The Murderous Mountie
SASKATOON, SASKATCHEWAN
The twisted story of Sergeant John Wilson: a mountie at the centre of a sordid love triangle that played out as World War I raged on.
This gripping, action-packed mini-series has been put together from an archive of hundreds of real love letters, forged letters and police and court memos—offering a vivid snapshot of Canada at a pivotal moment in history.
Library and Archives Canada: Key Material
Listen to the episodes
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Credits:
Voice actor - Sgt John Wilson: Paul Warren
Voice actor - Elizabeth Craig: Jesse Hawke (our production assistant)
Original concept, research: Danielle Paradis
Additional research, writing, development: Nate Hendley
Additional research, writing, sound design, narration: Kristi Lee
Audio editing and production: Nico from the Inky Pawprint
Production assistance: Jesse Hawke from the Inky Pawprint
Script consulting: Carol Weinberg
Disclaimer voiced by Erik Krosby
Music credits:
Theme songs (intro & outro) by We Talk of Dreams
Additional music: Blue Dot Sessions and Epidemic Sound
RESOURCES AND INFORMATION SOURCES
Books
Simmie, Lois. The Secret Lives of Sgt. John Wilson: A True Story of Love & Murder. Greystone Books, 1995.
The Canada Yearbook 1914. Canada, Dominion Bureau of Statistics, F.A. Acland, Ottawa, 1915.
The Canada Yearbook 1915. Canada, Dominion Bureau of Statistics, F.A. Acland, Ottawa, 1916.
The Canada Year Book 1920. Canada, Dominion Bureau of Statistics, F.A. Acland, Ottawa, 1921.
The Canada Year Book 1921. Canada, Dominion Bureau of Statistics, F.A. Acland, Ottawa, 1922.
Documents
John Wilson – Waldheim District, Saskatchewan – Murder of Mary Wilson (Polly), File: HQ-681-F-1 Pt. 1 - 4, RG18 Vol. 3275 - 3276, Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, ON.
Henderson's Saskatoon City Directory (1915). Henderson Directories.
Persons Sentenced to Death in Canada 1867 – 1976: An Inventory of Case Files in the Fonds of the Department of Justice. Lorraine Gadoury and Antonio Lechasseur, Government Archives Division, National Archives of Canada.
Periodicals
“Charge Policeman With Wife Murder.” The Vancouver Sun, November 14, 1919.
“City and Country.” Manitoba Weekly Free Press, September 8, 1898.
“Eminent Jurist Dies in Regina.” The Leader-Post, June 20, 1946.
“Faces Murder Charge.” The Windsor Star, January 2, 1920.
“Former Policeman is Suspected of Murder.” Vancouver Daily World, November 14, 1919.
“Hanged For Killing Comrade. The New York Times, April 7, 1900.
“Hundred Stitches Put in His Throat.” The Globe, November 14, 1919.
“Husband Says She Died in Auto on Blaine Lake Trail.” The Leader-Post, November 14, 1919.
“Inquest Into Death of Woman on Trail to be Resumed Monday.” The Winnipeg Tribune, December 20, 1919.
“John Wilson Confesses to Wife Murder.” Saskatoon Daily Star, February 13, 1920.
“John Wilson Committed for Trial.” Saskatoon Daily Star, January 12, 1920.
“John Wilson Expiates Crime on the Gallows.” Saskatoon Daily Star, April 23, 1920.
“John Wilson Figures in Perjury Charges Against Two Mounted Policemen.” The Leader-Post, May 5, 1920.
“John Wilson is Hanged for Murder of Wife.” Edmonton Journal, April 23, 1920.
“Murder Suspect Tried to End Life.” The Montreal Daily, November 14, 1919.
“Prosecution of John Wilson is Brought to End.” The Leader-Post, February 4, 1920.
“Remains of Mary Wilson Found.” Star-Phoenix, December 13, 1919.
“Shows Insane Signs on Murder Trial.” The Globe, February 4, 1920.
“Sir Frederick Haultain.” The Canadian Bar Review, Vol. XXII, No. 8, October 1944.
“The Ultimate in Value” (ad for Gray Dort), Montreal Gazette, March 29, 1919.
“Threshing Advances All Over Province.” Saskatoon Daily Star, September 23, 1918.
“Wife Murderer to Pay Penalty.” Vancouver Daily World, February 5, 1920.
“William Pepo Protested His Innocence to the Last.” The Anaconda Standard, April 8, 1900.
“Wilson a Strange, Silent Figure As Battle Opens For His Life; Sixteen Witnesses on Stand.” Star-Phoenix, February 3, 1920.
“Wilson Case Now In Hands of Jury.” Saskatoon Daily Star, February 4, 1920.
“Wilson Sentenced to Death.” Star-Phoenix, February 5, 1920.
“Wilson Told Officer Where He Could Find Body of His Wife; She Died of Gun-Shot Wounds.” Star-Phoenix, February 4, 1920.
Websites
“Canadian Military Police Civil Branch – The Dominion Police.” Canadian Military Police Virtual Museum.
Daily Data Report for September 1918. Government of Canada (University of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan). Weather.
Friesen, Gerald. "History of Settlement in the Canadian Prairies". The Canadian Encyclopedia, 31 May 2017, Historica Canada. Accessed 10 July 2022.
“Fun Facts and Urban Legends.” Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Hall, David J. "Sir Clifford Sifton". The Canadian Encyclopedia, 12 April 2021, Historica Canada. Accessed 10 July 2022.
Hall, David J. "North-West Territories (1870–1905)". The Canadian Encyclopedia, 20 December 2019, Historica Canada. Accessed 20 July 2022.
Healy, J.J. “The Mystery of the Constable Whose Confession Came Too Late.” RCMP Graves.
“Historical Events in RCMP-Indigenous Relations.” Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
“Historically Relevant Dates to the RCMP.” Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
“History of the RCMP.” Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Horrall, S.W. "Dominion Police". The Canadian Encyclopedia, 25 June 2014, Historica Canada. Accessed 12 July 2022.
Preston, Richard A. "Military Service Act". The Canadian Encyclopedia, 30 June 2022, Historica Canada. Accessed 25 July 2022.
Swyripa, Frances A. "Ukrainian Settlement in the Canadian Prairies". The Canadian Encyclopedia, 04 March 2015, Historica Canada.
“The Honourable Frederick Haultain, 1897 – 1905.” People and Politics. Heritage Community Foundation, Alberta Online Encyclopedia. (From website: “Reprinted from Premiers of the Northwest Territories and Alberta 1897-1991 with the kind permission of the Legislative Assembly Office”)
Troper, Harold. "Immigration to Canada". The Canadian Encyclopedia, 12 January 2021, Historica Canada. Accessed 10 July 2022.
