Manitoba
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Epilogue

Following the hanging of Hilda Blake for the murder of Mary Lane, the residents of Brandon quickly began resuming their lives. Within a year of his wife’s death, Robert Lane married Jessie McIlvirde, the 22 year-old sister of his business partner, Alexander McIlvride. Soon after Robert and Jessie’s courtship began, Alexander McIlvride dissolved his business and personal ties with Robert, though Robert found a new partner and the business continued to grow. By early 1900, the Lanes once again employed a live-in domestic servant, a 20 year-old Scottish woman named Henrietta Adams. Robert went on to have seven children with Jessie and he continued to live and work in Brandon until his death in 1924.

Investigating officer James Kircaldy continued his work as chief constable until 1905, when he left law enforcement to manage the Empire Hotel, the remnants of which have been designated a Provincial Heritage site. He also served in World War I, became an alderman in Brandon for many years, and also made a failed run at provincial politics.

Chief Justice A.C. Killam, who presided over Hilda Blake’s murder trial, continued to serve on the Court of Queen’s Bench until 1903, when he was appointed to the Supreme Court. He left the Supreme Court just two years later to become the Chief Commissioner of the Board of Railway Commissioners.

After serving her three-month jail sentence for aiding Hilda Blake’s escape attempts, Emma Stripp left the Brandon area.

Mary Rex died in 1907, at the age of 76.

Marriage record for Robert Lane and Mary Robinson, c. 1890
Vital Statistics 1900 marriage record for Robert Lane and Jessie McIlvride, page 2. A of M, CSC 0036A, GR 3749, Z-06-01-01-01.
Notice of Death for Robert Lane, c. 1924
Vital Statistics 1924 death record for Robert Lane, folio 028015. A of M, CSC 0034A, GR 4144, Z-04-01-02-05.
Medical Certificate of Death for Robert Lane, c. 1924
Vital Statistics 1924 death record of Robert Lane, folio 028015. A of M, CSC 0034A, GR 4144, Z-04-01-02-05.
Photograph of the exterior of the Empire Hotel, c. 1885
Image of the exterior of the Empire Hotel, the hotel managed by James Kircaldy following his retirement from the Brandon police department. A of M, Winnipeg – Hotels – Empire 1, c. 1885.

Find out more... search Hilda Blake in the Keystone Archives Descriptive Database.