Simon Gunanoot facts for kids
Simon Gunanoot (born 1874 – died October 1933) was a successful Gitxsan man. He was a merchant in the Kispiox Valley area of Hazelton, British Columbia, Canada. Simon lived on a large ranch with his wife and children. He became famous after a long search by police. He eventually gave himself up and went to court. He was found innocent. His story was in many newspapers and he became a legendary figure.
The Incident at Two Mile
Simon's brother-in-law, Peter Himadam, also lived at the ranch with his family.
One night in June 1906, Simon and Peter were coming back from Kitselas. They decided to stop at a place called a roadhouse near Hazelton. There, Simon and Peter had an argument with two other men. These men were Alec McIntosh, a dock worker, and Max Leclair, a guide. The argument became a fight with punches and threats. Simon left, saying he would "get a gun." McIntosh also left to get his injuries bandaged at the hospital.
A few hours later, the bodies of McIntosh and Leclair were found on the trail. Both men had been shot.
The Long Search and Trial
Police Constable James Kirby heard about the fight. He gathered a group of people, called a posse, and went to Simon Gunanoot's ranch. Simon and Peter were not there, but their wives and children were. The posse tracked them to Kitselas. While the police were asking questions in the fishing village, their horses got loose or were set free. Constable Kirby and his group had to walk about 25 miles (40 km) back to the ranch.
When they arrived, they found that Simon and Peter had returned to the ranch. They had packed up their families and disappeared. A reward of $1,000 was offered to find Gunanoot and Himadam. The search began and lasted for thirteen years. It covered thousands of square miles of wild land. It cost the government $100,000. Many people tried to find them, but no one ever claimed the reward. Even a famous detective agency, The Pinkerton Agency, was hired but could not find him.
By 1914, the local police decided to wait for Simon to come out of hiding. Sperry Cline was the police chief in Old Hazelton then. He took down the "wanted" poster and waited for Gunanoot to surrender.
In 1919, Gunanoot sent a message to Chief Cline through a rancher named George Beirnes. Simon was ready to turn himself in and wanted a lawyer. Chief Cline hired Stuart Alexander Henderson, a very good lawyer, for Gunanoot. A date was set for Simon to surrender in Hazelton. He met his lawyer there.
By the time the case went to court in New Westminster, it was a national news story. Simon Gunanoot's survival in the wilderness had become a legend. In the courtroom, his lawyer argued that the evidence was not strong enough. Simon Gunanoot was found not guilty. After hearing this, Peter Himadam also surrendered and was given the same verdict.
Simon Gunanoot's Legacy
- Mount Gunanoot, a mountain near the Spatsizi River, is named after Simon Gunanoot.
- Gunanoot Lake, a lake near the Babine and Shelagyote Rivers, is also named for him.
