Three American tourists who disappeared in Quebec Province in June, 1953, were found dead a month later alongside their touring van. The body of Eugene Lindsey was decomposed and ravaged by bears, his son Richard had been shot through the head, and alongside him lay the body of their friend, Frederick Claar, who had also been shot. The motive was almost certainly robbery.

One witness, Wilbert Coffin, a 40-year-old mining prospector, told police he had given Richard Lindsey a lift into the nearest town, some 60 miles away, because their truck had broken down. The police thought Coffin’s manner was suspicious. He was detained and vigorously denied the triple-murder even though a search of his girl friend’s house revealed property belonging to the Lindseys.

He was put on trial in July 1954 and sentenced to death, despite there being no direct evidence that he had shot the three tourists. He was afforded seven appeals before his hanging in Montreal Prison on Friday, February 10th, 1956, finally ended a case which many still regard as a miscarriage of justice.