Dave Conner, Highland branch secretary of the Retired Police Officers Scotland came across the following article on a forum he visits and thought Gurnites might be interested:
"Aberdeen Weekly Journal , Wednesday , May 9 , 1900
NAIRN MAN MURDERED IN VANCOUVER
A cablegram has been received in Nairn from Vancouver , British Columbia ,
stating that Alex. Main , a policeman of that town, had been murdered by
Chinese while investigating a case of theft on the outskirts of the town .
He was missed for three days .
Two arrests were made .
Main is a native of Nairn , where he was a fisherman .
He left Nairn about eleven years ago , and was married."
Dave also found a link to a memorial page for the murdered officer who had risen through the ranks to be the Chief in Richmond, a city separate from Vancouver at that time, at the age of 35. The page can be viewed here.
Dave also told the Gurn that he checked his records of the old Nairnshire Constabulary and found that Alexander main did not serve in that force before emigrating but became a police officer in Canada. Dave has an online museum of Northern Constabulary images here on flickr.
I have now found a much more detailed account of the events concerning Chief constable Main's murder
ReplyDeletehttp://www.stevestoncommunitysociety.com/documents/MurderinSteveston.pdf
Best regards, and thanks to all for your interest
Dave, I am looking for information on Alexander D (Sandy) Main. I am Donna Main of Burnaby BC Canada, my father James Main born in Hopeman 1924, his father James Main born 1898. We have a Law Enforcement memorial here in BC this Sept 2016, I am looking to see if he might have any relations in Scotland. We would like to see if he has any family that would like to be honoured at the memorial this year. I still have to do some researching into my family background as I have a great grandfather David Main born 1859 that had a brother Alexander Sandy Main. I know there are any Main's in this region, along with that my family tree my great grandfather (t-Mainie)married a Main (t-Sandy)followed by my grandfather who also married a Main(t-Thock), can you say confusing. Any information or if you could direct me so somewhere where I could find further information.
ReplyDeleteI would be really nice to see family being honoured for his ultimate sacrifice. I am a retired Corrections Officer of BC Corrections as a law enforcement officer I attend the Law Enforcement Memorials every year. We have a new one joint Washington state and BC called Always Honor, Alexander is first up on the wall for BC Fallen.
Donna Main, donnaemain@gmail.com