A Magnificent, Monumental, Memorable Mystery
Part V : July, 2011
...by
J. J. (Joe) Healy, RCMP Superintendent, (Rt'd)
Part V : July, 2011
...by
J. J. (Joe) Healy, RCMP Superintendent, (Rt'd)
with
the kindness and patience of friends
whose identities will soon be revealed
the kindness and patience of friends
whose identities will soon be revealed
Dedicated to 0.795, Chief Superintendent J. W. 'Jack' White
Police Officer, Historian and Friend
January 1, 1931 to February 22, 2011
Jack now knows the secret answer to a tremendous Canadian mystery
Jack now knows the secret answer to a tremendous Canadian mystery
A Mystery Series
Part V : 'Of Life and Lore'
Part V : 'Of Life and Lore'
Assistant Commissioner A. N. Eames,
Prelude
A wide cast of characters played a role in the life and career of Alexander Neville Eames. Unfolding in this drama, like in
every drama, there are a protagonist and an antagonist; forces of good and evil, hero and villain, police officer and
criminal.
In this particular drama of ‘The Monumental, Memorable Mystery’, the protagonist or central figure is A. N. Eames. This is
not the time to focus on the ‘Mad Trapper’. Instead, this segment illuminates the character of the protagonist and the
distinguished career of Assistant Commissioner Eames which included his role in a 1932 Arctic murder case.
It has been a pleasure for me to learn and write about the life and times of A. N. Eames. In the past, I have
described him as a hero, but that ideal does not mean that I worship him. All men are flawed including A. N. Eames
and me. Like every person down through time everyone has had personal foibles, struggles and setbacks. I think of
him as a sage grandfather from whom I learned valuable life lessons. One of those lessons is the determination which he
displayed during the hunt and the unquestionable apprehension of someone who killed a police officer.
A. N. Eames had a stellar career in the Force; he was an extremely hard worker and his perseverance was quickly
noticed by senior Officers; he was prompt, fast to learn, reliable and trustworthy. At age 29, he joined the Force
with considerable experience and it was clearly noted on his application that he could ride a horse. It was not
long before he came to the attention of Commissioner A.B. Perry. He established a solid work ethic in Calgary which
impressed his Inspector -- who requested of the Commissioner that Eames be paid .25$ more per
day while Eames was employed as Quarter Master and Mail Orderly. The request was approved.
He rose rapidly through the ranks, he gained unexpected fame due to the significent role he played as the
Inspector in Charge of the pursuit, capture and death of the 'Mad Trapper'. He also enjoyed a seemingly happy personal
life.
His superior Officers could rely on Eames and he was transferred several times wherever he was required. In 1919,
he was selected to open Pincher Creek Detachment in Alberta. Eventually, Eames became the Commanding Officer of two
provinces and, while posted to Nova Scotia, he was awarded the prestigious Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.) for
his years of dedicated service to Canada especially during WWII. So, it is hard for me to believe when I received a
note that an aura of sadness surrounded his death.
One thing is known for certain: after death, a person’s life cannot be fully told – there are always gaps;
things not said, not recorded. The author uses his or her prerogative to include in the autobiography whatever they
wish to choose. This writing style may be advantageous to the deceased as, in most cases, it is customary, whenever
possible, to emphasize the good aspects of his or her life.
Similarly, a eulogy does not contain the ugliness of
daily life which the person may have encountered. Eames’ deserved all the credit he was given for his work, but in
unusual fashion, he was insistent to deflect accolades away from himself and instead, lent inspirational remarks
towards his subordinates and others. This quality of humility was a sign which A.N. Eames always presented.
For an example of Eames' charitable words about others, I refer readers to Archives Canada and 'The Report of
the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (1934) for the Eighteen Months Ended March 31, 1934. Briefly, Eames acknowledges
all the help and the sacrifices which were made by everyone in the pursuit. In his report, he tried not to overlook
anyone who had come unselfishly to the assistance of the RCMP.
Eames' reluctance to openly talk about his career can be well understood by the following story. In 1948, a
nephew, John Eames, arrived in Vancouver from England to visit his Uncle Alex. It seemed that A. N. Eames was not the
least interested in sharing old police yarns with his nephew. When it came to recalling stories of his years in the
Force, John Eames described his Uncle Alex '...as rather like the old British Army Colonel...[he has] been around
but doesn't want to talk about it.'
Nephew John returned to England having not learned a dry morsel of his Uncle Alex's career in the Force. Later,
John Eames wrote to the Commissioner asking for an overview of his uncle’s career and whether or not his uncle was the
same person involved in the ‘Mad Trapper’ case. Poor John Eames. In his letter to John Eames, Commissioner S. T. Wood
was equally evasive – noting only that during A.N. Eames’ career ‘... the Albert Johnson case came up’.
(An S.T. Wood memo on the Eames file dated October 6, 1950)
I can't explain the reasons for the Commissioner to stall John Eames' enquiry. As one helpful suggestion, the
Commissioner could have sent John Eames a copy of The Annual Report of 1934 in which the entire story of A.
N. Eames, the RCMP and the 'Mad Trapper' is exposed? It's equally curious why Uncle Alex would not share a nibble or
two with his nephew from England?
I title Part V of this Memorable Mystery: A.N. Eames: 'Of Life, Lore, Loss, Loneliness and Legacy’. I have the
advantage of owning a copy of his Service File which I referenced very thoroughly. The Service File of Reg.#5700,
Officer Number 0.209, A. N. Eames was an invaluable thread which helped me follow him from his engagement into the
RNWMP in 1913 to his retirement from the RCMP in 1946. Eames’ Service File also permitted me to garner insights of
a personal nature into his life.
Over the past few months I have been weaving a mystery – certainly one of the most fascinating mysteries involving a
member of the Force down through the annals of the RCMP. I have alluded to certain known facts; first, the mystery surrounding
A. N. Eames began many, many years ago. He died in North Vancouver in 1965 about the time I arrived from ‘Depot’ to Burnaby
Detachment in British Columbia’s Lower Mainland. Secondly, A. N. Eames is best known for his connection to the ‘Tale of the Mad
Trapper.’ At that time, Inspector Eames was the Officer in Charge of the RCMP’s Western Arctic Region.
The Mad Trapper case began in late 1931 and stretched on for about seven weeks into 1932. It involved a mysterious man who wounded one RCMP member
and one Canadian Military man. He murdered another RCMP member and was thus pursued vigorously by the RCMP. The mysterious man
was labelled ‘Albert Johnson’, but he actually has never been identified with certainty.
Eames led the Johnson case and he demonstrated a high degree of bravery. Once, in forty degree below temperature,
he, among others, held four pounds of dynamite inside his clothes, close to his body, so that it would thaw before it could be ignited
and tossed at Johnson’s cabin. At another point, after the dynamite had been tossed, Eames and trapper Garlund rushed
Johson’s cabin believing he was dead. Instead, the pair was unexpectedly confronted – almost face to face. From inside
his cabin, Johnson shot at Eames and Garlund but missed -- they were close enough that Johnson shot the flashlight
out of Garlund’s hand.
Thirdly, the mystery leads us to the final days of Alexander Neville Eames. It was deemed, I presume by A.N.
Eames' strong will, that I was left with a very special and personal memorial of his life. It was passed on to me through
faithful friends. I have had a lifelong interest in Eames' exciting career and today I am very mindful of honouring
the memory of A. N. Eames.
Alexander Neville Eames joined the Royal North West Mounted Police on August 9, 1913 at the age of twenty-nine.
Shortly before engagement into the RNWMP, Eames had arrived in Canada from his home in the District of Abergavenny,
Wales.
If we go back to his early life in Great Britain, we learn that he was born on December 26, 1883 as the fourth oldest of six
children to William and Sarah Eames. We can deduce that Eames’ was a modest man for he never mentioned the social status of his
family or the fact that his parents employed a Governess, a General Servant and a Grooming Servant. His family must have been
fairly well-to-do.
There is no reference to Eames’ early schooling in Wales, however, it was noted that he was well read and
confident in conversation. As well, his penmanship was excellent and so his writing was noticed by his superiors from
the earliest days of his career. It is thought that he may have been home schooled by the Governess in the employ of
his parents. In his application to the Force, his occupation was identified as a Game and River Keeper. A letter of
recommendation written on his behalf described Eames as being 'strictly sober, honest and extremely willing to work hard'.
He arrived in Quebec City on August 5, 1913 as a passenger on board the ship ‘Sicilian’. From Quebec City, Eames
paid $22.50 for a one way train ticket to Regina, Saskatchewan. Interestingly, about thirty other men from England,
Ireland and America were also listed on the ‘Sicilian’ manifest with their destination as Regina, SK.
Eames remained in Regina from Aug 1913 to Dec 1913. He was then transferred to Red Deer, AB. He distinguished
himself early in his career. His Commanding Officer recognized him as ‘one of our smartest and most-painstaking
non-commissioned officers’ who was very efficient and always conscientious'.
In March 1917, Eames was promoted to Corporal and soon thereafter became the acting Quarter-Master Sergeant in
Calgary. In this new role, he was granted $0.50 extra pay per day which was very timely as he was soon to be a
married man and any additional income would be welcome.
Eames married Margaret Louise Chalmers in the district of Calgary on July 14, 1917 at St. Luke’s Anglican Church
in Red Deer. Happily, Eames adjusted so well to his new responsibilities both as the Acting Sergeant and as a husband
that his Commanding Officer wrote two letters of recommendation for further promotion. His CO advocated so well that
the Commissioner deemed it a nice gesture to confirm the promotion to Sergeant on December 17, 1917 just in time for
the Christmas holidays. Eames’ CO described Eames as having 'a stellar work ethic and splendid ability'. It seems
that Eames had a reputation for being 'thoroughly competent, attentive and efficient'. The new Sergeant also had a
strong sense of duty.
In April 1918, Eames volunteered to go overseas with the Canadian Expeditionary Force of the Royal North West
Mounted Police Calvary (Military Service No 2684314). He was sent to England and arrived on May 18, 1918, which was
six months before Armistice Day. He was then sent onto France. He held the rank of Lance Corporal with the Canadian
Light Horse and it was reported that he saw action. He was awarded both the General Service Medal and the Victory Medal. He was discharged from the CEF on
March 14, 1919 and he returned home to Canada later in the same month.
Upon his return and his re-engagement with the RNWMP, Eames’ had served in the Force about seven years. He was
recommended for promotion to Staff Sergeant, but to his consternation, 'HQ' declined his superior Officer's advice.
Instead, he received his Commission on February 1, 1920 and was promoted to Inspector. His annual salary was stated to
be the grand sum of $1200.00 per annum. He was sent to Lethbridge, AB to open the Pincher Creek Detachment.
A. N. Eames was an Inspector for 16 years, was transferred to Edmonton in 1920, Fort Norman, NWT in 1924,
Vancouver in 1926 and Herschel Island in 1929.
It was during this time as the Officer Commanding the Western Arctic Subdivision in the NWT that Eames was
involved in the hunt for the Mad Trapper. The chase which took place over the winter of 1932-1933 was a distinct
highlight of his career.
In the aftermath of that very public and famous manhunt, Eames was promoted to the rank of Superintendent in
November 1936. As the years passed, Eames gained seniority in the Officer Corps and he became the senior Superintendent
in the Force.
The success attached to his career continued as he was promoted to Assistant Commissioner in April 1943.
His last posts were that of the Commanding Officer first in ‘F’ Div., (Saskatchewan) and then ‘H’ Div., (Nova Scotia).
In July 1946, he received the very distinguished honour of being received into the Order of the British Empire
and shortly thereafter on August 15, 1946, he retired to pension. His pension was calculated to be $3700.00.
Assistant Commissioner Eames enjoyed retirement on Canada's west coast for almost 20 years. He and his wife
had no children but they travelled throughout British Columbia and became re-acquainted with old friends. He also kept
in touch with serving Officers as well as the Commissioner
A. N. Eames died at age 81 on January 13, 1965 at his residence in North Vancouver. Ironically, it is in death that the
mystery of Eames' life unfolds.
This instalment reflects a portion of the life and lore of A. N. Eames. The next instalment will reveal the
secret about how his life ended and his loneliness. I will also acknowledge all my friends -- East and West -- who
contributed to reuniting the special memories of Assistant Commissioner Eames to me. I remain sincerely thankful
to them.
In Part VI, I will summarize the inspirational legacy of a remarkable and unforgettable Canadian,
Assistant Commissioner A. N. Eames.
I would like to acknowledge the use in this story of newspaper clippings; one is from the Calgary Herald and
shows the date January 18, 1965. The other clipping, I believe is from the Halifax Chronicle Herald, but the real
source was not noted on the clipping in the Archive file. I do appreciate the work and I thank the authors
of both newspaper articles.
I also want to thank my friends at National Archives Canada, Ottawa for their help with identifying files and
for finding material which I likely would never have uncovered. Archives Canada, Ottawa provides valuable help and
their employees are first class and always willing to assist. Thank you.
This is the end of Part V
There are seven parts to this Mystery Series
Part VI will be published on July 23, 2011
There are seven parts to this Mystery Series
Part VI will be published on July 23, 2011
Reporting from the Fort,
J. J. (Buffalo Joe) Healy
CLICK HERE : BUFFALO BLOG
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