1919

Oct 10 – Stewart Smith, 75, farmer, dies on his farm in Lower Pleasant River, Lunenburg County. Cause of death is listed as: of paralysis stemming from bronchitis. He is buried on Oct. 17. Information is filed by his son, Irving Smith.

Nov 8 - Nineteen-year-old Margaret Smith is murdered in the middle of the night at her home – an isolated farm that would be abandoned and in later years become known as the Old Smith Place. The Smiths had been living there for 15 years. The death certificate lists the cause as: homicide, death caused by a depressed fracture of skull, hit with stock of gun. Church records will show the cause as: Died while defending her honour. The daughter of Stewart Smith and Adelia Wile, she is buried on Nov. 12 in Hemford.

Two death certificates are filed. The second list her name as Margaret L. Smith, daughter of Steward Smith – born in Ireland – and Delia Wile – born in Hemford. Her age is 18 years and four months. Information is given by Dr. Simpson and Mr. Coffil, Bridgewater. She was buried on Nov. 13 in Hemford. She died at Colpton on Nov. 9, 1919. Cause of death is listed as: Clubbed to death by one Wilson H__oy – Murdered[1]

The man who murdered her – Wilson Freeman Huey of Ninevah commits suicide the same night. He is buried on Nov. 12 at Hemford. The 35-year-old is married and a railroad labourer. A veteran of World War I, he served in the army from 1916 to May of this year.[2]

[1] . Deaths recorded in the County of Lunenburg 1919 Year: 1919 - Book: 95 - Page: 62
[2] Registration http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/cef/001042-119.02-e.php?image_url=http://data2.archives.ca/cef/gpc007/403502a.gif&id_nbr=475295