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The series consists of copies of inquisitions and inquests selected from GR-1372, Colonial Correspondence (1852-1872). It includes inquisitions (inquests) conducted during the colonial period, including the following:
-Vancouver Island (Colony), 1859 - 18 Nov 1866 numbered VI 1859/1 to VI 1866/4
-British Columbia (Colony), 1859 - 18 Nov 1866 numbered BC 1859/1 to BC 1866
-British Columbia (United Colony), 19 Nov 1866 - 20 Jul 1871 numbered BC 1866/2 to BC 1871/3

The files usually contain an inquisition form, which indicates the name of the deceased, the coroner's name, where the inquest was held, the date, names of the members of the coroner's jury and the cause of death.

These inquests were filed in the Colonial Correspondence under the name of the coroner or person conducting them. The indexing was incomplete and only those inquests held by persons whose last name begins with letters from A-M have been listed. It is not known whether this section of listings is complete.

To locate unindexed colonial inquests, researchers should look under the heading "deaths" in the index to miscellaneous correspondence inwards to the British Columbia Colonial Secretary, 1858-1863 (C/AB/30.lKl/l). Letters to which the index refers will be found in the Colonial Correspondence under the name of the author of the letter. Researchers should also look in indexes under the names of the Gold Commissioners, since they acted as coroners. Indexes of correspondence inward to the Colonial Secretary should be checked generally for references to deaths.

This series contains inquisitions(inquests) conducted by coroners in British Columbia [1862], 1872-1937. Inquisitions are investigations in which a coroners’ jury rules on the cause of death. Inquisition files often contain witness statements, transcripts, autopsy reports, and findings.

Series consists of selected coroners' inquisitions (inquests) for 1865-1937. Records were chosen by BC Archives staff for retention in their original paper format for historical purposes. Most, if not all, records can be found on microfilm in GR-1327 and GR-1328. Inquisitions are investigations in which a coroners’ jury rules on the cause of death. Inquisition files often contain witness statements, transcripts, autopsy reports, and findings.

This series consists of 1938-1970 and 1972 British Columbia coroners' inquiries filed within Attorney General correspondence under AG file code C-81-4. Inquiries are investigations conducted by a single coroner and usually consist of a single form. Not all coroners’ records between 1859 and 1970 have survived or are in the legal custody of the BC Archives. In this series, Vancouver inquiries do not begin until 1966.

Records are arranged alphabetically by community, repeated across several date ranges. Researchers should carefully crosscheck communities against dates when seeking specific records. On reels B04985 to B04987, record pages are consecutively numbered. On reels B04988 to B05026, record pages are consecutively numbered within a community. On reels B05027 to B05084, pages are consecutively numbered within a record.

Series consists of coroners' inquisitions (inquests) conducted in British Columbia for 1938-1967.

Series consists of Coroners' inquiries conducted in Vancouver for 1938-1965. Records may also include some Vancouver inquisitions/inquests. The series carries on from GR-1323 and is continued in GR-1504 and GR-1726.

The series consists of inward and outward Attorney-General’s Department correspondence created between 1926 and 1970, predominantly between 1956-1965. Records relate to a variety of matters for which the Attorney-General was responsible, including some ca.1955-1965 coroners' reports (within AG file code C-81-4).

Records are arranged by act and then by file code as assigned by the Attorney-General. File codes represent an act and specific subject matters under the act. Within the files, records are arranged chronologically. Original textual records were destroyed after microfilming. The records were scheduled for full retention.

Series consists of indexes from 1967-1970 for coroners' inquiries and inquests found within GR-1502, GR-1504, and GR-1726. Inquiries are typically conducted by a single coroner and usually consist of a single form. Inquests (or inquisitions) are investigations in which a coroner's jury rules on the cause of death.

Series consists of indexes from 1964-1966 for coroners' inquiries and inquests found within GR-1502, GR-1503, GR-1504, and GR-1726. Inquiries are typically conducted by a single coroner and usually consist of a single form. Inquests (or inquisitions) are investigations in which a coroner's jury rules on the cause of death.

Series consists of indexes from 1959-1963 for coroners' inquiries and inquests found within GR-1502, GR-1503, GR-1504, and GR-1726. Inquiries are typically conducted by a single coroner and usually consist of a single form. Inquests (or inquisitions) are investigations in which a coroner's jury rules on the cause of death.

Series consists of indexes from 1954-1958 for coroners' inquiries and inquests found within GR-1502, GR-1503, GR-1504, and GR-1726. Inquiries are typically conducted by a single coroner and usually consist of a single form. Inquests (or inquisitions) are investigations in which a coroner's jury rules on the cause of death.

Series consists of indexes from 1950-1953 for coroners' inquiries and inquests found within GR-1502, GR-1503, and GR-1504. Inquiries are typically conducted by a single coroner and usually consist of a single form. Inquests (or inquisitions) are investigations in which a coroner's jury rules on the cause of death.

Series consists of indexes from 1945-1949 for coroners' inquiries and inquests found within GR-1502, GR-1503, and GR-1504. Inquiries are typically conducted by a single coroner and usually consist of a single form. Inquests (or inquisitions) are investigations in which a coroner's jury rules on the cause of death.

Series consists of indexes from 1938-1944 for coroners' inquiries and inquests found within GR-1502, GR-1503, and GR-1504. Inquiries are typically conducted by a single coroner and usually consist of a single form. Inquests (or inquisitions) are investigations in which a coroner's jury rules on the cause of death.

This item is a copy of an 1825 convention between Great Britain and Russia regarding the northwest coast of British North America.

This files includes death sentences for two Indigenous individuals accused of murder. The first document is dated 2 November 1860 for Hotch-k. The second is dated 2 December 1862 for Ja'ack, with a duplicate copy stating the execution was carried out on 6 January 1863. Both documents authorize High Sheriff Peter O'Reilly to carry out the executions and are approved by James Douglas, Governor of British Columbia.

This series consists of registers and indexes to coroners' inquiries and inquests, 1874-1937. In the registers (1889-1937), names are listed chronologically by year. In the indexes (1879-1937), names are arranged alphabetically by year.

Coroners' inquiries and inquests that are registered and indexed in this accession are held in GR-1327 and GR-1323.

CALL NUMBER: T0360:0001 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-07-26 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Art H. Phair discusses his background; in that he was born in 1880, details of his father's work, his experience at private school in Victoria, the story of the Golden Cache Mine swindle of 1886-98. He describes the early history of Lillooet from 1856, the gold rush of 1858, Chinese miners around Lillooet in the 1880s, pre-war land boom and economic cycles in Lillooet.

TRACK 2: Phair discusses Indian life prior to European contact, strained White-Indian relations, bad relations between Indians, the Poole murder at Pemberton Meadows, murders and hangings, more on Lillooet Indians, Lillooet as a "melting pot" of many races, and the Chinese in Lillooet after 1884.

CALL NUMBER: T0360:0002 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-07-26 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Phair offers anecdotes about Indians and Chinese people, more about his own childhood experiences at school in Victoria, adventures and "close calls", hunting and prospecting, tobacco growing near Lillooet, the meaning of the word "Lillooet", early farmers between Lillooet and Pavilion, gold panning as a young boy, his family background, the red light district in Lillooet and the flourishing of Lillooet between 1858 and 1864.

TRACK 2: Phair comments more on the Chinese in the area, he describes how his store was a social center, how it was robbed, Indians in the store, and the start of big game hunting in Lillooet after 1884. Phair describes the Pemberton to Lillooet road, his family's relations with Indians, the John Bull murder, old settlements near Lillooet, crossing the Fraser River at Lillooet, how his mother was a musician, uncle was a poet, an incident about a priest who alleged to have beaten an Indian woman, and finally his father's background.

CALL NUMBER: T1279:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Frank Broughton : law and order in the Bella Coola Valley PERIOD COVERED: 1907-1913 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1966-08-23 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Frank Broughton begins with a detailed story about a murder case from when he worked as a Police officer in Clinton including details about the chase and prosecution of Paul Spinklum who killed Alec Kindness and the Chinese cook who was a witness. Then he discusses his arrival in BC in 1907, how he joined the Police force in 1911, his impressions of Bella Coola including, anecdotes such a;s experiences with a bear and with a missionary named Gibson, the arrest of George Wilson and Stikine Joe for murder in 1913, and he begins to discuss the legendary Indian man named Capoose. TRACK 2: Frank Broughton continues with more on Capoose, an account of a thief who stole 200 dollars, more details about how he joined the Police in 1911, the jail is described, the arrest of opium smokers, t;he fur trade, more on Capoose and Indian Chiefs.

CALL NUMBER: T1279:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Frank and Lilly Joshephine Broughton recall life in Bella Coola PERIOD COVERED: 1902-1921 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1966-08-23 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Lilly Josephine Broughton describes her family and her father Esten Gordon, her grandfather Jacob Nygaard, her impressions of Bella Coola, her impressions of Ralph Edwards, meeting her future; husband Frank Broughton, Capoose, Squinas, and John Clayton's Hudson's Bay store. Then Frank Broughton adds comments about the HBC store, the Clayton family, a story of Humpback Johnny and his gold, ;a story of Charlie Tucker and his ruined suit, and Indian drinking.

SUMMARY: In an interview with Thomas Koch, two anonymous women discuss the unsolved murder of nursemaid Janet Smith in Vancouver in 1924. The murder left many unanswered questions, and these two women give their opinions on the matter and their conclusions about who committed the crime. Both women lived near the F.L. Baker residence in Shaughnessy Heights at the time of the murder.

On side 2 of the same reel is an interview with Martin Starret.

SUMMARY: "Heritage Theatre" was a series of short historical plays set in the Vancouver environs. These vignettes illustrate some of the significant events and interesting episodes from Vancouver's earliest ti;mes. First broadcast in 1977, the plays were made in co-operation with the Social Planning Department of the City of Vancouver. This series was broadcast during the summer of 1981. This episode, "The ;Janet Smith Case" by Joe Wiesenfeld, recalls the famous murder case dating back to 1924.;

SUMMARY: "The Bush and the Salon" was a CBC radio series that recreated early Canadian life from letters, diaries and other sources. This episode, "The House-Warming and the Claim Bake", recounts two stories o;f yesteryear -- true tales of miners, gentlemen and other hard cases of the pioneer days in BC, as told by the distinguished poet and playwright George Ryga, with Ed McNamara as the chronicler (pionee;r newspaperman R.T. Lowery). Part 1, "The Legend of John Kirkup", takes place in the Rossland area of British Columbia and recounts tales of the lives and problems of prospectors, oand of Chief Const;able John Kirkup. Part 2, "Murder at the Bluebell", tells the tale of an ill-fated miner at the Bluebell Mine on Kootenay Lake in 1885. Other actors include Eric Schneider, Neil Dainard, Roy Brinson;, Jim Johnston, Robert Clothier, Lee Taylor, Michael Collins, Joseph Golland, Jack Anthony, Douglas Masters, Ted Stidder, Roger Dressler, Carolyn Fitzpatrick, Allen Pierce, Jack Leif, Joe Austin and ;Lloyd Barry. This is the third of three programs featuring the work of George Ryga.;

CALL NUMBER: T0665:0001 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-06-29 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Bullman discusses his father, who came to Canada from England in 1886 and worked on the Cherry Creek ranch; worked for John Hall and then worked with his brother in the Northern Nicola Valley. His father was a cattleman and a horse trader. He shipped horses from the Nicola Valley to Vancouver and sold them there. In 1908, he bought the Willow Ranch from John Peterson, then bought another 20,000 acres and kept expanding. By the time he died in 1935, he controlled over 40,000 acres. Several anecdotes are told about cattle; the railroad; hotels; stage lines; the Willow Ranch; the trip to Merritt; the Brigade trails; trade with Indians; the Hope trail, a man named Cootley; Joe Graves; Dave Lindley. TRACK 2: Mr. Bulman continues discussing saddle horses; gold rush days; cattle drives; the use of horses; how his father got into raising horses at the time of WWI; saddles; the cattle business; donkeys; migrant workers; and cowboys.

CALL NUMBER: T0665:0002 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-06-29 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Bulman discusses a gunfight involving Ussher, Palmer, McLeod and McLean. Allan McLean and his gang killed Ussher and made their way out to Trap Lake. He talks about the Woodward family; more on the posse and gunfight; and Bill Miner. [TRACK 2: blank.]

SUMMARY: Sperry Cline recalls the manhunt for the accused murderer Simon Gun-An-Noot.

The item is a conditional pardon issued by the Governor General of Canada, Frederick Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood in 1872. The pardon is in favour of Sabassa and Thraket, two Indigenous men convicted of piracy and attempted murder near Metlakatla, 1862.

SUMMARY: "The Hornby Collection" is an anthology of plays, documentaries, interviews and selected fiction for radio -- all written, prepared and produced in British Columbia. A documentary on the life and bad; fortune of Rene Castellani, a popular Vancouver radio hotline host accused of murdering his wife in 1965.

SUMMARY: "The Hornby Collection" is an anthology of plays, documentaries, interviews and selected fiction for radio -- all written, prepared and produced in British Columbia. A documentary on the life and bad; fortune of Rene Castellani, a popular Vancouver radio hotline host accused of murdering his wife in 1965.;

SUMMARY: "The Hornby Collection" is an anthology of plays, documentaries, interviews and selected fiction for radio -- all written, prepared and produced in British Columbia. "Simon Gun-an-noot" is a play by George Woodcock. After thirteen years as an outlaw in the BC wilderness, Simon Gunanoot was tried in Vancouver in 1919 for murder. The play is an account of those years in the wilderness.