Short-listed for the 2008 Arthur Ellis Award for Best Crime Non-Fiction
Although they committed separate crimes, Arthur Lucas and Ronald Turpin met their deaths on the same scaffold at Toronto’s Don Jail on December 11, 1962. They were the last two people executed in Canada, but surprisingly little was known about them until now. This is the first book to uncover the lives and deaths of Turpin, a Canadian criminal, and Lucas, a Detroit gangster. The result of more than five years of research, The Last to Die is based on original interviews, hidden documents, trial transcripts, and newspaper accounts.
Featuring crime scene photos and never-before-published documents, this riveting book also reveals the heroic efforts of lawyer Ross MacKay, who defended both men, and Chaplain Cyril Everitt, who remained with them to the end. What actually happened the night of the hangings is shrouded by myth and rumour. This book finally confirms the truth and reveals the gruesome mistake that cost Arthur Lucas not only his life but also his head.
Authors
- Bibliography, etc. Note
- Includes bibliographical references (p. 213-215)
- Control Number Identifier
- CaOOCEL
- Dewey Decimal Classification Number
- 364.66092/271
- Dewey Decimal Edition Number
- 22
- General Note
- Issued as part of the desLibris books collection
- Geographic Area Code
- n-cn-on
- ISBN
- 9781550026726 9781770702462
- LCCN
- HV8700
- LCCN Item number
- H68 2007eb
- Modifying agency
- CaBNVSL
- Original cataloging agency
- CaOONL
- Physical Description | Extent
- 1 electronic text (222 p., [16] p. of plates)
- Published in
- Canada
- Publisher or Distributor Number
- CaOOCEL
- Rights
- Access restricted to authorized users and institutions
- System Control Number
- (CaBNVSL)slc00225109 (OCoLC)666231875 (CaOOCEL)433341
- System Details Note
- Mode of access: World Wide Web
- Transcribing agency
- CaOONL
Table of Contents
- RONALD TURPIN ARTHUR LUCAS AND THE END OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN CANADA 1
- THE LAST TO DIE 1
- THE LAST TO DIE 2
- RONALD TURPIN ARTHUR LUCAS AND THE END OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN CANADA 4
- THE LAST TO DIE 4
- Table of Contents 6
- FOREWORD 8
- Acknowledgements 10
- List of Major Characters 12
- A Brief Overview of Capital Punishment in Canada 16
- Introduction 22
- CHAPTER 1 30
- Salvation 30
- CHAPTER 2 36
- Ronald Turpin and Arthur Lucas Two of a Kind 36
- CHAPTER 3 48
- The Cop Meets His Killer 48
- CHAPTER 4 66
- Things That Go Bump in the Morning 66
- CHAPTER 5 98
- The Trial of Arthur Lucas 98
- CHAPTER 6 126
- The Trial of Ronald Turpin 126
- CHAPTER 7 162
- Spare Their Lives 162
- CHAPTER 8 184
- The Last to Hang 184
- CHAPTER 9 204
- The Aftermath 204
- Bibliography 230
- Endnotes 234
- RONALD TURPIN ARTHUR LUCAS AND THE END OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN CANADA 242
- THE LAST TO DIE 242
