Vernon Booher

Vernon Elwood Booher (1907 – April 24, 1929) was a Canadian mass murderer who killed four people, including his mother and brother, in Mannville, Alberta on July 9, 1928. He shot his victims with a rifle. Booher was convicted of all four murders, sentenced to death, and executed in 1929.

Murders
On July 9, 1928, around 7:30pm, Booher fatally shot his mother, Eunice, his brother, Fred, and two farm hands, Gabriel Grombey and Wasyl Rozak, with a .303 British rifle. Vernon had stolen the rifle from a neighbor named C. Stevenson, whose farm was located about a mile from the Booher's.

Eunice was found sitting at the dining room table, shot in the back of the head. She had apparently been preparing for dinner when she was killed, as there was a bowl of fruit on the dining room table, a pie found on the kitchen counter, and a pot full of rice was being prepared on the stove. Fred was found nearby in the kitchen doorway, shot through the mouth and back. He had likely ran into the kitchen after hearing his mother being shot. Rozak, a Polish immigrant also known as "Bill", was found at the bunkhouse, shot in the chin. Gromby was the last to be found in the barn, shot through the back of the head. Vernon had intended to frame Goromby for the murder, planning to throw his body and the rifle in a body of water. However, he ran out of time. Vernon was arrested not long after.

Three members of the Booher family were not present at the farmhouse when the murders occurred. Verenon's father, Henry Booher, was away on business at another farm approximately 2 miles from the house that evening. Vernon's younger sisters, Dorthy and Algerto were also not present, as they were attending basketball practice in Manville.

When authorities arrived, Booher claimed he was out in the pasture, attending to cows when he heard the shots. He ran back to the farmhouse to find his mother and brother dead, then ran to a neighbor named Alex Ross to contact the police.

Investigation
The gun used in the murder was found on Sunday, July 19, 1928, about 235 yards from the Booher household. Vernon had reportedly disposed of it while running to the Ross farm.

Confession, and Trial
Vernon's first trial began on July 18, 1928. The jury consisted of 6 men, all from Mannville. Vernon was described as "cold" and "calm" as he gave his defense, and displayed no remorse later on in the trial.

Due to mounting evidence, Vernon confessed to the crime on Monday, July 22nd. He stated that he killed his mother since she did not like his girlfriend, and killed the others since they were witnesses. There was also reportedly tension with his brother Fred as he was doing better financially and socially compared to Vernon. His girlfriend at the time worked at a local hospital, and Vernon would often fake injures to get out of work and to go visit her.

Booher's case drew attention after Adolph Langsner, a psychiatrist who claimed to be able to read minds, correctly guessed that Booher was the murderer and where he had hidden the weapon used. Booher was charged with four counts of murder, found guilty, and received a mandatory death sentence without a recommendation for mercy.

On appeal, Booher won a new trial and had his confession suppressed. He was convicted a second time and had his death sentence reinstated, once more without a recommendation for mercy.

Aftermath
The murder of the Booher family was described as one of the most heinous crimes to occur in Western Canada's history, and came as a shock to many residents of Mannville. It was extensively written about in publications such as the Edmonton Journal, The Calgary Herald, The Calgary Albertan, and The Edmonton Bulletin.

Booher was executed at the Fort Saskatchewan Provincial Gaol on April 24, 1929. He is interred at the Fort Saskatchewan Gaol Cemetery.