The executions were carried out at the old provincial jail which is now the parking lot for Court of Queens Bench (Michael Joel-Hansen/paNOW Staff)

By Michael Joel-Hansen

Crime and punishment

100 years since three executed at old P.A. jail

Oct 21, 2019 | 5:37 PM

The anniversary of a major event is Prince Albert history is coming up.

The Steep Creek murders saw three people killed by Dr. Joseph Gervais, Jean Baptiste St. Germain and Victor Carmel in and around the Steep Creek area, which is west of the Saskatchewan River Forks.

Michelle Taylor, manager and curator with the Prince Albert Historical Society said the story is part of local lore in some quarters.

“It’s a very interesting story that a lot of people in this area and the Steep Creek area have grown up hearing about,” she said.

According to research from the P.A. Historical Society, the events began in November of 1918 when a bailiff travelled to the Gervais farm to collect on court-ordered payment. The bailiff, James McKay was killed by St. Germain and Carmel. Gervais is believed to have taken the lead in helping to cover up the killing.

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Eventually after investigation Gervais was arrested, but Carmel and St. Germain went on the run. During the attempts to capture them, a police officer was killed when he opened the door to a dugout the two were hiding in. The two suspects were caught when they went to an area farm looking for food.

The murder of Adolphe Lajoie came to light later with both Carmel and Gervais confessing to the killing. The circumstances of this death are still not clear.

Taylor explained the historical society has been able to piece together its version of events by going through their archives. Specifically, they have found old newspaper stories about the case and old court documents.

The three men were tried and sentenced to death by hanging. The sentence was carried out on Oct. 17 of 1919 in what is believed to be the only case where people were executed by hanging simultaneously. This past week marked 100 years since the executions. Taylor said the site of the executions was the old provincial jail in the city.

After they were executed the bodies of the men were taken by the Catholic diocese. It is believed the bodies are buried behind what is now Canadian Tire.

Taylor said it is important to remember events like this from the province’s past as they shaped the community we live in today.

“It’s one of those things that not everybody talks about, but it should be talked about, at least remembered,” she said.

The entrance to one of the dugouts where the Carmel and St. Germain hid (Prince Albert Historical Society/Facebook)

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MichaelJoel.Hansen@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @mjhskcdn