Notes: Participated in the mutiny of the ship Saladin in the South Atlantic and subsequent murder of the mutiny leader George Fielding. The crew abandoned ship off the coast of Nova Scotia and were arrested there. Hanged at the South Common, now the site of Victoria General Hospital.
Notes: On 18 May 1914 Elizabeth Kozial's parents sent her and her brother to a stream near their house in Birch Grove to fetch a bucket of water. In the 100 yards back to their house Brauer crossed their path. He grabbed her and carried her off into the woods. Her brother ran screaming to the house. Her nude and bloodied body was found later that day further down the stream. Searchers fanned out to find the murderer, including Elizabeth's father with a shotgun. Brauer had been seen in the area and the next day he was questioned by company police at the nearby coal mine he worked at. He still had mud on his boots, blood on his shirt, and a search of his shack revealed more bloody clothing. When he was turned over to local police he admitted to the crime and said that in his home country of Poland it was a minor crime punishable by about 4 or 5 years.
Notes: Cartcel stabbed Abraham Goodsides, a sailor from another ship, during an argument on 26 Aug 1749. This was supposedly the city's first murder. Governor Cornwallis appointed himself and 6 others as a general court. Non had legal training. The trial was 5 days after the murder and the hanging 2 days after that.
Notes: Shot and robbed peddlar Charles Asaff on 9 Dec 1913 at Sheet Harbour. Asaff was expected to meet his family in Halifax at Christmas. They reported him missing on 4 Jan 1914. Police discovered Cook had Asaff's belongings, then found the body hidden in brush near Cook's house.
Last Words: "Gentlemen, I tell you that I was not the instigator of Captain Benson's death. I am sorry for what I have done. I regret that I deprived poor Captain Benson of his life, but I tell you that I was hard pushed to do it by a man whom you all know. He urged me to do it, and pushed me very hard. If it had not been for this person, I would not be in the position I am in today. I repeat, that I am very sorry for what I have done, but had it not been for that man, I would not be compelled to give my blood today. But, gentlemen, I say, God for us all."
Notes: Dowcey and John Douglas murdered Captain Colin Benson of the Zero. Both were found guilty but only Dowcey was sentenced to hang. Many spectators at the execution and the local newspaper expressed dismay that the black man was hanged while the white man was spared. Dowcey was defended by future prime minister John Thompson.
Last Words: "Good bye boys."
Notes: Shot his half-brother Zachariah during an argument while drinking home brew in his kitchen. Claimed it was self-defence. Hanged in Shelburne courthouse. Last person executed in Nova Scotia. Ironically the victim had been tried and aquitted for the shooting murder of a cousin in 1919.
Last Words: On the gallows he asked the doctor for a morphine tablet.
Notes: Just prior to his execution Haynes made his confession and implicated two other people. John Donald and Mrs Atkinson were arrested but this did not delay Haynes' execution. What happened to Donald and Atkinson is not presently known. Haynes claimed that on 15 Aug 1913 he and John Donald stopped Benjamin Atkinson's wagon on Mira Rd. While Donald held the horses Haynes beat Atkinson. They left the body on the road to look like it had been trampled by the horses. Mrs Atkinson paid Haynes $1000 for her husband to be murdered so she could marry Donald.
Notes: Participated in the mutiny of the ship Saladin in the South Atlantic and subsequent murder of the mutiny leader George Fielding. The crew abandoned ship off the coast of Nova Scotia and were arrested there. Hanged at the South Common, now the site of Victoria General Hospital.
Notes: Participated in the mutiny of the ship Saladin in the South Atlantic and subsequent murder of the mutiny leader George Fielding. The crew abandoned ship off the coast of Nova Scotia and were arrested there. Hanged at the South Common, now the site of Victoria General Hospital.
Last Words: "Good Bye."
Notes: Shot his wife, Alice Jones, age 21. Crime occurred 12 Sept 1927 on Maitland St. Execution was at the jail on Spring Garden Rd. Jones was formerly of Saint John NB.
Notes: Jordan lead a mutiny of the schooner Three Sisters, off Cape Canso. The captain was thrown overboard but was picked up by another boat and reported the crime. His tarred and chained corpse was gibbeted at the entrance to Halifax harbour.
Last Words: "My minister has all my words on paper." Reverend Owen then read the following: "My good friends all, I was very sorry when the murder was committed, and when I found there was no life to be had anymore I made up my mind and set my heart to lay down my life for the life I took. I was sorry and am sorry yet. I only ask you all to be kind to my poor children, who will soon be fatherless and motherless. I hope they will live in the fear of God and keep clear of sin and anger. My good friends, I ask you all to pray for me. I die looking to the Hood of the Lamb, and praying. Lord, remember me when thou cometh into thy kingdom, unto thy hand I commend my spirit, for thou hast redeemed me. O Lord, thou God of Truth, Lord have mercy upon us. (Lord's Prayer) Amen.
Notes: Mailman and his wife were having marital issues. He hit her in the head with an ax during an argument while picking berries. The hanging at Lunenburg County Jail was attended by 2000 spectators.
Last Words: "I have nothing to say. God have mercy on my soul."
Notes: Just prior to being hanged the Sheriff read Robbins the official letter declining commutation. Hanged at Dibgy courthouse behind a 20 foot high fence. There were about 100 "witnesses" admitted. Hangman was the Sheriff.
Notes: Murdered Flora Gray. His was the most famous trial to be held at the historic Tusket Court House (the oldest court house in Canada, no longer used). Convicted of killing his housekeeper. He was the last man hanged in Yarmouth County.
Notes: Invalglid Anderson checked into a Syndey hotel posing as a bond salesman from Montreal named E. Sloane. The night clerk, Blois Rehberg, was found locked up and bleeding, but still alive. He managed to say the Sloane could "tell them about it" before dying. Sloane was gone by then but left behind a bag with a bloodstained shirt. He was found at a lumber camp and tried under his alias. Friends in Sloane's home state of New Hampshire questioned his mental competence claiming he had suffered head injuries while ski jumping. Hangmen Ellis and Holmes were not available so Rioux was given the job on recommendation from the Montreal sheriff. By coincidence he stayed at the hotel where the murder took place.
Last Words: No statement. Left a final letter to Rev. W.F. Parker: "I am pleased to tell you I have heard the Rev. Charles Haddon Spurgeon preach, and he could preach, and I have also heard his son, Mr Thomas Spurgeon, and others of your denomination. I am, as you know, a Catholic, but I am not a bigot or narrow minded individual. I am a poor, unfortunate sinner whom drink has ruined. I am very pleased to tell you that the people of this house have been infinitely kind to me. Miss Smith is one of those practical Christians whom it does one good to meet in the world. Father Carroll is also very kind, bringing books, magazines, and fruit. Mr O'Brien (the sheriff) brought me a bible and other books, and yesterday brought a box of raspberries from his own garden. I had an interview with the reverend gentleman whom Father Carroll brought from Halifax, I find he is most intellectual and as far as I can judge very broadminded. You will be most welcome to come and speak to me and save my poor soul. Thank you very much, and hoping you will run in to see me. I am Reverend Sir, yours in Christ. George Stanely. Pray for me."
Notes: His real name was William Kavanagh, but he was tried under his alias. He was from Tipperary, Ireland. Stanely arrived in Halifax by steamer three months prior to the crime. There he borrowed money from others at his boarding house, then promptly disappeared. On about 2 Feb 1906 he went to the home of Freeman Harvey in Ellerhouse. Stanely attacked the elderly man with a knife and threw him down the stairs into his basement. He decapitated his victim, hiding the body under potatoes and the head in a bucket. He then told neighbors David and James Fisher that Harvey had sold him the farm and had traveled to Halifax to settle the title. Stanely hired the father and son to clear out the property and sell the contents-with the exception of the basement. On 5 Feb another neighbor, suspicious of Harvey's disappearance, broke down the locked basement door and discovered the body.
Last Words: Before being led to the gallows Tebo had asked Jailor Hazelton to give his gold ring to his girlfriend. At the gallows: Tebo-"Will you do what I asked you?" Hazelton-"Yes my boy, I will."
Notes: During his last family visit the night before his execution Tebo admitted to his mother that he had committed the murder. After his family left he asked to sit down with the minister, Sheriff, and jailor and gave his confession. He had left his boarding house to get tobacco and stopped at the home of Edward McGregor. McGregor suggested they get cabbages for supper. They hopped a neighbor's fence and picked some. They hid in the bushes to clean the cabbages by moonlight. McGregor squatted down on his knees to cut up his cabbage. Tebo stood over him holding another cabbage. He swung an ax to cut off the roots, but it went right through the cabbage and hit McGregor in the head. McGregor fell down stunned and Tebo, in a panic, finished him off with the ax. He then figured that since McGregor was dead he might as well take his purse containing $100. He removed the money and disposed of the purse off the end of a wharf, then went home. Tebo was hanged in the courthouse with a reverse gallows, in which the release of a 500 pound weight jerked the victim up off the floor. Afterwards the doors of the courthouse were opened so the public could come in to see Tebo's body in the coffin. He was buried on his family's homestead. Later, his brother Garfield (age 10 when Tebo died) was convicted for the murder of a man who wanted him arrested for stealing sheep. Garfield, now 18, was sentenced to hang on 30 Nov 1922. With less than a week to live his sentence was commuted to life in prison.
Notes: Participated in the mutiny of the ship Saladin in the South Atlantic and subsequent murder of the mutiny leader George Fielding. The crew abandoned ship off the coast of Nova Scotia and were arrested there. Hanged at the South Common, now the site of Victoria General Hospital.
Notes: A British sailor who deserted and joined the US navy. He was on the Chesapeake when it was attacked and searched by a British ship looking for deserters. He was arrested and taken to Halifax for trial and execution.
Notes: About a year before, this soldier and 2 or 3 others stole a boat from a Halifax citizen and escaped to Louisburg. They caught a ship to France and 2 of them returned to England and re-enlisted with a regiment going to Gibralter. They were caught and sent back to Halifax with a ship carrying fresh recruits. They were tried by court martial; this one was sentenced to be shot and his companion received 600 lashes. This soldier had deserted 15 times from different regiments.