Hattie McBride The Coalmont Madam Murder

I visit the grave site of the fascinating character of Hattie McBride in the beautiful little town of Coalmont, BC. Hattie was a madam in that town in the early 1900's. She was robbed and murdered in her residence in 1920. And I think I know who did it.
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[@HattieGhost]

Hattie did not run a brothel. She worked alone. She arrived from Greenwood after leaving her husband. On the night of her death, two men arrived at her place for her services. She knew one of them well. He was surprised that she didn't answer their knocking on her door. They eventually left and shortly thereafter flames were spotted at her home. Norman McDonald (a close friend) tried to put the flames out and was burned in the process. In the morning, when the fire had died out, he sifted through the ashes. Very little was left of poor Hattie. It was determined that she had been set on fire and the house burned down around her. At the time there were robberies in Coalmont. Perhaps she was being robbed when her customers knocked at the door and this prompted a panic and she was killed. The murderer was never found. She was not allowed to be buried in the cemetery proper. If you notice, she is buried to the left of a gravel pathway. Hattie and the Chinese were buried just outside the consecrated ground; however, the cemetery has since expanded and now includes that area. Hattie donated generously to town fundraisers and she was known to lend money to locals who needed it.

[@iwillwander]

Thank you so much for this info! Can we meet for a chat sometime? I'd love to hear more about this incredible character and her story. [e-mail] is my contact email

[@konnieblaze2116]

Search for Hattie McBride Coalmont. It will come up.

[@iwillwander]

Thanks. I'll have a look.

[@konnieblaze2116]

Hattie McBride Coalmont/newspapers

[@iwillwander]

@@konnieblaze2116 Thanks again. Do you know where I can find a photo of Hattie online? I can't seem to locate any photos of her.

[@konnieblaze2116]

@@iwillwander I have seen a picture, I can't remember where tho. You should check out when the Vancouver paranormal society spent weekend at the Coalmont hotel. Make of it what you will, but it's a good read.

[@HattieGhost]

There are no known photos of Hattie McBride. Any claiming to be her are likely fakes.@@iwillwander

[@konnieblaze2116]

I wouldnt say she was robbed. According to the newspaper at the time, there was a roll or two of burned paper money as well as burned silver coins. Robbery wasnt a motive .

[@iwillwander]

Hi! Can you refer me to the newspaper clippings or any other info about the case that's online? I'm completely obsessed with Hattie's story right now. I was repeating what I was told by a local about her history.

[@konnieblaze2116]

I'm a local, and I still rely on fact, not hearsay! I'll get you a link.

[@HattieGhost]

Dr. Daniel McCaffrey, Coroner held an inquisition into Hattie's death. If you look at the Inquisition papers you can read Norman McDonald's testimony. He noted the bones were located beside two pitchers. In one pitcher Hattie usually kept paper money, in the other, silver. He noted that the first pitcher was empty without even dust in it. The second pitcher contained some silver which he put away to keep safe. He later said "I think the second exhibit No. 6 contains money. Exhibit 6 was found about 15 feet from the body in a different part of the house.". Was Hattie robbed and the robber dropped the money as he fled the fire? We will never know for certain. What was very interesting in the inquisition is that Louis Marcotte (Coalmont Hotel owner) said he told Isaac McTavish (Coalmont General Store owner) and P. Russell that something was going to take place. He said the first one who mentioned it to him was Jack Hewitt. Jack Hewitt said he suspected something bad might happen in Coalmont. He stated that "there has been a lot of little things stolen around town and I figured the party who was doing this and getting away with it would do something bigger before they got through." Norman McDonald stated Hattie was afraid someone might hurt her because she was living alone.

[@iwillwander]

Thanks so much! Can you refer me to where I can find these inquisition papers? And guys, if the killer left a bunch of silver right at the crime scene, this obviously wasn't a crime about money. Somebody had an issue with Hattie for a whole other reason. I think I know what it was.

[@HattieGhost]

The BC Archives has them. @@iwillwander

[@HattieGhost]

One final comment...Hattie died intestate (no will). Her estate was valued at $6,964.21. After funeral and legal expenses there was $6,316.45 left. In May of 1921, Norman McDonald retained a lawyer in Princeton to petition the courts for part of her estate. He had given Hattie his money less than one year before her death, and after witness testimonies, it was agreed Norman would be paid $4,023.69. He also received title to her property but lost that after he defaulted in the taxes owing on it.

[@iwillwander]

Thanks for this invaluable info. Is there a book about this or is it just from your own research?

[@HattieGhost]

@@iwillwander It is from my book, "White Gold and Black Diamonds - The History of Granite Creek and Coalmont". The book is out of print now. The Princeton Museum may still have copies. I spent about 6 years researching for it.

[@iwillwander]

Can I get a copy from you? I would love to read more of your research into this incredible story. I self-published a thing on Amazon FYI. kdp.amazon.com/en_US/ If you wanted to maybe get it back into print. Either way, I would LOVE a copy!