The Murder of Mary Pickering Tuplin
When I started researching this story I was torn between focusing on Mary Pickering Tuplin or William Millman. As you will see, they are both tragic stories.
The Murder
In 1887, Mary Pickering Tuplin was 17, single, and six months pregnant. In 1887, this was not a good combination. In fact, this combination is believed to be the reason she was murdered. Shot twice in the head.
According to her father, John Tuplin, the last time he saw her was on June 28, 1887. It was the day they had buried one of his sons, so most of the family was at his home that evening. At dusk, Mary left the house without a word. After ten to twenty minutes, his wife went outside to look for her. When his wife didn't find her, he walked down to their neighbours, the Profits. There were other men there so he didn't inquire into whether or not Mary was there. When he returned home, he checked the barn and along the "winter road", but still didn't see her. He went back to the Profits, but they hadn't seen her. He and his wife went to bed. In the morning, Mary was still not home so he checked with his other neighbours and friends. No one had seen her.
Interestingly, in the father's testimony in court, Tuplin said he visited the Millman's after speaking with Alice Connolly and Ruebin Tuplin. This is where it gets confusing:
I am not sure what warrant Tuplin had drawn up for William Millman as Mary's body had not yet been discovered and Tuplin doesn't elaborate in his testimony.
The "Funeral"
Disturbingly, when Mary was found it was clear she had been shot twice in the head. Her head was removed on the shore of the river and sent for analysis. From what Tuplin descendants could discover, the head went to the Johnson and Johnson Pharmacy in Charlottetown (this was also the location of the coroner) and her body went directly to the Margate cemetery and buried in a blanket around 1 a.m.
Her head was not buried with her.
The Trial
The trial began on January 24, 1888.
The 12 men of the jury were:
Alex McKenzie of Charlottetown. He was also the jury foreman
Wallace Rodd of Brackley Point
Neil S. McKenzie of Long Creek
Thomas Smith of Charlottetown Royalty
Thomas Berrigan of Charlottetown Royalty
Wellington Young of Gallas Point
Thomas Essory of Charlottetown
Donald McKay of Campbelton, New London
James Farquharson of Lot 48
John Frizzle of Cornwall
John Judson of Cherry Valley
The presiding justices were Justice Hensley, the Chief Justice, and Justice Peters.
The prosecution called 48 witnesses and the defence called 18 during the trial.
At the trial, Millman admitted that he was likely the father of Mary's child. As far as the court was concerned, this meant he, and only he, had a motive to kill Mary.
Millman was found guilty of Mary's murder. But, the jury recommended mercy. The court did not grant it and in April, William Millman hanged for murder.
The Skull
As you have read, Mary's head was removed along the river and sent to the coroner in Charlottetown. After the trial, her head was not buried with her remains. It stayed at the coroner's office.
Bobby Williams, a relative of the Tuplin family who lives in Alberta, was looking into his family history when he learned about the murder. While looking into it, he learned her skull remained at the Johnson and Johnson Pharmacy. The pharmacy changed hands numerous times and her skull and other historical items went with the building.
In 2014, Williams was on the Island and visited the family who had the skull in their possession. The family returned the skull and Williams arranged for it to be buried. According to Williams, Mary was buried with no casket, no service, and no family. It was important to him that Mary was properly honoured, with family in attendance. And he ensured she received it on August 21, 2016.
Now, you may be thinking, "wait, she said earlier that both Mary and William's stories were tragic. how can his story be tragic?"
Many now believe an innocent man was hanged for Mary's murder.
The evidence against Millman was circumstantial. Which I suspect was one of the reasons the jury recommended mercy.
Williams has an idea of who may have actually committed the murder but he will not release the name until he has more evidence.
Some, such as Robert Keezer, another relative of Mary Tuplin, believe it was actually a "very close relative" who killed her. Another man, whose name I cannot find, confessed to the murder on his deathbed.
Songs and ballads have been written about these events. The last verse of the Ballad of Will Millman, composed in 2010, is
The fact is, this murder happened 131 years ago so while it may be believed that Millman was innocent, there is little we can do now to right the wrong against him.
But, don't leave here thinking that 131 years ago is such a long time.
My grandmother, Ruth, was born in 1922, her father, Richard MacDonald was born in 1872 and his wife, Margaret Cahill 1886. Meaning this murder took place when my great-grandparents were alive. My great-grandfather was 15 at the time. That isn't too long ago.
But, it is too long ago to know what happened the night Mary was murdered.
"Ceremony reunites head with murdered owner 129 years later." The Guardian. September 9, 2016, updated September 30, 2017. http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/news/regional/ceremony-reuniteshead-with-murdered-owner-129-years-later-43828/
Meader, L. "Mary Pickering Tuplin, 1887 murder victim, properly laid to rest." CBC News. September 13, 2016. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/mary-pickering-tuplin-pei-skull-murder-burial-1.3759518
"New questions in 1887 murder of pregnant P.E.I. girl: 'They hung the wrong boy." CTV News. September 15, 2016. https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/new-questions-in-1887-murder-of-pregnant-p-e-i-girl-they-hung-the-wrong-boy-1.3073633
"The Ballad of Will Millman." The Island Heartbeat. http://www.theislandheartbeat.com/?page_id=1147
"Verbatim Report of the Millman-Tuplin Murder Trial." Supreme Court, Charlottetown, 1888. Geo W. Gardiner, Book &Job Printer: Queen Square, Charlottetown. https://archive.org/stream/cihm_10857#page/n73/mode/2up
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| Grave of Mary Pickering Tuplin. (Image Credit: Provided by Bobby Williams to CBC News) |
The Murder
In 1887, Mary Pickering Tuplin was 17, single, and six months pregnant. In 1887, this was not a good combination. In fact, this combination is believed to be the reason she was murdered. Shot twice in the head.
According to her father, John Tuplin, the last time he saw her was on June 28, 1887. It was the day they had buried one of his sons, so most of the family was at his home that evening. At dusk, Mary left the house without a word. After ten to twenty minutes, his wife went outside to look for her. When his wife didn't find her, he walked down to their neighbours, the Profits. There were other men there so he didn't inquire into whether or not Mary was there. When he returned home, he checked the barn and along the "winter road", but still didn't see her. He went back to the Profits, but they hadn't seen her. He and his wife went to bed. In the morning, Mary was still not home so he checked with his other neighbours and friends. No one had seen her.
Interestingly, in the father's testimony in court, Tuplin said he visited the Millman's after speaking with Alice Connolly and Ruebin Tuplin. This is where it gets confusing:
"Then I went to John Millman's. I went alone. I saw him and his wife. I asked John where his boy was last night, but got no news of Mary. Then I went home and sent the boy down the Mud Road to see what he could see there. I think he went. Then I went to Margate and asked Wm. Pound whether he would allow his men to go and search for my daughter. I got home about dark and and went to bed. On Thursday the first thing I did was to go to Summerside and see lawyer Bell, and got a warrent for William Millman."Tuplin then went to Benjamin Bryenton to borrow his scow so they could search the Southwest River. The search started on Friday and Mary's body was found on Monday, weighed down by a large rock.
 |
| For those of you, like me, who did not know where the Southwest River is. (Image Credit: CBC News) |
I am not sure what warrant Tuplin had drawn up for William Millman as Mary's body had not yet been discovered and Tuplin doesn't elaborate in his testimony.
The "Funeral"
Disturbingly, when Mary was found it was clear she had been shot twice in the head. Her head was removed on the shore of the river and sent for analysis. From what Tuplin descendants could discover, the head went to the Johnson and Johnson Pharmacy in Charlottetown (this was also the location of the coroner) and her body went directly to the Margate cemetery and buried in a blanket around 1 a.m.
Her head was not buried with her.
The Trial
The trial began on January 24, 1888.
The 12 men of the jury were:
Alex McKenzie of Charlottetown. He was also the jury foreman
Wallace Rodd of Brackley Point
Neil S. McKenzie of Long Creek
Thomas Smith of Charlottetown Royalty
Thomas Berrigan of Charlottetown Royalty
Wellington Young of Gallas Point
Thomas Essory of Charlottetown
Donald McKay of Campbelton, New London
James Farquharson of Lot 48
John Frizzle of Cornwall
John Judson of Cherry Valley
The presiding justices were Justice Hensley, the Chief Justice, and Justice Peters.
The prosecution called 48 witnesses and the defence called 18 during the trial.
At the trial, Millman admitted that he was likely the father of Mary's child. As far as the court was concerned, this meant he, and only he, had a motive to kill Mary.
Millman was found guilty of Mary's murder. But, the jury recommended mercy. The court did not grant it and in April, William Millman hanged for murder.
The Skull
As you have read, Mary's head was removed along the river and sent to the coroner in Charlottetown. After the trial, her head was not buried with her remains. It stayed at the coroner's office.
Bobby Williams, a relative of the Tuplin family who lives in Alberta, was looking into his family history when he learned about the murder. While looking into it, he learned her skull remained at the Johnson and Johnson Pharmacy. The pharmacy changed hands numerous times and her skull and other historical items went with the building.
In 2014, Williams was on the Island and visited the family who had the skull in their possession. The family returned the skull and Williams arranged for it to be buried. According to Williams, Mary was buried with no casket, no service, and no family. It was important to him that Mary was properly honoured, with family in attendance. And he ensured she received it on August 21, 2016.
Now, you may be thinking, "wait, she said earlier that both Mary and William's stories were tragic. how can his story be tragic?"
Many now believe an innocent man was hanged for Mary's murder.
The evidence against Millman was circumstantial. Which I suspect was one of the reasons the jury recommended mercy.
Williams has an idea of who may have actually committed the murder but he will not release the name until he has more evidence.
Some, such as Robert Keezer, another relative of Mary Tuplin, believe it was actually a "very close relative" who killed her. Another man, whose name I cannot find, confessed to the murder on his deathbed.
Songs and ballads have been written about these events. The last verse of the Ballad of Will Millman, composed in 2010, is
"Listen to the sparrow
Hiding in the brush
You will find the murderer
A little closer to the nest"It is clear what writer and playwright Larry LeClair thinks of Millman's verdict.
The fact is, this murder happened 131 years ago so while it may be believed that Millman was innocent, there is little we can do now to right the wrong against him.
But, don't leave here thinking that 131 years ago is such a long time.
My grandmother, Ruth, was born in 1922, her father, Richard MacDonald was born in 1872 and his wife, Margaret Cahill 1886. Meaning this murder took place when my great-grandparents were alive. My great-grandfather was 15 at the time. That isn't too long ago.
But, it is too long ago to know what happened the night Mary was murdered.
"Ceremony reunites head with murdered owner 129 years later." The Guardian. September 9, 2016, updated September 30, 2017. http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/news/regional/ceremony-reuniteshead-with-murdered-owner-129-years-later-43828/
Meader, L. "Mary Pickering Tuplin, 1887 murder victim, properly laid to rest." CBC News. September 13, 2016. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/mary-pickering-tuplin-pei-skull-murder-burial-1.3759518
"New questions in 1887 murder of pregnant P.E.I. girl: 'They hung the wrong boy." CTV News. September 15, 2016. https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/new-questions-in-1887-murder-of-pregnant-p-e-i-girl-they-hung-the-wrong-boy-1.3073633
"The Ballad of Will Millman." The Island Heartbeat. http://www.theislandheartbeat.com/?page_id=1147
"Verbatim Report of the Millman-Tuplin Murder Trial." Supreme Court, Charlottetown, 1888. Geo W. Gardiner, Book &Job Printer: Queen Square, Charlottetown. https://archive.org/stream/cihm_10857#page/n73/mode/2up
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