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)

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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)

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)

Corpse Hidden in Cellar! (Convict Interred at Boot Hill Cemetery)

Hello Friends,

This twelve instalment of the true crime stories of Convicts buried in the Boot Hill Cemetery, New Westminster, B.C., is unique. Not only were there no witnesses to the crime, but the suspect hid the body in his cellar! Want to know more? Join me on this journey of discovery.

Meet Convict #3130 - Harry Davis

Courtesy Find a Grave - photo: Herbert Richards (2007) - Middle Section, North edge of Ravine

Capital Murder at Age 18! (Convict Interred at Boot Hill Cemetery)

Hello Friends,

We bring you the tenth story of our series about the convicts buried at Boot Hill Cemetery, the small plot of land used for prisoners (maintained by inmates & 1913-1968) from the BC Penitentiary (aka "The Pen, closed in the 1980's), overlooking the Fraser River.
As the cemetery is unmarked to this day, I wonder how many people walk by believing it's just an unused piece of land. I have witnessed walkers with their dogs pooping on the grass, but they never stay long. Crows sit in the trees surrounding the land, squawking loudly as people try to enter the sacred space.

Meet Convict #2938 - Reginald John Colpitts:

Photo by Kati - Convict #2938 (top section - northwest)

Escape From A Moving Train! (Convict Interred at Boot Hill Cemetery)

Hello Friends,
We are back with another episode to our continued investigation into the convicts buried at the Boot Hill Cemetery (1913-1968) in New Westminster, BC (used for the BC Penitentiary. "The Pen" was decommissioned in 1980).

Again we have excitement brewing as we follow the path of our newest convict profiled.

Meet Convict #2516 - Daniel Henrick Urick

Photo by Kati - Convict #2516 (middle section)

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.

Execution Commuted! (Convict Interred at Boot Hill Cemetery)

Hello Friends,

Historical photo-Boot Hill Cemetery-view north twds BC Penitentiary / unknown date & photographer.

I've been investigating and researching the convicts of BC Penitentiary who are interred at Boot Hill Cemetery in New Westminster, BC. It's not an easy task, as I often come across barriers which hold back any progress. Never-the-less, it is an interesting project. As I come across further information, I'll present the updates in future blogs.

So here we go, the second inmate on the list:

Convict #2370 - John Francis Walsh

Gravemarker #2370 (photo by Kati)

Return to BC Penitentiary Cemetery & Mr. Thompson... (Convict Interred at Boot Hill)

Hello Friends!

The B.C. Penitentiary cemetery, known as Boot Hill by the inmates of the institution, came into existence in 1913 yet may have been used as early as 1912. The last unclaimed body of a convict from the "Pen" was interred in 1968. It's situated across the Glenbrook Ravine and up the hill, across from where the old prison once stood.
For more information, please check out our 2013 Blog of Boot Hill.

At the end of March, it felt the time had come to revisit the forgotten cemetery, and with the good weather finally upon us, it was perfect timing. Boot Hill is now accessible by a cemented foot path due to new construction nearby. A hi-rise has been built directly across from it (to the south), and soon another one is going up to the west. This has me wondering if its neighbours are experiencing an influx of paranormal activity.

Boot Hill Cemetery - looking north towards the Ravine below. Photo-VSPI©

Visit to Alcatraz

From the moment we landed on the island of Alcatraz, I knew there was something special about this place. Anyone can feel the energy swirling, if they truly pay attention to their body's reactions; however, a lot of anticipation on the cruise over to the island may cause a range of emotions. This being said, I had to be sure that what I was feeling wasn't because of excitement brewing. I shook it off and with my wife, Lesli, we looked around, paid $1 USD for a map of the Island, and made a plan of what areas to visit on our ascent to the top of the island where the famous Main Cell House stands.

Building 64 - Military Housing then Prison Residences