Lighthouse Keeper as a Murder Witness

A gothic tale of murder and arson witnessed by a Nova Scotia lighthouse keeper in 1904 will be told at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic on Wednesday, Feb. 27.

The illustrated talk, Lighthouse Keeper as a Murder Witness, will be presented at 7:30 p.m. by Dan Conlin, curator of marine history.

The story's main character is Judson Reid. He was the lighthouse keeper on Isle Haute in the Bay of Fundy and the key witness in to a bloody axe murder and arson.

In a Kentville courtroom, Mr. Reid testified at the dramatic murder trial of Theresa Robinson of Burlington, Kings Co. Although he witnessed the crime from the island 25 kilometres away, Mr. Reid's testimony was vital to the conviction of Mrs. Robertson's husband, Bill, who was the last man hanged in Kings the county.

"I first discovered this tale during a spooky camping trip on the site of the murder, which is reputed to be haunted," said Mr. Conlin. "Beyond being an intriguing story, Judson Reid's role in this trial demonstrates how important lighthouse keepers were in 20th century Nova Scotia."

The talk is free of charge. It is presented by the museum and the Nova Scotia Lighthouse Preservation Society. The society is devoted to preserving lighthouses and the interesting history associated with these iconic maritime symbols.

The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic is located at 1675 Lower Water St., Halifax.