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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2015-07-15, Page 5Wednesday, July 15, 2015 • Huron Expositor 5 www.seaforthhuronexpositor.com The Harpurhey Poisoning Case, 1864 Joseph Gallagher and his wife, Mary Jane, lived with their two sons in a tiny shanty by the railroad tracks about two miles west of Harpur- hey. However, their mar- riage was a troubled one. Joseph Gallagher, on at least two occasions, accused William Foster, a boarder, of "undue inti- macy" with his wife. It was even rumored that Mary Jane Gallagher, who was nine months preg- nant when her husband mysteriously died on Feb- ruary 23, 1864, carried Foster's baby. A coroner's inquest into Gallagher's sudden and mysterious death was convened in Seaforth's Morton's Hotel. With traces of strychnine found in Gallagher's stomach, the coroner's jury found that Gallagher was the victim of "willful murder." Mrs. Gallagher and Foster were charged with murder and sent to the Goderich Gaol (jail) to await trial. The Signal said Foster was a huge six-foot man approximately 27 -years - old, rather timid' and known for having a treacherous bad mem- ory.' Mrs. Gallagher on Huron History David Yates the other hand was reported as a diminutive, emaciated, sunburned old woman. Further more, it was noted that she was the last woman a young man could fancy. Mrs. Gallagher gave birth in the Gaol. The 'Signal' reported after the deliv- ery she was forced to part from her child, which was a heartrending sight for the new mother.' Both Gallagher and Foster declared their innocence in what became known as the "Harpurhey Poisoning Case." When it began on April 16, 1864, in the Goderich Courthouse, it was a sensational murder trial that shocked the province. In Victorian Canada, premeditated murder by poison was an unthinkable violation of the home. Formerly known then as the ultimate betrayal of the sacred trust between hus- band and wife. A con- victed murderess would be assured a grisly death on the gallows. The Gallagher's' 14 -year-old son, William, was the most important witness who described the events in the house on the morning of his father's death. Young Gallagher testified that his father arose in good health and spirits at 7:00 a.m. on February 23. He asked his wife for a dose of salts for Foster and himself. Mary Jane mixed a teaspoon of salt in boiling water and poured the mixture into two tumblers. They both drank the mixture but Mr. Gallagher immediately complained that his jaws and legs were getting stiff. Gallagher suffered a painful death, according to George Monk, who tried to help while a doc- tor was sent for. The pain spread to his chest and Gallagher went into spasms and convulsions when his boots were removed. Gallagher vomited at least twice and told Monk that he should have known bet- ter than to have taken the salts. William also swore that he went to church the Sunday before with his father who told him that he was going two more Sundays to church. After that he said he would be going away where no one would see him and they would meet him in the happyland: William admit- ted that his father drank a great deal and on the Sun- day before his death he "was cross" and sent him to Mor- ton's hotel for a quart of whiskey. William claimed his father told him that Fos- ter and his mother were against him and that if he had poison he would take it.' A neighbour, James Townsend, said that Mrs. Gallagher asked him to purchase some strych- nine for rat poison two or three weeks before Joseph Gallagher's death. Another neighbour, Den- nis O'Driscoll, knew the Gallagher's were on 'bad terms' because Mrs. Gal- lagher told him that she and Mr. Gallagher had not slept together for 2-3 years and would poison him' but was funning and laughing when she said it. Another neighbour Peter Haas, testified that Foster had been living in Canada Day celebrations is a victory The Seaforth Lions Club finished off their 2014-2015 year with Canada Day celebrations at the Sea - forth Lions Park. From noon until 4 p.m. a large crowd enjoyed a family fun day in the park. The bouncy activities and face painting were popular, with children patiently lining up for their turn at the fun. The games and races had many partici- pants and Madi Cardno was the lucky winner of the bicycle draw. Free swimming saw only a few brave individuals in the water, as the day was cool and overcast. All enjoyed hot dogs, cold drinks, cake and coffee. The June 20, elimination draw, dinner and dance was a great success. 830 diners enjoying the deli- cious half -chicken dinner. Also Dianne and the Cav- aliers had the dance floor filled with couples until the final song was played. The lucky grand -prize winners were Jack and Mary Helen McLachlan. This is the club's largest fundraiser and we sin- cerely thank all the ticket purchasers. Prize results can be viewed in the Expositor July 2 and on cable channel 1. Bryan Vincent and his family are hosting an international youth exchange student, Tal from Israel, for the month of July. A busy month of activities for Tal and all the youth exchange par- ticipants has been planned. When you meet Tal on the street, please extend a warm Seaforth welcome to him. The Seaforth Lions Club will take a well- deserved break during July and August and resume their community service activities and meetings in September. Thank you to the commu- nity for your support over the year. Please come and enjoy the beautiful park and facilities we provide for your use. President -Cathy Elliott the house for about 11 months. Just two weeks before Gallagher's death, he overheard Gallagher arguing with him because he had not paid his board. However, Haas also confirmed William Gallagher's story that Joseph may have been suicidal. He swore that Gallagher told him that he hoped he would 'meet him in the happy land.' The Crown argued that his wife and her lover wanted to get him out of the way, so they murdered Gallagher. The defense argued that Gallagher's death might have been the result of suicide, heavy drinking or some other affliction. A relative nov- elty in criminal cases, the Crown turned to science to make its case beyond a reasonable doubt: Professor Henry Croft of the University of Toronto was Canada's19th century leading toxicologist. Har- purhey Constable James Brydon delivered Gal- lagher's stomach and other vital organs in a sealed jar to Professor Croft's laboratory for a scientific opinion. After examining Gallagher's viscera, Croft found minute traces of strychnine in the stom- ach but not in the liver or intestines. After listening to the testimony of the other witnesses, Profes- sor Croft concluded that Gallagher's symptoms corresponded with strychnine poisoning but could not confirm that it caused Gallagher's death. Indeed, Croft tes- tified that Gallagher's vomiting would have expelled a good portion of any poison. Although Croft did not exonerate Gallagher and Foster from murder, he could not confirm it. In a death penalty case, this was all that was required to establish a reasonable doubt. In a surprise move, the judge brought the case to an abrupt halt by instructing the jury that there was 'not suffi- cient evidence' to warrant a conviction. His Lord- ship directed the jury to deliver a "Not Guilty" ver- dict, which they did with- out deliberation. It brought an end to one of Huron County's most sensational trials but without answering the key mystery of what, or who, killed Joseph Gallagher? uontnnuteu pnoto June 12th, 2015 "Piano Recital a huge success!" Back Row: Andrea Van Bakel, Erica Maloney, Caitlin McKercher, Brook McCarthy, Fallyn McCarthy, Chloe Harris, Azana John. Front Row: Kavayah John, Kate Maloney, Mackena Vanden Henget, Avery Van Bakel, Jake Van Bakel, Andrew Van Bakel, Finlay McKercher, Alyssa Albers & Peter Albers.