Thomas DArcy McGees Murder Essay

Shortly after arriving in Canada from Ireland, McGee focused on writing about history, poems, speeches, and edited newspapers. In addition, he was elected into Parliament. McGee also fought for the interests of the Irish Canadians and against the radicalism of the Irish Fenians, who tried to liberate Ireland through every means possible including the use of violence. Before his forceful death, McGee has pleaded with the Nova Scotians, not to cast-off Confederation. His plea received great applause, and many in the House considered the plea to be one of the finest ever from McGee. Also, despite showing the various occasions that raised reasonable doubt in regards to Whelan’s guilt, secondary evidence proved strong enough to term him guilty. Whelan kept his innocence throughout the legal proceedings of the case and was eventually sentenced to death by hanging.

His execution was believed to be the last public execution in the history of Canada. Before his death, Whelan admitted that he was present during McGee’s assassination and that he was aware of the real perpetrator of the crime, but he chose to die rather than be remembered as an informant. McGee’s funeral parade was attended by 15,000 people while 80, 000 more lined the streets to watch the funeral proceedings (Stoney Creek News). It is generally agreed that the Irish nationalist was killed for opinionated attacks on the Fenian Brotherhood. His stance appeared to anger the Irish-Canadian radicals who at one point shared a common notion with the Conservative MP. Other suspects of McGee’s murder besides Whelan that had been arrested were eventually released.

The moment the prosecutors agreed with the theory that Whelan acted alone in the killing of McGee, the possibility of Whelan being part of a hit squad during that time was immediately shut out. But according to Wilson, a lot of things about Kinsella did not make sense when looked in-depth. The biographer concluded that either Whelan was a sole perpetrator in the shooting of McGee or he was involved in a hit squad that committed the offense despite his improper trial and nonsensical rejections of Fenian sympathies as well as his trumped-up expression of loyalty to the Irish Queen. Also, before his execution, Whelan had remarked to police officials about his knowledge and the facts that surrounded the shooting incidence.

Whelan stated that he knew the real shooter since he was present during that time, but he chose not to act as a police informant. His remarks later lend credibility to the theory of him being part of a hit squad that killed McGee. As well, it led to the theory that Kinsella or other Fenian accomplice was the actual triggerman. Also, being anti-clerical in his early life led him to become passionately devout as he becomes older. In the transformation of his political ideas, McGee continually embittered and criticized the revolutionary organizations of his fellow countrymen. This led him to be hateful to them. McGee turned out to be one of the founding fathers of the Confederation in Canada and a loathsome enemy of the Fenian Brotherhood.

The Fenians were known to be a group that consisted of radical Irish Republicans who fought against the independence of Canada. Legal proceedings of the case Following a tip, the police searched James Whelan’s room and discovered copies of the Irish American. It was a newspaper that advocated for the invasion of Canada. The police also found his badges and membership cards for the radical Irish societies. The most incriminating evidence found during this search was Smith and Wesson revolver that was fully loaded. Power resides indicated that the revolver has been fired within the past two days. The Orange Order was an intensely Protestant, Loyalist society. Cameron played the role of defending Whelan on for the money and on principle.

Besides his fees was paid for through funds that were raised by Irish Catholics who were afraid of quick justice. It was generally agreed that the two lawyers were in the top form. Furthermore, the defense counsel showed that six weeks before the assassination of McGee, a maid at the hotel where the accused was staying has unintentionally discharged his revolver after she found it lying on his bed. He was sentenced to death by hanging. His conviction was appealed before the court of the Queen in Ontario without success. Another appeal was refuted by the Ontario Court of Appeal in 1869 (Wallace). The significance of the murder case Thomas D’Arcy McGee murder case reveals the massive social changes that had taken place in Canada after the Confederation.

The case reveals the new road networks that connected the isolated communities. Because of this, articles focused on the prospect of developing the required literature. McGee produced a series of editorials that were focused on the aspects of creating Canadian literature while at the same time touching on the prospects of Canadian culture in major political addresses and articles. The assassination of Thomas McGee was a significant historical marker in the Canadian-Irish history. The Fenian element amidst Canadian Catholic Irish seemed powerful in the 1860s. The details of the Fenian influence comprised of McGee’s failure to rally average Irish support prior to his death and the fact that no convincing average leader took the place of McGee following his death.

Besides, evidence shows that Whelan never agreed to have belonged to the Fenian Brotherhood. From this case, legal developments in Canada was poor and vague. It shows that most criminal trials were done in a hasty manner without sufficient evidence to convict the real culprit. Also, the sitting arrangement of the court during that time did not fit the modern legal standards. Furthermore, some of the witnesses came forward to give their testament long after the killing had occurred in order to receive the cash reward. Besides, McGee’s murder case shed light on the social, political, economic and legal developments in the history of Canada. Furthermore, McGee life and death continue to remain important in the rich history of Canada.