Man in the Shadows
Page 27
D’Arcy McGee’s brother reported that Patrick James Whelan visited McGee at his home during the election campaign. It was used against him at the trial. I have the assassin visiting McGee instead, as it gave me an opportunity to have McGee tell the story of his rebellious past.
Gilbert McMicken did head a clandestine spying operation. Henri Le Caron, in his book: Twenty-Five Years in the Secret Service: A British Spy Among the Fenians, praises McMicken. Sir John A. Macdonald called him “a shrewd, cool and determined man who won’t easily lose his head.” He was not in Ottawa on July 1, 1867, but it was convenient to have him report to Macdonald on the day of Confederation.
Colonel Patrick O’Hagan is fictitious. There were many rogue officers in the Fenian movement, but he is an invention. Fenian general John O’Neill did invade Canada at Ridgeway and planned two more invasions—one in Quebec and one in Manitoba—but he was appalled by the murder of D’Arcy McGee. The meeting between the American president, Andrew Johnson, and O’Neill is from Le Caron’s book. I added O’Hagan to the mix.
The Fenian threat was real, or certainly perceived to be very real. The Fenian letters, chants and proclamations are shortened, but they are presented as they were written. The Fenians certainly saw McGee as a turncoat and an enemy, and he denounced their activities with passion, as depicted in this story. The threats to McGee’s and John A. Macdonald’s lives are accurate.
It was indeed a troubled time.
NOW, the fundamental question: Was there an assassin? Perhaps. Whelan was identified by his clothing and a matching boot print. He went to the gallows not only claiming his innocence but stating, “I know the man who shot Mr. McGee.” Many in the Irish community in Ottawa and Montreal felt that there definitely was a conspiracy, and that Whelan was not the murderer. After Whelan’s arrest, an informer reported to Gilbert McMicken that he was “almost sure that Whelan is not the man that assassinated McGee.” The rumour in Montreal, which has been passed down through the generations and was reported in T. P. Slattery’s They Got to Find Mee Guilty Yet, was that “Whelan didn’t shoot McGee. Whelan held the horse for the man who shot McGee.” David A. Wilson, McGee’s biographer, told me that “by the criminal law criterion of reasonable doubt, Whelan should be found not guilty. But by the criterion of the balance of probabilities, Whelan either shot McGee or was part of a hit squad that did.”
But who knows? An innocent man may well have hanged for the murder of Thomas D’Arcy McGee.
Acknowledgments
My friend, the late broadcaster, journalist and novelist Bill Cameron, urged me not to give up on this novel. But I did. For a decade, the manuscript lay parked in a lonely folder on my computer, out of sight and out of mind. With the 150th anniversary of Confederation approaching, I decided to look at it again and set about rewriting the story. It goes to show two things: never give up, and always listen to Bill Cameron. If only I could. I deeply miss Bill’s witty conversation and wise advice.
Along with Bill, a few people read early versions of this book. Liam O’Rinn read a very early draft, and Andrew Gregg and Geoff Matheson read a recent draft. All offered useful comments and advice. Michael Levine sent it to Patrick Watson. Kind words from such a prominent Canadian really meant a lot to me. My wife, Pam, was a sharp-eyed copy editor and grammarian. Pam is actually related to Sir John A. Macdonald. Her mother was a Macpherson from Kingston and Ottawa. The Macphersons and the Macdonalds were cousins. Pam wanted me to cut back on his drinking, but I thought that was really more up to him. I like to think that some of Sir John A.’s common sense and endearing charm runs in her blood, and that of our children, Stuart, Kate and Elizabeth.
The historian David A. Wilson’s comments were particularly valuable. I admit that I worried about asking D’Arcy’s McGee’s biographer to read the manuscript. After all, the book wanders—or stomps—through his academic territory, creating characters, changing circumstances and describing events he has studied and analyzed. I was sure he would take me to task for playing with time and messing with history. Instead, David was full of encouragement. He said he imagined McGee just as I had. That was Celtic music to my ears! He corrected small points—who knew they would have played a fife and not a tin flute at an Orange Parade?—and pointed me in better directions on larger issues. Most important, he understood that this is a story, not a history textbook, so it was all right to let my imagination run wild. I happily remember us sitting in pubs, pencils in hand, discussing Canada and Canadians 150 years ago. What fun!
A huge thanks is owed to my lawyer and agent, Michael Levine. What can I say about Michael that hasn’t been said by so many other people he has helped? He is a whirlwind—tireless, tenacious, enthusiastic and also very pleasant company. Thank you, my friend. Iris Tupholme at HarperCollins championed the book, and for that I am forever grateful. Jane Warren was a diligent editor. She caught inconsistencies and trimmed what needed to be trimmed. Lloyd Davis was an excellent copy editor. He was eagle-eyed, spotting errors and pointing out some embarrassing mistakes. Many thanks to you both.
I mentioned my proofreader, Pam Henderson, but she deserves a much more heartfelt mention than that. I am blessed to have her as my wife. To Pam goes my deepest thanks, and to her the book is dedicated.
About the Author
GORDON HENDERSON is a television documentary producer, writer and director. He lives in Toronto with his wife, Pam. Man in the Shadows is his first novel.
GORDONHENDERSON.CA
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ADVANCE PRAISE FOR
MAN IN THE SHADOWS
“Gordon Henderson’s tension-filled tale is woven around the stunning assassination of Thomas D’Arcy McGee, a Father of Confederation, whose forceful idealism laid the foundations for our celebrated diversity of today. Brimming with political intrigue and insights and sprinkled with colourful characters, romance and humour, the Canada of an earlier time jumps off the pages. Riveting and entertaining.”
—LLOYD ROBERTSON
“Historical fiction at its best. Gordon Henderson spins a fine story from the threads of the past, and perfectly captures the personalities of D’Arcy McGee and John A. Macdonald.”
—DAVID A. WILSON, AUTHOR OF THOMAS D’ARCY MCGEE, VOLUMES 1 AND 2
“With his riveting, moving prose, Gordon Henderson brings to life one of the most dramatic moments in Canadian history.”
—SEAMUS O’REGAN
“Henderson does a masterful job of weaving in the fragile history of our nascent nation with a Canadian murder mystery for the ages.”
—ROBERT ROTENBERG, BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF STRANGLEHOLD
“Gordon Henderson has written a cracking yarn that grabs you by the lapels and never lets go. I have friction burns on my page-turning fingers. History, mystery, thriller and the birth of a nation: Man in the Shadows has it all and then some.”
—TERRY FALLIS, BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE BEST LAID PLANS
Credit
Cover design: Michel Vrana
Cover photo: Getty Images
Copyright
Man in the Shadows
Copyright © 2014 by Gordon Henderson.
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EPUB Edition June 2014 ISBN 9781443431828
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