Anton Martinsen Fladeby
Anton Fladeby came to Canada from Norway in the spring of 1909, a few of months prior to his 20th birthday and on December 1, 1914, at the age of 25, he enlisted as a guard at Manitoba Penitentiary (known today as the Stony Mountain Penitentiary). During World War I, he saw action overseas in France with the Canadian Army. In 1919, he returned to Canada and after a month of rest, returned to duty at Manitoba Penitentiary.
On Friday, May 2, 1919, ten days after his return to his work at the penitentiary, Fladeby was checking inmates in and out of the barbershop area when he encountered inmate Albert Johnson. Fladeby had recently searched Johnson’s cell and discovered a letter that the latter was writing, complaining about the ill treatment of inmates at Manitoba Penitentiary. Letters of this type were considered contraband at the time and Fladeby had confiscated it. Inmate Johnson now harboured strong resentment toward Fladeby.
Inmate Johnson lunged at Fladeby, stabbing him in the neck with a small knife he had gotten from the infirmary to "cut his fingernails", severing the artery on the right side. Two other inmates came to the aid of Fladeby and administered first aid until the arrival of the penitentiary doctor. Fladeby seemed to be resuscitating and was taken to the Winnipeg General Hospital. However, on Sunday, May 11, 1919, Anton Fladeby succumbed to his wounds. He was buried with full military honours in the “Field of Honour” at Brookside Cemetery in Winnipeg.
Albert Johnson was found guilty of manslaughter and received a life sentence, of which he served 16 years until his deportation to the United States.
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