ON THIS DAY

February 11, 1869 – Convicted assassin Patrick James Whelan, a tailor, was hanged at Ottawa. He was found guilty of murdering Thomas D’Arcy McGee, a Father of Confederation and enemy of the revolutionary Fenians. Whelan was executed before a crowd of some 5,000 spectators. He staunchly maintained his innocence. Experts have since determined that evidence in the case against Whelan was lacking and that the trial was marred by bad procedure.