Colonial Despatches

Thask was a woman from Quamichan Village on Cowichan River charged with murder of William Brady and shooting at John Henley with intent to kill him. She went on a food expedition to Pender Island with her son Stalchum and his friends Oalitza and Thalatson.1

The group from Cowichan met Henley and Brady who were camping on the island. The groups shared conversation and were fed by Brady. Later Stalchum said his throat was sore; the group decided Brady had tried to poison them. They shot Brady and Henley while they were sleeping, seriously injuring both men, Brady died the next day from his injuries. Henley fought them off and went to Victoria to inform authorities of the events. It was widely known that Thalatson, Oalitza and Stalchum were guilty, as they had bragged of their deed.2

The HMS Forward led by Captain Lascelles captured the men and Thask and took them to Victoria on 5 May.3 Their trial was conducted in chinook, a language too simple to translate complex British legal terms and no legal counsel was provided. Henley testified against the men and all admitted to the crime. The jury declared them all guilty, but recommended mercy for Thask. Governor Douglas commuted Thask’s sentence to life in prison because she was a woman.4

• 1. Arnett, Chris. 1999. The Terror of the Coast: Land Alienation and Colonial War on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands, 1849-1863. Burnaby, B.C.: Talonbooks, p.114.
• 2. Ibid., p. 114-115.
• 3. Ibid., p. 163.
• 4. Ibid., p. 179-188.