True and Fascinating Canadian History
The Murder, The Mystery,
The Man & His Final Minutes
by Edmonton AB Vet AJH 'Joe' Collinson
Few murders are neat. Few murderers are neat. In fact, most murderers likely would admit to being messed up. But, then again, a murderer's recipe of motives is mixed in with money, conspiracy, blood and revenge.
Few if any Canadians would believe the murder which Vet. Joe Collinson presents. I'll leave the story to him.
Hugh McDermot's life began on an up swing; he was Irish and a medical student in Dublin. But, he dropped out of his studies and immigrated to Canada apparently to join the North West Mounted Police (NWMP).
McDermot was born in an upper house; the son of 'The McDermot', Prince of Coolavin. McDermot Senior was, at that time, a prominent and well-respected solicitor who went on to become the Attorney-General of Ireland circa 1890.
Constable McDermot successfully joined the Force on April 16, 1888, however, his upswing began to take downturns in the NWMP. He appeared in Service Court for several infractions. On October 28, 1889 he was declared 'Absent from Piquet Mounting' (Fire Drill) in Battleford, SK and fined $1 by Superintendent Antrobus.
On October 26, 1893 he was charged for 'Neglect of Duty' - his fault was allowing prisoners to loiter when they should have been at work. For this offence, he was fined $5 plus 28 days Confined To Barracks plus an extra week as Provost Duty. In November, 1893, McDermot was 'Absent from Duty' at Lethbridge AB, he did break (left) barracks while under arrest, and was drunk. In this case, he was given one month Hard Labour and he was to be dismissed at the expiration of his sentence. And these were the good days for Constable McDermot.
In the opinion of superior Officers, Constable McDermot had unsatisfactory abilities and behaviours to serve as an effective policeman. He simply was unreliable and not consistently attentive to his duties. However, he was given one additional reprive. He was offered the position of Medical Orderly (MO) at Regina's 'Depot' but over time he was found to be ineffective on the job. Strangely, but McDermot's Service File shows that there was an effort to promote him but this strategy was unsuccessful. McDermot was finally dismissed.
McDermot's service in the he Force added up to 4 years and six months which included a re-engagement (trial) period. He was discharged on December 21, 1893. After having served in the Force, the NWMP lost track of him although he apparently worked in a Saskatchewan bank and lived with his sister.
In 1924, he was known to be living alone in or near Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta. Then tragedy.
In 1925, McDermot took in a homeless wanderer. He thought, apparently, that he could get some house work out of the gypsy man and in exchange, McDermot offered the man free room and board. It wasn't long before McDermot's in-house guest began to plot that is, think of the unthinkable.
We're not sure, but perhaps the wandering gypsy was of the opinion that McDermot had wealth. Suddently, one night, the gypsy man bashed McDermot over the head. After the murder, McDermot was thrown head first into his well and a watery death for certain. McDermot's body was recovered.
It was only a short time that the murder of McDermot was discovered by authorities. The wanderer was rapidly apprehended, charged for murder, convicted, and sentenced to death. But, Miss Lady Luck Law intervened and the wandering gypsy had his sentence commuted to life. I am uncertain when the gypsy man died.
And was that the end of Mr Bad Luck for the former Constable McDermot? Not by a long shot, for I have often asked myself what ever became of McDermot's corpus?
I have concluded that McDermot must have been destitute or perhaps no one cared to care for him. For all purposes, he died an underdog; underwater, undernourished and undermined. Unfairly, perhaps. For now I am about to reveal another McDermot tradegy.
I discovered that Constable McDermot lies in an an unmarked grave! Where, you ask? How so?
Former Constable McDermot lies alone in the Roman Catholic Cemetery in Lamoureux, AB. which is one of Alberta's oldest settlements
located just across the North Saskatchewan River from Fort Saskachewan. I found his gravesite but I had to put a cardboard marker up to
identify and photograph his space.
Who knows, maybe someday a proper headstone will be erected? For the present time, McDermot's resting place is undeniably unidentifiable. Sad, eh?
by Edmonton RCMP Vet. AJH 'Joe' Collinson
June 18, 2012
Source: Specific dates for this yarn were taken from Vet Jack White's history files and I am appreciative of his previous work.
