One of the most peculiar stories from our history books is the chicken blood election. Local politics can often present us with some funny and even weird stories, and this is certainly one of them.
Through the annals of municipal contests in Newmarket, occasional bits of humour flash across the pages and this is a good one.
It was the morning of the election of 1867, in which Dr. James Hunter and Alfred Boultbee were bitterly contending for the office of reeve, the head of state locally. The citizens of the village were startled when the news began to spread that Dr. Hunter had been assaulted and left lying in a snowbank near his house at the corner of Timothy Street and Market Square.
A resident, out and about early in the morning, noticed splashes of blood on the sidewalk and heard groans. His attention was soon drawn to a black object in the snow. He dashed to the spot to find a man and on turning him over, he was astonished to find it was Dr, Hunter, who was bleeding profusely from the nose and mouth.
He tried unsuccessfully to raise the doctor, then ran for his neighbour, Mr. Lundy, a young lawyer, who in turn called James Allan, who lived across the road.
Together, they carried Dr. Hunter to the Allen house and deposited him on the sofa. As often happens in moments of intense excitement, there was considerable confusion. Dr. Heard was summoned, a maid called Dr. Bentley and James Allan called Dr. Scott. The home was at once filled with local medical caregivers.
Dr. Hunter’s ordeal generated considerable sympathy and when the vote was counted, he had won by 120 votes to 101 for Boultbee.
Members of council were greatly disturbed that such a disgraceful act could have occurred, and righteous indignation sparked the planning of a council meeting to deal with the issue.
As reeve, Hunter would offer a $100 reward for the apprehension and conviction of the criminal. He also engaged a detective to investigate the affair. Council approved and offered a $200 reward as well, at the same time authorizing Erastus Jackson to print 50 bills proclaiming the reward.
They also agreed to pay any expense in connection with the matter. The detective sent by the county attorney presented a bill for $50, which council also decided to pay.
However, whispers began to circulate and at the next meeting of council, payment of this bill was ordered withheld pending a further investigation. Donald Sutherland, John Bentley and R.H. Smith were appointed to elicit the truth regarding the assault but refused to act.
Apparently, when Hunter was returned to his house on the morning of the election, the various doctors who had been summoned examined him but could not find any physical injury. Immediately after the poll was closed, a crowd of ardent supporters gathered in front of the doctor’s house and called for a speech. The doctor was taken from his bed, addressed the electors from his veranda and then was put back to bed.
However, suspicion continued to spread that the whole affair had been a hoax perpetrated by zealous partisans to elect their man by playing on the sympathies of the voters. A citizen was arrested and lodged in the village lock-up. A court trial covering several days resulted, in which each doctor swore he could find no injury even though Hunter said he had been injured.
The investigation finally concluded that no assault had taken place. It also revealed that the wrong man had been locked up and another citizen had been involved. The citizen in question had that morning killed several chickens and had allowed the blood to drip along the street, and when the doctor appeared, he willingly lay down in the snow while the supposed assailant smeared him with blood from the chickens. Ever afterwards this gory artist was known by the name “Chickens”.
Despite having won with the aid of the hoax, Hunter went on to make an excellent reeve and as a magistrate worked diligently to suppress the excessive drinking and rowdyism that prevailed whenever circumstances offered the excuse. In his years, Newmarket prospered despite the obvious feelings of acrimony and partisanship.
Coincidentally, years after this episode, a protest arose against the election of Mr. A.H. Dimond as the member for North York in the House of Commons. It was being heard in the Mechanics’ Hall and Hunter was called to give evidence.
Just as he was about to take the oath a chicken was thrown from the audience and it dropped at the doctor’s feet. The uproar that followed was really something they say, and it was quite a while before the presiding officer could restore the order.
Sources: The Newmarket Era; The History of Newmarket by Ethel Trewhella.
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NewmarketToday.ca brings you this weekly feature about our town's history in partnership with Richard MacLeod, the History Hound, a local historian for more than 40 years. He conducts heritage lectures and walking tours of local interest, as well as leads local oral history interviews. You can contact the History Hound at [email protected].
