Tom Francis Collins

Thomas Francis Collins (1886–1907) was an English drifter who was convicted and hanged for murder in Albert County, New Brunswick in 1907.

He found room and board with the parish priest of New Ireland, north of present day Fundy National Park.

When the priest returned he found the body of his housekeeper Mary Ann McAuley in the woodshed with an axe wound to the back of her head and her throat slit.

Collins gave his statement of what had happened that day, stating he had had an argument with Mary Ann but denying his guilt in the murder.

There were several appeals to Ottawa and a last-minute plea to Governor General Earl Grey who, on the advice of the Privy Council, declined commutation.