Person:Ella Hilson (1)

Ella Hilson's death at age 17 remains an unsolved mystery . According to oral family history, she shot herself becaus e she had been raped by an unnamed family member and coul d not deal with the aftermath. Her obituary and news stories reporting her death tell a so mewhat different story....and lead one to believe that sh e had been murdered. The coroner's report states that she m et her death "at the hand of an unknown assailant." Family stories suggest that this theory was given so that t he family could collect enough insurance to bury her...if s uicide was the verdict, they would not have been able to co llect. Despite theis, news stories on the event do tend to suppor t the theory that she had been shot by someone she knew an d died without revealing the name.

1. ↑ Milton Champion July 29, 1937.

   Only a few hours after she had been found lying on her bed with a gaping wound from a shotgun shell in the left side of her abdomen, Ella Hilson, 17, of Milton Heights, died in Guelph General hospital last Friday night. Several feet away from the bed , leaning against a dresser, was a 17 pound shotgun, according to provincial police who investigaged. Her parents state two shotguns are ordinarily kept in the room. Although other members of her family were picking berries only 50 yards from the house, they did not hear the shot, they told police. A recently discharged shell was found in one of the guns. Provincial Constable, George Cookman said. Quite sonscious after the shooting, the girl refused to tell her parents or the police how it occured, according to Constable Cookman. "The girl was found by her younger sister, who called a neighbor, Mrs. Robert Currie," stated the officer. "She thought Miss Hilson had been stabbed. She was rushed to the hospital but died soon after. An emergency operation failed to save her. No shot was found in her during the operation." A post-mortom revealed a charge of shot in the abdomen, the press was informed. Unable to understand why he had not heard the shot, W. Hilson, father of the girl stated "a shot from that gun can be heard a mile away." No powder burn was found on the body, according to Dr. G.E. Syer, of Milton, who attended. An inquest has been ordered. The funeral took place on Monday afternoon to Evergreen Cemetary. Rev. Canon L.J.R. Maftel conducting the service. The inquest was held at the court house here last night, when the jury under Chief Coroner Dr. J.H.Stead of Oakville, returned the following verdict: "Ella Hilson came to her death as a result of gun shot wounds inflicted by a person or persons unknown." Chief Coroner Stead was assisted by Crown Attorney W.I. Dick,