90:. At this point, Birchall took Frederick Benwell, the son of the biggest potential investor, to Ontario to view the farm. After arriving near Woodstock, Birchall led Benwell into the woods, then shot him twice in the back of the head. Birchall then returned to Buffalo, telling the other investors that Benway had decided to return to England separately. However, on February 20, Birchall telegraphed Benwell's father in England, saying that his son had agreed to the investment and he should immediately wire over £500.
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in 1885. While at
Lincoln, where he founded the Black and Tan Club, Birchall spent his time partying and incurring debt. In 1888 Birchall was forced to leave college and sell off his inheritance to pay his debts. That same year he paid £600 for a property in Woodstock, Ontario. After eloping with his
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On
September 22, Birchall's trial started at Woodstock's Town Hall. Given that both the suspect and the victim were members of the British aristocracy, the trial garnered substantial attention. News organizations from England, France, Germany and Italy covered the trial. Birchall was convicted of
101:. Clothing tags had been removed, and a watch was found close to the body. Still in Buffalo, one of Birchall's investors saw a picture of the body in a newspaper and recognized him as Benwell. He travelled to Ontario to identify the body and speak with police.
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and sentenced to death on
September 30. Birchall professed his innocence to the end. He wrote a long account of the affair while in prison. This memoir was published in an attempt to create an income for his wife after his death.
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several wealthy people. He took out an advertisement in a London newspaper claiming to be the owner of a prosperous horse farm in Canada who was looking for investors. His plan was to take the money, place bets in the
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Birchall was hanged on
November 14, 1890. He was buried in the courtyard of the Woodstock City Gaol, where he still remains. The swamp in Princeton was called "Benwell Swamp" by the locals.
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When they arrived in
Woodstock, they discovered that the property was a small farm, not an estate. After six months of creating more debt in Woodstock, the couple returned to England.
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horse race, and pay back the investors with his winnings. However the
British investors wanted to inspect the Canadian farm and its financial records before investing.
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In
February 1890, the Birchalls and the investors arrived in New York City and then travelled to
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on March 3 and transported back to
Princeton, Ontario. Birchall denied murdering Benwell.
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who was convicted of killing one of his victims in Canada. He was hanged at
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33:) (25 May 1866 – 14 November 1890) was a British
93:On February 23, 1890, hunters found a body in a
64:Once in England, Birchall concocted a scheme to
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58:fiancée, the couple travelled to Canada.
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173:People executed by Canada by hanging
178:Canadian people convicted of murder
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151:Dictionary of Canadian Biography
198:Executed people from Lancashire
121:The jury on the Birchall trial
49:Born into a wealthy family in
31:aka Lord Frederick A. Somerset
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203:British emigrants to Canada
156:University of Toronto Press
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104:Birchall was arrested in
193:Executed Canadian people
81:Victim Frederick Benwell
129:circumstantial evidence
55:Lincoln College, Oxford
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106:Niagara Falls, Ontario
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27:John Reginald Birchall
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154:(online ed.).
146:"Reginald Birchall"
112:Trial and execution
53:, Birchall entered
51:Lancashire, England
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99:Princeton, Ontario
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39:Woodstock, Ontario
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88:Buffalo, New York
21:Reginald Birchall
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127:murder based on
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188:1890 deaths
183:1866 births
167:Categories
139:References
66:defraud
35:conman
95:swamp
71:Derby
45:Crime
97:in
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29:(
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