Hutchings Hanged Yesterday For Murder Bernice Connors
Death Penalty Carried Out At St. Andrews For First Time In 65 Years; Trap Sprung At 1:50 A.M.; Condemned Man Calm To The End
Transcribed by G. Christian Larsen

    Tom Roland Hutchings of Peterboro, England, paid the penalty for the murder of Bernice Connors at Black's Harbour last June when he was hanged at St. Andrews early yesterday morning. He went to his death calmly, preserving to the end the silence and poise which had characterized his conduct since he was arrested at the Pennfield air station last Summer while serving as a sergeant armourer with the Royal Air Force. The sentence of death was carried out at 1:50 a.m. Wednesday morning, and he was pronounced dead at 2:02 o'clock.

    Thus the book was closed on one of the most gruesome crimes in the history of Charlotte County. The body of Bernice Connors, covered with moss to form an inconspicuous mound, was discovered on Sunday, June 7, near the Deadman's Harbor road in Black's Harbor, not far far from the Community dance hall where she had attended a dance the previous Friday evening. She was not seen alive after that night. The body was about 300 yards from the hall in a field.

Arrested June 10

    Hutchings was arrested Wednesday, June 10, and arraigned in magistrate's court at Black's Harbor the same day before Ellis A. Nason where he was charged with murder. Preliminary hearing followed, and he was tried in St. Andrews early in October when the Crown called 38 witnesses. Mr. Justice Richards presided. The trial was completed on October 6, when the jury after deliberating 3 1/2 hours found him guilty with a recommendation for mercy, and the death sentence was pronounced late that night.

    Evidence of the witnesses was that Hutchings was in the company of Bernice Connors when she was last seen walking up the Deadman's Harbor road the night of June 5, and that he later appeared at the dance hall with blood on his face and clothing. 

    Hutchings himself made no statement at any time, and no witnesses were called by the defense.

Remained Unshaken

    While in solitary confinement at the county jail since his conviction, Hutchings for most of the time retained the cool, detached attitude which he had shown ever since his arrest, although as time went by with no news to indicate that Ottawa might act on the recommendation for mercy there were times when he was depressed and morose. He ate heartily  and evinced considerable interest in what went on about him. Special guards maintained constant watch outside his cell.

    On Monday of this week it became certain that the death penalty would be carried out when officials of the remission branch of the Secretary of State at Ottawa announced that "the law was to take its course". All the arrangements had already been completed by Sheriff C.W. Mallory. A scaffold had been erected in the yard of the courthouse, and Camille Blanchaud, official hangman for the Province of Quebec, was already on hand to carry out the execution.

Last Moments

     Hutchings last visitors, at 1:30 a.m., were a chaplain and a doctor from the Pennfield station, Squadron Leader Mann and Squadron Leader Stewart, respectively. When the time came to leave his cell, Hutchings walked out unaided, but outside turned, walked back deliberately and switched out the light, then rejoined the official party and walked with firm steps to the courtyard and up the 18 steps to the gallows. He wore a beltless R.A.F. tunic with his sergeant's strips on the arms, and slacks. Accompanying him were Squadron Leader Stewart, his two prison guards, and the hangman. The trap was sprang at 1:50 a.m. Twelve minutes later he was pronounced dead.

    The execution was the first to take place in Charlotte County in 65 years.

    The only spectators were the official group. The scene was screened from outside view by a temporary fence and a covering over the top. Medical men in attendance were Dr. H.P. O'Neill of St. Andrews and Dr. R.A. Massie of St. George. The body was buried in the Rural Cemetery at St. Andrews.

    The official record was completed Wednesday morning when the formal inquest was held before Dr. F.V. Maxwell of St. George.

SOURCE: The Saint Croix Courier (St. Stephen, NB) - December 17, 1942.

Sgt. T.R. Hutchings gravesite - St. Andrews, NB

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