The Terrified Drug Addict.. (Convict Interred at Boot Hill Cemetery)

Hello Friends,

Today I bring you the case of a young Vancouver born man, who lost his way as a teenager, and could not pull himself out from the darkness.  Why, we may never understand; but then do we ever understand the choices troubled teenagers make?

This is our twenty-fourth blog about the 49+ convicts buried at the once hidden B.C. Penitentiary Cemetery, nicknamed "Boot Hill" by the inmates, in New Westminster, B.C. The cemetery was actively used between 1913-1967, as a sacred spot for deceased convicts whose families did not claim their bodies.  It has always thought to be "haunted" by the inmates of the Pen; and countless people have reported unexplained occurrences from black orbs to voices calling out, shadow figures along the tree lines, and eerie feelings while on the property.  This small acre is now accessible to the public, after a face lift replaced the old stone markers with newer ones, and a plaque describing who is lying beneath the soft sod has been displayed.

Meet Convict #9880 - Leonard McCarty

Courtesy of Find A Grave - Photo by Herbert Rickards (2007)
Grave found middle of last row on east side.

Sentenced to Life... (Convict Interred at Boot Hill Cemetery)

Hello Friends,

Today I bring you the story of a man who was sentenced to life, released after 18+ years; then found himself in prison again. This is our twenty-third blog about the 49+ convicts buried at the once hidden B.C. Penitentiary Cemetery for many decades, nicknamed "Boot Hill" by the inmates, in New Westminster, B.C.. the cemetery was used between 1913-1967, as a sacred spot for the deceased convicts who's family did not claim their bodies. It has always thought to be "haunted" by the inmates, and countless paranormal groups have reported unexplained happenings from black orbs to voices calling out. The small acre is now accessible to the public, after a face lift replacing the old stones with newer ones, and a plaque describing who is laying beneath the soft sod.

Meet Convict #5920 - George Sydney Williams

Courtesy Find A Grave - Photo by Herbert Rickards (2007)

The Man With Many Aliases... (Convict Interred at Boot Hill Cemetery)

Hello Friends,

We bring you the case of a young man who not only enlisted to fight in World War 1, but led a troubled life before and after. This is our twenty-second blog about the convicts buried at the old B.C. Penitentiary Cemetery in New Westminster, B.C. which was used between 1913 and 1967. The penitentiary closed and was razed in 1980. The cemetery, nicknamed "Boot Hill" most likely by the inmates, survived; and although it was hidden from the public for many decades, today it is accessible; and is believed to be "haunted". It underwent a facelift and now is fashioned with new stones, brambles removed, and has plaques for explanation standing at the southern end of the small acre.

Meet Convict #3448 - Frank Wilson:

Photo by Kati - (lower section, 2nd row from bottom)
taken 2016, January

Wickman or Wichmann? (Convict Interred at Boot Hill Cemetery)

Hello Friends,

After much research, I bring you the case of a young Vancouver lad who chose to walk the wrong side of life, which put him in federal prison, where he died. This is our twenty-first blog about the convicts buried at Boot Hill Cemetery (nicknamed - properly named the old B.C. Penitentiary Cemetery) in New Westminster, B.C., which had been used between the years of 1913 to 1967, by the B.C. Penitentiary (razed in 1980), one of the toughest Canadian prisons in history.

Meet Convict #9511 - Henry Gordon Wichmann

Photo by Kati - #9511 (east section, middle of 2nd to last row)
taken 2016, January

Assault, Robbery and Manslaughter.. (Convict Interred at Boot Hill Cemetery)

Hello Friends,

We bring you the case (through newspaper & document records) of a man who grew up in the Fraser Valley area of Greater Vancouver, B.C., found himself in and out of jail, with a final violent crime sending him to Federal Prison. Sadly, his life ended a few years later. This is our twentieth blog about the convicts buried at Boot Hill Cemetery in New Westminster, used between 1913-1967 by the B.C. Penitentiary (razed in 1980), one of the toughest prisons in the Canada.

Meet Convict #6651 - George Wallace

Photo by Kati - #6651 (southeast section, last row, first stone)

The Cheque Forgery Man... (Convict Interred at Boot Hill Cemetery)

Hello Friends,

Our stories about the convicts buried at Boot Hill Cemetery (used between 1913-1967) in New Westminster, BC, now turns to a case of large proportions in Western Canada. The convict accused and sentenced, was interred at Boot Hill Cemetery, also known as the B.C. Penitentiary Cemetery. It has finally been recognized by the City of New Westminster with a small sign at the gate, the long grasses, weeds and brambles removed, and new stones laid (the old grave markers the prisoners had made were removed) in place, using a ground penetrating device. This is our nineteenth blog about the convicts at Boot Hill.

Meet Convict #9693 - W Black

Courtesy of Find A Grave - photo: Herbert Rickards
Location - northeast end of the cemetery - bottom of hill, last row

The Cigarette Thief (Convict Interred at Boot Hill Cemetery)

Hello Friends,

Today we bring you the story of a young man who became part of a theft ring during the Great Depression. This is our eighteenth story about the convicts buried at the once forgotten cemetery for the B.C. Penitentiary (razed in 1980), known as "Boot Hill" (used between 1913-1967). It has recently undergone a revamping. The city (New Westminster) cleaned up the acre, planted new grass seeds, replaced the old stones with new ones; and is now easily accessible on a path between townhouses and a highrise.

Meet Convict #4234 - Herbert Ross

Photo Herbert Rickards (Find a Grave) - middle section

The Man Who Preferred Prison (Convict Buried at Boot Hill Cemetery)

Hello Friends,

Our story of the following Boot Hill Cemetery convict leads us on a chase across the continent, starting in the Eastern Canada, dipping into the United States of America, and then north to Western Canada in Vancouver, B.C. This seventeenth blog about the convicts buried at the forgotten cemetery, belonging to the razed B.C. Penitentiary in New Westminster, B.C., carries with it mystery. Hopefully we'll gain some understanding of who this man was and why he ended up buried in the sacred acre of land.

Meet Convict #3237 - Harold Gordon McMaster

Photo by Kati - Convict #3237 (3rd row from NW top section, farthest N position)

The Lillooet Outlaw - The Story of Francis Gott

Hello Friends,

Recently I received a thank you email concerning the research performed in presenting the case of: "Wild Boys Hunted by Posse for Murder". The blog is about two outlaws, Moses Paul and Paul Spintlum, whom our research uncovered for our "Boot Hill Cemetery Convicts" series. I recommend you give it a read!
A link posted within the account included a tale, as told by a St'át'imc Elder, about another indigenous outlaw of the area, Francis Gott. (Link: Tales of Our Elders.)
A request was made asking if I would consider researching Mr. Gott's case, and write the story from media accounts reported at the time. I decided to take on this challenge, for the true crime story was fascinating and certainly part of the history of the province I call home, British Columbia.

Courtesy Vancouver City Archives - 1900, Lillooet, B.C.
(Mount Chadwick)

Burglary! Organized Gang! (Convict Interred at Boot Hill Cemetery)

Hello Friends,

Today we find ourselves following the trail of Vancouver's finest detectives in search of the truth. We are now publishing our sixteenth blog about the convicts buried at the B.C. Penitentiary Cemetery known as "Boot Hill", and the first case involving a "gang of thieves" in Vancouver's East Side district, Main Street with Chinatown in its midst.

Meet Convict #2225 - Louie Num

Photo by Kati - Convict #2225 (middle section, close to fence on south side)

Guilty! A Life In and Out of Prison.. (Convict Interred at Boot Hill Cemetery)

Hello Friends,

We take you on the journey of a young man who's life ended in an accident. What truly happened, we may never know; however, he became one of the convicts interred at the forgotten Boot Hill Cemetery in New Westminster, B.C. (1913-1967, used by the old B.C. Penitentiary, which was razed in 1980). Welcome to our fifteenth blog about the inmates buried at this unique cemetery.

Meet Convict #9720 - Norman Donald Bottineau

Photo by Kati - Jan16'2016 (lower part of cemetery)

Robbery with Violence! (Convict Interred at Boot Hill Cemetery)

Hello Friends,

Our fourteenth blog about the convicts interred at Boot Hill Cemetery (1913-1967, New Westminster, used by the old B.C. Penitentiary-which was razed in 1980) takes us back in history to the year 1912, on Vancouver Island, B.C. and a community of coal mining.
[Note: please see our links for previous blogs about the convicts at the end of the following account.]

Meet Convict #unknown - Phillip Hopkins

Photo by Kati (VSPI) - unknown gravemarker at Boot Hill Cemetery (April 2015)

Courtesy Cumberland Museum Archives - 1913, Mine No. 4 (C164-010)

Shots Fired! (Convict Interred at Boot Hill Cemetery)

Hello Friends,

Our thirteenth blog, about the convicts interred at New Westminster's Boot Hill Cemetery, investigates a lively chase of a man who attempted to pull off a number of robberies. Join us on this journey of discovery of an event which caused a stir in the city of Vancouver, B.C. in 1917.

Meet Convict #2312 - Albert Hill

Photo by Kati - Convict #2312 (middle section)

The Chicken Thief with Intent to Murder! (Convict Interred at Boot Hill Cemetery)

Hello Friends,

Today the story I bring you is about a convict buried at New Westminster's Boot Hill Cemetery, belonging to the B.C. Penitentiary (decommissioned May 10, 1980, and demolished), with a bit of a twist. It took some time to put it together, but finally I believe I have enough information to present this most interesting and puzzling case.

Meet Convict #1948 - "Unknown Gim"

Photo by Kati - Convict #1948 (middle section, south edge)

"Wild Boys" Hunted by Posse for Murder! (Convict Interred at Boot Hill Cemetery)

Hello Friends,

I've run into a question of whether the next convict investigated is actually buried at Boot Hill Cemetery in New Westminster, B.C.  Why would I think otherwise? I'll explain as the convict's story is told.

Meet convict #1884 - Moses Paul

This story begins with a mysterious death in the Clinton, B.C. area. A man's body is found with his head crushed in. What had happened? Who did this? Who was this man?

Calling Spirit Energy...

Hello friends,

I sat in my hallway, candles flickering around me. A crystal, feather and seashell on a stand in front of me to represent our earth, the air and oceans. I positioned a variety of electromagnetic meters, a vpod (creating its own energy field around the antenna which spirits are believed to manipulate for communication), digital recorder, and my pendulum in hand.

Vigil @ Kati's Home - August 2016

Calling out to spirit(s) is something I believe may work from anywhere that I am, but I’m still working to prove this theory correct. As long as it’s a place where I can concentrate and find peace, it works for me.

Note: I want to stress, I ground myself first and put protection of “white light” and my ancestors’ love around me before I begin.

Murder at Ocean Falls.. or was it? (Convict Interred at Boot Hill Cemetery)

Hello Friends,

Our next investigation of the convicts buried at B.C. Penitentiary's "Boot Hill Cemetery" in New Westminster, B.C., brings us to a story about a Japanese immigrant in the early 1900's. I discovered the case may have been an accidental murder instead one of intention, with discrimination and racism playing a role.

Meet Convict #1659 - Y. Yoshie

Photo by Kati - #1659 @ Boot Hill Cemetery, middle section

Mr. Y. Yoshie, a single man in his mid-40's, travelled to Vancouver, B.C. in 1911. From all accounts it appears he left his native home in Japan for work in the new land of British Columbia.

Robbery, Murder & Hanging! (Convicts Interred at Boot Hill Cemetery)

Hello Friends,

Here is the story of two convicts who gained fame for an ambitious escape attempt that went oh so wrong. These lads are now interred at the B.C. Penitentiary's Cemetery, a small plot of land which lays west across a ravine from where the prison once stood in New Westminster.

In a Hail of Bullets .. (Convict Interred at Boot Hill Cemetery)

Hello Friends,

This time we take you on a ride of an "explosive" nature involving burglary, "safe blowing" and attempted murder with a hail of bullets flying through the air! It made the front page news in Vancouver, B.C. in March 1913. With this, we introduce you to our newest entry in our search of understanding the convicts buried at the New Westminster "Boot Hill Cemetery" for the B.C. Penitentiary.

Meet Convict #1774 - James W Hinds.

Photo by Kati - Unknown # found near James' burial site

Sentenced to Hang! (Convict Interred at Boot Hill Cemetery)

Hello Friends,

Photo by Kati - unknown found in vicinity of Convict #2304's grave

In 1918-1919, influenza swept the world. According to Sarah Buchanan's (B.Sc., Queen's University, 2007) thesis titled "Spanish Influenza in the City of Vancouver, British Columbia, 1918-1919", in the Abstract on page iii it states: "During the last year of World War I (1918), a second deadly foe was causing mortality around the world. Spanish Influenza killed an estimated 50-100 million people worldwide, including 50,000 people in Canada during the 1918-1919 pandemic." It goes on to say "...those who were between the ages of 19 and 39... showed higher odds of dying from influenza during the epidemic." Her thesis examined the period between June 1918 to June 1919.

"Four Walls in the West, The story of the British Columbia Penitentiary" written by Jack David Scott, page 54: "In 1919 the Spanish influenza epidemic, which had hit the western world, made its appearance in the prison. Eighty-four convicts were hospitalized and five died."

Meet Convict #2304 - William Chinley: was a victim to the epidemic, and according to his death certificate, he lost the fight and passed away on January 05, 1919.