From the Archives of Western Newspapers

Posted on January 8, 2026 by Sunny South News

By Samantha Johnson
For Southern Alberta Newspapers

January 2, 1889 – Calgary
Weekly Herald and Alberta
Livestock Journal

Webb, who murdered his wife in Brandon last August, was hung today. While he’d been drinking before committing the act, he claims he was not drunk and provided a written confession. The couple had been unhappy for a considerable period of time and on the day of the incident they were fighting. She was scolding him as she went outside to retrieve sheets from the line and continued to scold him when she returned. While she was out, Webb placed a cartridge in his gun and fired at her when she came back inside. He gave himself up immediately afterward to police.

In Southern Manitoba, a farmer named Hatfield left his house in a state of inebriation headed for Norquay. When he returned the following day, he found his wife a few feet from the door frozen to death with her face badly mutilated. The children were safe at a neighbour’s house and the Christmas supper was laid out on the table untouched. A pitchfork covered in blood was found near the body with Hatfield claiming he only hit her with the back of his hand. The neighbours say the tragedy is not unexpected as trouble had been brewing in the house and Mrs. Hatfield was frightened of her husband’s temper. Police have charged Hatfield with his wife’s murder.

George Robinson was in court for deserting his position with the NW Mounted Police. He came from Regina, applied for the position of whiskey detective and then went to Paris, ON, where he fell in love. He wishes to purchase a discharge and was remanded by the court for desertion.

January 6, 1910 – The Blairmore Enterprise and Frank Vindicator

On Tuesday evening, a fire broke out at the Alberta Hotel in Cowley. The fire was beyond control very quickly and those fighting it were unable to prevent it from spreading to the surrounding buildings, which were soon in a mass of flames. All contents are a total loss.

A cairn and cross were erected on Killantringan Moor, near Ballantrae, Scotland, for Robert Cunningham, a postman who perished there during the great snowstorm of last winter. Dressed in uniform, postmen from the surrounding districts were in attendance for the unveiling. In the cairn is an inscribed block of granite and a memorial tablet has also been placed at the Ballantrae Parish Church.

An editor’s office in Cle Elum, Washington, was ransacked the other night and $600 was stolen. Editor’s who can accumulate this amount of plunder are a rarity and we can assure all would-be burglars in The Pass that nothing close to that amount will be found in our offices.

January 5, 1911 – Claresholm Review

The 1920 council met before the end of year and voted unanimously to allow Mr. Breckenridge to proceed with his lawsuit against the town for the $5,534 he is owed in connection with the water pipeline. The contract calls for the pipeline to be able to withstand a test and this has not been completed with the pipeline still leaking considerably, although this is undetectable at present with the frozen ground. It is common knowledge the pipeline has caused Mr. Breckenridge considerable trouble and though he made repairs himself, the pipeline is still leaking.

In Calgary, Harry Steele, a well-known resident who was working in a cafe, attempted to commit suicide by shooting himself in the stomach. Although he is not expected to recover, Steele expressed regret he was not successful in taking his own life. Steele is about 35 years old and came to Calgary from the Crow’s Nest Pass, although hails originally from Montreal.

The London Mail has a short article about a burglar who returned through the mail a miniature photo of two little boys to the residents. The parents were grateful as the elder of the two boys died a short time ago. The thief took a collection of portable valuables, one being a gold locket with the photo inside.