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Helen Keller, once wrote a dook amu in my migmy win nnu with this title: “The World I Live [The joy, the freedom, of the wind.Tweedsmuir HistoryARTICLE 8THE KINNEAR MURDERIn 1843. a gentleman by the name of Thomas Kinnear resided in Vaughan Twp.. about a mile north of Richmond Hill. As he was a gentleman of means, he lived in a dignified fashion and had a house of a much better quality than many of his neighbours who were still struggling to get established.His housekeeper was an attractive woman by the name of Nancy Montgomery and the servants were James McDermott. 20 years of age, and Grace Marks, about 16 years old. Both were Irish by birth and had been in Canada only a few years. These two were extremely jealous — McDermott of Mr. Kin-near's possessions and Grace Marks of the difference made between her and the housekeeper.In their jealousy, they became very careless about their work and so were given notice to leave. On the afternoon of July 27. 1843. Thomas Kinnear rode into Toronto to draw some bank dividends due in order to pay the two servants.The following day they killed Nancy Montgomery and concealed her body in a tub in the cellar. When Kinnear returned from the city, they informed him that the housekeeper had gone to Toronto by stage coach. That evening he was shot through the heart and his body was also hidden in the cellar. The two murders then packed all the valuables in the house into a light wagon and taking Kinnear’s keys and money set out for Toronto where they took a boat forLewiston, hoping to make good 1 their escape into the United Slates.The murder was discovered by James Newton and Capt. Francis I Boyd who caine to call on the foll-| owing Sunday. On making en-1 quiries in Toronto they learned that F. C. Capreol had seen the culprits in the city and that they had taken the boat to Lewiston. The High Bailiff. KLngsmill, chartered a boat in which to pursue them and at Niagara Falls the couple were arrested on a charge of murder and returned to Toronto.They were tried on November 3 and 4 and were found guilty and sentenced to be hanged. After the trial .each made a voluntary confession in which fhey tried to throw the blame on the other. On November 20, 1843, McDermott was hanged. The sentence of Grace Marks was commuted to life-im-prisonment. She served some years in Kingston Penitentiary but was later moved to the Asylum in Toronto. After thirty years she was pardoned and she went to New York where she changed her name and later married.These gruesome happenings took plat* eon Lot 53. Con. 1 Vaughan, on the land known as the Blain F arm. • • lt;•Did you know? — The first trial by jury in the Home District was held on April 11, 1810. Thomas Stoyles, of Richmond Hill, was on the jury and James Fulton, esq., was among the Justices of the Peace on the bench on the occasion.ine:CoStiToO:natilt; Mel. visit ther remi Hos| serilt; is tl and weelin t phor(7PUTthatAsstof JCouWed1.30upoisefs:of ttheed agovtDati
Newspaper Details
Richmond Hill Liberal
Richmond Hill, Ontario, CA
Thu, Oct 16, 1952
Page 3
Full Page
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CA 05 Dec 2019
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