 |
|
#32 Fredericton Under SiegeIn 1786 Fredericton was under a brief state of siege. A number of Maliseet Indians camped around the home of Judge Isaac Allen. On the 20 th of May 1786 two white men shot and killed an Indian named Pierre Benoit. An incident occurred where some of David Nelson's hogs went missing. Nelson set out to locate the hogs with his friend William Harboard. Tracking the animals the two white men came across some of the hogs and witnessed two dogs mauling them. Nelson and Harboard shot the dogs and continued along to the St. John River. At the river they came across a boat containing Pierre Benoit and his wife. An argument took place and shots were fired by the white men. As a result Pierre Benoit was dead.
In June the first murder trial ever held in the province convened. Chief Justice George Duncan Ludlow presided and Solicitor General Ward Chipman acted as prosecutor for the Crown. Many Loyalists were angered that a white man could be tried for killing an Indian. The case ended with the jury finding both men guilty as charged. David Nelson who fired the fatal shot was later hanged but William Harbard was later pardoned.
This trial had much to do with Indian relations for it is mostly likely that had both men been found guilty there would have been an Indian uprising.
background by Cleadie / man with quill graphic by J. O'Donovan
Page mounted: 11 Sep 1999
Updated:Sunday, 01-Apr-2007 10:25:24 MDT