Historic Sites of Manitoba: Headingley Gaol Cemetery (RM of St. Francois Xavier)

This small cemetery in the Rural Municipality of St. Francois Xavier is situated on the south side of the Trans-Canada Highway #1. Surrounded by farm fields and a chain-link fence, it is accessible via the first dirt road east of the Principal Meridian cairn. It contains the remains of executed inmates from the nearby Headingley Gaol whose bodies were not claimed by family. Once located nearer the Assiniboine River, the graves were moved due to erosion of the river banks. Small markers in the ground, showing the names of inmates and their dates of death, are listed below. A white cross in the centre of the cemetery has a quotation from the bible: “You are my dearest son, the child I love best. / Whenever I threaten to punish, / I still think of you with love. / My heart goes out to you; / I will be merciful.” (Jeremiah 31:20)

Headingley Gaol Cemetery (October 2010) Source: Gordon Goldsborough Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.87233, W97.45644 denoted by symbol on the map above

Cemetery Burials

Name	Birth Date	Death Date	Hanged for murder of
Camille Allarie	1919	9 May 1950	Mr. and Mrs. William Delbridge at Poplar Point
Andrew Bodz	c1879	3 February 1932	His wife Mary Bodz near Pine River
George D. Jayhan	1900	12 February 1935	St. Boniface police officer John Verne
William Kanuka	1898	16 February 1939	Anna Cottick at Gilbert Plains
Peter Kidala	1901	27 January 1938	Mike Rurak at Boulton
Julian Komarnicki	1897	21 May 1934	Gilbert McQuade at Barrows Junction
Peter Korzenowski	1909	16 February 1939	Anna Cottick at Gilbert Plains
William Lusanko	?	9 May 1950	Dora Sadova at Winnipeg
Andrew Orichowsky	1875	22 May 1934	His wife at Meleb
John Pawluk	1887	21 August 1936	His wife at St. Clements
Peter Piniak	1908	1 September 1933	Martha Squarok at Whytewold
Dan Prytula	1912	16 February 1939	Anna Cottick at Gilbert Plains
Clarence Richardson	1915	5 November 1948	Ann Varty at Winnipeg
Walter S. Stoney	1913	17 January 1951	Martha Perreault at Winnipeg
Joseph Verhoski	1897	2 February 1932	Peter Demschyzn at Winnipegosis
Nick Zhiha	1922	8 May 1941	Tony Topolnicki at Gardenton

See also:

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Headingley Gaol (RM of Headingley)

Sources:

“Winnipegosis man goes to trial for life,” Winnipeg Tribune, 7 July 1931, page 3.

“Bodz captured and is held on murder charge,” Winnipeg Tribune, 28 July 1931, page 3.

“Jos. Verhoski sentenced to hang on Feb. 2,” Winnipeg Tribune, 3 December 1931, page 1.

“James M’Grath to die on scaffold today,” Winnipeg Free Press, 1 February 1932, page 1.

“Peter Piniak to pay penalty for killing, Friday,” Winnipeg Free Press, 31 August 1933, page 10.

“Two slayers at Headingly have few days to live,” Winnipeg Free Press, 17 May 1934, page 3.

“Jayhan will hang Tuesday at Headingly,” Winnipeg Free Press, 11 February 1935, page 3.

“Pawluk to hang on Friday morning,” Winnipeg Free Press, 21 August 1936, page 2.

“Triple execution early Thursday,” Winnipeg Free Press, 14 February 1939, page 5.

“Zhiha dies on gallows at Headingly,” Winnipeg Free Press, 8 May 1941, page 1.

“Mrs. Richardson, 29, dies suddenly,” Winnipeg Free Press, 8 June 1948, page 1.

“Inquest slated for Thursday in farm deaths,” Winnipeg Free Press, 30 September 1949, page 15.

“Only last-minute stay could save Stoney’s life,” Winnipeg Free Press, 10 January 1951, page 3.

Death registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

Canada Death Penalty Index.

This page was prepared by Leslie Tsai and Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 3 August 2020

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