The Murderous Mother and the Meanings of Minnie McGee
The December Island Studies Lecture features the research of Dr. Sharon Myers, on “The Murderous Mother and Meanings of Minnie McGee.” The lecture takes place Tuesday, December 6 at 7 pm in the Faculty Lounge of UPEI’s SDU Main Building.
In July 1912, 36-year-old Minnie McGee (nee Mary Cassidy, 1875-1953) of St. Mary’s Road, was tried and sentenced to hang for the murder of her son. While charged only in the death of 10-year-old John, evidence suggests she had killed all six of her children during the same week that spring.
At trial, McGee’s lawyer and family members, indeed McGee herself, would raise questions about her mental condition, but the defense declined to enter a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. The jury found McGee guilty and the judge sentenced McGee to hang. Over the course of the next weeks, more than 130 people in the larger Georgetown area signed a petition for clemency, requesting the federal Minister of Justice to “commute her sentence on a plea of insanity.” The commutation was awarded, and McGee would spend the rest of her life in a variety of provincial and federal institutions.
Dr. Myers’ research follows McGee’s life in and out of institutions, showing a pattern of occurrences in McGee’s “criminal” life where the state chose to discipline and punish with far lighter touch than might be expected.
Dr. Sharon Myers is a member of the Department of History and former Coordinator of the Canadian Studies Program at UPEI. She studies the relationships among the state, women, and children in the late 19th- and early 20th-century Maritimes, and is especially interested in histories of law and social welfare.
Watch for details for another lecture about islands—near and far—January 17! For more information, please contact Laurie at iis@upei.ca or (902) 894-2881.
The University of Prince Edward Island prides itself on people, excellence, and impact and is committed to assisting students reach their full potential in both the classroom and community. With roots stemming from two founding institutions—Prince of Wales College and Saint Dunstan’s University—UPEI has a reputation for academic excellence, research innovation, and creating positive impacts locally, nationally, and internationally. UPEI is the only degree granting institution in the province and is proud to be a key contributor to the growth and prosperity of Prince Edward Island.
