For my first Blacksheep Sunday, I have decided to write about one of my husbands relatives - Richard Hershell Stewart.
Richard was my husbands great-granduncle, as my husband is the great grandson of Richard's brother Franklin Hudson Stewart.
Richard was born 28 Apr 1898 in Ontario, Canada.
Richard met a young woman named Lillian Elsie Dunsford, and in time she became pregnant. They had financial issues, so they went to live with Richard's parents, who insisted that they be married given Lillian's pregnancy, and so Richard was married to Lillian Elsie Dunsford in 1923.
Lillian was a young woman from England.
Richard had some issues with finding a job to support his wife and soon to be born child, and the police were even called to the home to try to motivate him.
Richard was obsessed that Lillian was cheating on him, despite assurances from her and his own mother that she was absolutely faithful.
In May of 1923, Lillian gave birth to a baby boy.
On June 12 of 1923, Richard entered the room where Lillian was resting in bed with her baby, and shot her to death, and then attempted to kill himself by shooting himself in the stomach.
He was attended by a doctor and arrested, and convicted of murdering Lillian. His initial sentence was hanging, but this was reduced to life in prison.
His exact date of death and burial is not known.
This man was my great great grandmother's (Almira Jane Stewart) brother. It's definitely an interesting story!
ReplyDeleteRichard died March 3, 1977 in Welland Ontario and is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Welland.
Thanks for sharing the story and the photos! I had never seen the one of his wife before!
Take Care,
Marg