? ? ? Raped Esther Merrifield and set fire to the jail. Cahill, John 1767 October 17 hanged St John's ? M white ? ? ? Sentenced to hang between 10 and 11 in the morning. Later his wife and children were punished for having no visible means of support. ZZ 1768 hanged St John's ? M ? ? ? ? An Irishman from Ferryland. Hallohan, Laurence 1777 hanged ? forgery M ? ? ? ? Forged orders worth $40. Darrington, Michael 1780 after September hanged St John's murder M ? ? ? ? Assisted in a beating death. Bryan, Cornelius 1791 October 26 hanged ? murder M ? ? servant ? Killed Henry Brooks at sea. Murphy, Patrick 1791 October 26 hanged ? forgery M ? ? ? ? Trial held day before. Convicted with John Noddy. Noddy, John 1791 October 26 hanged ? forgery M ? ? ? ? Trial held day before. Convicted with Patrick Murphy. Farrell, Garret 1794 October 31 hanged and dissected St John's rioting M white ? ? ? Rioted against a naval press gang. Power, Richard 1794 October 31 hanged and dissected St John's rioting M white ? ? ? Rioted against a naval press gang. ZZ 1800 hanged St John's mutiny M white ? soldier ? One of five men hanged in St John's for participation in an Irish uprising at the garrison. Three more were hanged in Halifax. ZZ 1800 hanged St John's mutiny M white ? soldier ? One of five men hanged in St John's for participation in an Irish uprising at the garrison. Three more were hanged in Halifax. ZZ 1800 hanged St John's mutiny M white ? soldier ? One of five men hanged in St John's for participation in an Irish uprising at the garrison. Three more were hanged in Halifax. ZZ 1800 hanged St John's mutiny M white ? soldier ? One of five men hanged in St John's for participation in an Irish uprising at the garrison. Three more were hanged in Halifax. ZZ 1800 hanged St John's mutiny M white ? soldier ? One of five men hanged in St John's for participation in an Irish uprising at the garrison. Three more were hanged in Halifax. Pelley, John 1806 September 05 hanged St John's murder M white ? trapper ? Murdered Joseph Rendall and Richard Cross. Hearn, John 1815 September 22 hanged St John's murder M ? ? St John's harbour pilot ? Killed his wife. The couple had often fought over her drinking problem. Sentence included gibbeting but upon appeal was reduced to just hanging. Sturgis, Thomas 1821 November 09 hanged ? murder M ? ? ? ? Murdered Terrence O'Shaughnassey. BACK TO TOP
NEWFOUNDLAND (1825-1855)
Up until now Newfoundland was regarded by Britain as not much more than a fishing base. In 1825 the system changed to a resident civil governor with an appointed legislative council.
Name Date Method Location Crime Sex Race Age Occupation Executioner Notes Roleston, Richard 1833 hanged St John's murder M ? ? ? ? Roleston stabbed his friend, Samuel Gower, while the pair were drinking. Downing, Peter 1834 after Jan 05 hanged, gibbeted St John's murder M white ? farm labourer ? Murdered Thomas Bray, his son and a maid for money in Harbour Grace. His partner's death sentence was reduced. Downing's body was transported to Harbour Grace for the gibbeting. Mandeville, Tobias 1834 January 13 hanged St John's murder M ? late 20's cooper ? Killed John Snow with Arthur Springer and Catherine Snow. Springer, Arthur 1834 January 13 hanged St John's murder M ? ? servant ? Killed John Snow with Tobias Mandeville and Catherine Snow. Snow, Catherine 1834 July 21 hanged St John's murder F ? abt 41 housewife ? Killed her husband. Flood, John 1835 January 12 hanged St John's assault, theft M ? ? highwayman ? Robbed the St. John's-Portugal Cove stagecoach. This execution at the Duckworth St courthouse was the last public hanging in Newfoundland. Geehan, Patrick 1872 July hanged St John's murder M ? ? fisherman ? Strangled his wife and shot his brother-in-law. BACK TO TOP
NEWFOUNDLAND (1855-1949)
The colony achieved self-government. Newfoundland is now a British colony with a Colonial Governor and elected Prime Minister.
Name Date Method Location Crime Sex Race Age Occupation Executioner Notes Parnell, William 1889 July 08 hanged St John's murder M ? abt 40 shop manager ? Shot Archibald Sillars. Canning, Francis 1899 July 29 hanged St John's murder M white 48 tavern keeper ? Shot his barmaid Mary Nugent during an illness on 12 May 1899. She survived 11 days and identified her assailant. Game, Wo Fen 1922 December 16 hanged St John's murder M oriental 31 WWI veteran, laundryman ? Shot 3 people and attempted suicide. Buried within the jail walls. Spratt, Herbert Augustus 1942 May 22 hanged St John's murder M white abt 20 government employee, Royal Navy (discharged) ? Bludgeoned his fiancee, Josephine O'Brien, with an electirc iron. Last person executed in Newfoundland. BACK TO TOP

NEWFOUNDLAND (1949-PRESENT)

Newfoundland joined Canadian confederation as the tenth province in 1949. No executions took place after this date so therefore no Newfoundland executions are included in published Canadian statistics.

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