A Masked Hold-up Near Vermilion

Vermilion is not known as a place that has a lot of crime, so when something happens, it always makes news.

This is as true today as it was over 100 years ago when the community was young.

Back then, a young man by the name of Riel Bonneau decided that he would rob several farmers, expecting that he would get away with it easily. That would not be the case though.

Over the course of several weeks in February 1919, he robbed various farms while wearing a mask. Once he accomplished his dastardly deed, he fled north towards Peace River. In early-March 1919, he was found and arrested. Brought back to Vermilion, he admitted his guilt to the judge and was immediately sentenced to 12 months in prison. He served his sentence at the Fort Saskatchewan Jail.

He wasn’t the only person causing trouble in the area at the time though.

G. McDonald escaped in late-1918 from the same Fort Saskatchewan Jail that Bonneau would be serving time in. He was able to stay out of the reach of the police for several months until March 1919 when they finally caught up with him.

He had made his escape with Gordon Jenner, who was caught early on. The Alberta Provincial Police, since the RCMP did not handle our provincial policing at the time, caught G. McDonald near Vermilion.

He was promptly taken back to Fort Saskatchewan where he was charged with breaking jail and robbery at large.

It was APP detective Magee who accomplished the arrest and earned the praise of local citizens, as well as his fellow officers.

For those who lived in Vermilion at this time, it was quite the week of news, with two criminals causing problems, and both being caught at the same time.

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