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The Mysterious Death of Tom Thomson:
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Theories & Hypotheses

Theory #6: Suicide

Charles F. Plewman, ‘Reflections on The Passing of Tom Thomson’, Canadian Camping Magazine, 1972.

‘After the funeral, Shannon Fraser who operated Mowat Lodge where Tom had stayed, and who was more intimate with Tom than anyone else, confided in me what he felt had actually happened. Tom Thomson [...] was engaged to marry Miss Trainor. She was pressing him to go through with the marriage. He intimated that she was coming up to see Tom to have a showdown on the fatal week. He mentioned that Tom was a shy and sensitive person and that he felt he just could not face the music. The impression Shannon left me with was that somehow Tom had come to the conclusion that a settled, married life was not for him, but that he just could not say so to Miss Trainor. Recalling Tom’s previous statements of not to worry if he didn’t return on time, Shannon said that had made him feel that Tom had contemplated doing something on earlier occasions but had not mustered sufficient courage to go through with this intention.’

One problem with the Suicide theory is that a note was never found. Another problem with this narrative (as above) is that Shannon Fraser, himself, remains a prime suspect and would naturally be anxious to shift attention elsewhere. On the other hand it is very possible that Winnifred Trainor may have been pregnant at the time, which would have put enormous pressure on Tom to ‘make an honest woman of her’.

More Theories & Hypotheses

• Theories Home
• Theory #1: Accidental Drowning
• Theory #2: Manslaughter
• Theory #3: Murder with a Paddle
• Theory #4: Subdural Hematoma
• Theory #5: Murder with a Gun
• Theory #6: Suicide
• Further Mystery: Interment