Patrick J. Whelan - Verdict, Execution

Verdict, Execution

On September 15, Whelan was found guilty and sentenced to hang by Richards. Upon hearing their verdict, Whelan advanced to the jury dock and said "I am held to be a murderer. I am here standing on the brink of my grave, and I wish to declare to you and to my God that I am innocent, that I never committed this deed".

Whelan appealed to the Court of Queen’s Bench of Ontario; but Richards had just been named to that court, and thus cast the deciding vote not to overturn his own judgment. In January 1869, Whelan appealed to the Ontario Court of Appeal only to find Richards again sitting on the deliberating body and casting his vote to not overturn his conviction of Whelan. Whelan sent a letter to the Irish priest Dr. O'Connor on February 1, 1869 advising that it seemed his execution was imminent and he would request the priest's service and extreme unction on the scaffold.

He was publicly hanged in front of 5,000 spectators on February 11, 1869 at the Carleton County Gaol. He met his death "with manliness and faith", and told the gathered crowd that he was innocent, although he did know who had killed McGee. His last words were "God save Ireland and God save my soul".