Notes: Was working on a bait boat and killed Captain Henry Brooks with an ax. Attempted to sail to Nova Scotia but the crew turned back to Newfoundland. Sentenced to be hanged and suspended in chains. Hanged with forgers Patrick Murphy and John Noddy.
Notes: Sentenced to be hanged on this date between the hours of 10 and 11 in the morning. Later his wife and children were on a list of people to receive punishment for having no visible means of support. He was Irish.
Notes: Assisted in beating a man to death on 29 Sept 1780. Was imprisoned in irons but escaped and later recaptured. He was considered dangerous and sentenced to hang.
Notes: Accused of being a ringleader of a riot that resulted in the death of Lt Lawry, who was leading a press gang from HMS Boston. The Governor actually delayed a trip abroad so he could be in Newfoundland to order the execution to be carried out. This is the only case in Newfoundland when the sentence included dissecting by surgeons. Convicted with Richard Power. Both received same sentence.
Geehan lived on a farm with his wife, brother-in-law, and housekeeper. On 20 Nov 1872 Geehan's wife found a bottle of rum that Geehan had hidden. They quarrelled about his drinking and he strangled her. He was afraid of what his brother-in-law, Garrett Sears, would do to him when he found his dead sister. His housekeeper, Johanna Hamilton, discovered Mrs Geehan's body in the kitchen and reluctantly assisted Geehan with the following events. When Sears arrived home for dinner Geehan shot him. He and Hamilton left his wife on the side of the road to look like a natural death, despite the neck bruises. Sears' body was attacked by pigs before he was buried in a shallow grave. Mrs Geehan's body was found and even though people noticed the neck injury her funeral took place without incident. The fact that her brother did not make it to the wake did arouse suspicion. Geehan tried to say that Garrett had gone to St John's to see a doctor but the police decided to search his farm. They found Garrett's grave because his hand was sticking out of the dirt. They also noticed that Geehan and Hamilton were sleeping in the same room which gave them motive. They were both sentenced to death, but when it was revealed that Hamilton was pregnant her sentence was commuted.
Notes: With other men, stole a cow. They butchered and concealed it in Gillmore's house. Theft took place 19 Aug 1750. Trial was on about 7 Sept.
Notes: Participated in the robbery and murder of William Keene. Assisted with the actual murder. Hanged with Edmund McGuire and both were suspended in chains. See Power, Robert. Power, Eleanor. McGuire, Edmund.
Last Words: "Lord Jesus, receive my soul. Into thy hands, Oh Lord, I commend my spirit."
Notes: Killed Joseph Rendall and Richard Cross in Shallow Bay (present day Cow Head) sometime in the week after 10 Apr 1809. The three men went trapping together and were expected home at Rocky Harbour a week later. When they didn't show up Sarah Singleton, sister of Cross and fiancee of Rendall, went to the camp with her employer, John Paine. Pelley claimed that Cross had never shown up at the camp and that Rendall had went into the woods. Singleton searched the camp and recognized personal belongings that the missing men would have needed, such as snowshoes and mitts. Paine and Singleton returned to Rocky Harbour and reported their suspicions. An armed party returned to Shallow Bay and apprehended Pelly. They obtained a confession from Pelley when they supposedly built a fire and threatened to throw him in. Pelley directed the searchers to the bodies hidden near the camp. He had killed the men with an ax during a quarrel. He was taken to St John's and hanged from the yardarm of a ship the day after his trial. Pelley was from Ireland and it was believed he immigrated to escape prosecution for the murder of his wife.
Notes: Took part in the robbery of her former employer, Magistrate William Keene. She supposedly knew that he kept silver in a particular cabinet but when it was opened it was found to contain liquor. She left the scene at that point, before the murder. First woman hanged in Newfoundland. She was hanged with her husband on Water St. See Power, Robert. Halleran, Matthew. McGuire, Edmund.
Notes: Accused of being a ringleader of a riot that resulted in the death of Lt Lawry, who was leading a press gang from HMS Boston. The Governor actually delayed a trip abroad so he could be in Newfoundland to order the execution to be carried out. This is the only case in Newfoundland when the sentence included dissecting by surgeons. Convicted with Garret Farrell. Both received same sentence.
Notes: Participated in the robbery and murder of William Keene. Hanged with his wife, Eleanor Power, on Water St. See Power, Eleanor. Halleran, Matthew. McGuire, Edmund
Last Words: "I was a wretched woman, but I am as innocent of any participation in the crime of murder as an unborn child."
Notes: With her cousin Tobias Mandeville and servant Arthur Springer killed her abusive husband John Snow.Last woman hanged in Newfoundland. Due to pregnancy she was not hanged with the 2 men. Hanged from second story of Old Court House.
Notes: Beat his fiancee, Josephine O'Brien, to death with an electric iron. Crime occurred on 1 Mar 1942 at the home of Spratt's brother. Afterwards he fled to the home of another brother and admitted what he had done. He claimed O'Brien told him she was pregnant and he remembered hitting her. An autopsy concluded she was not pregnant. At Spratt's trial a naval officer testified that Spratt had been in the Royal Navy and was a crewmember of HMS Rodney when that ship was engaged with the Bismarck. Spratt was discharged from the navy due to tuberculosis. He was the last person executed in Newfoundland.
Notes: Charged with raping Esther Merrifield. While in jail he set fire to the building in an attempt to escape. It was also claimed Stacklhaid cooperated with the French during their occupation of St John's. Governor Graves used the treason factor to not request clemency from the crown. On 09 Nov 1762 he ordered the execution to be carried out immediately. He was probably hanged on that date.