Capital Punishment is described as the legal permission to kill someone for the crimes that they have committed. The last Capital Punishments to be executed in Canada were in 1962. Both deaths of Arthur Lucas and Robert Turnip were carried out due to murder, in the Don Jail in Toronto. It was not until 1976, fourteen years later, that Capital punishment was removed from the Criminal Canadian Code and swapped for a life sentence with no parole.
The short story, “Two Fisherman” by Morley Callaghan, would have had taken place before 1976, for the executions to have been historically correct in Canada. Personally I think it took place around the 1930’s since the hanging was more of a “community activity.” Also the description of Smitty’s attire of being dressed, “in a long black cut away coat with grey striped trousers and a gate ajar collar” (Callaghan 3). On Thomas Delaney’s case I believe that he should not have received the death penalty. He was defending his wife from Mathew, who was wicked enough to not only have the audacity to approach a known man’s wife in such a way, but to also assault her. Mathew had no reason to do what he did. Thomas however, and understandably, had an aggressive reaction. Also, I seriously doubt Thomas’s wife could have effectively defended herself from Mathew.
Below is the last meal of an inmate before he is executed. It is one of twelve from Photographer Henry Hargreaves series, NO SECONDS.
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