Rearview
Hilda Blake's Crime
Court Case
The preliminary hearing for Hilda Blake took place before Brandon Police Magistrate K. Campbell on the Monday following the murder. Dr. John McDiarmid, who performed the postmortem on Mary Lane, was the first to testify. Police Chief Kircaldy also gave an account of his investigation, including the details of the confession given by Blake. Finally, Blake was asked to question the witnesses, which she declined.
The murder trial of Hilda Blake was held before the Court of Queen’s Bench on November 16, 1899, in the newly built Brandon courthouse. Justice A.C. Killam presided over the case, as he had over Hilda Blake’s custody case 10 years earlier. Blake pled guilty and opted for a speedy trial without a jury. Justice Killam pronounced judgment and a sentence of death on November 16, 1899, one day after Blake’s guilty plea. On December 27, 1899, Hilda Blake was hanged before 25 spectators at the Brandon Gaol.
