James Gillies

James Gillies (b. 14 July 1876 - d. early 20th century)In earlier series "Murdoch Mysteries" kept to a one-year-per-season internal chronology; later seasons abandoned this. was a Canadian criminal of the early 20th century. In 1896, he attempted to commit the "perfect crime" with his compatriot, Robert Perry. Their crime was swiftly solved by Detective William Murdoch of the Toronto Constabulary, leading Gillies into a violent and obsessive grudge that would last for the rest of his life.
Gillies targeted newly-arrived British physics Professor Samuel Bennett and killed him with a gun mounted to the underside of a carriage. After Murdoch questioned, another professor who had had a contentious relationship with Bennett, Gillies and Perry inserted themselves into the investigation, feigning support for Murdoch while attempting to throw him off the trail. Routine investigation led Murdoch to suspect them both, and he opted to focus his efforts on Perry, whom he saw as a weaker link. Murdoch eventually tricked Perry into believing Gillies had tried to murder him, which convinced him to expose their plot.Big Murderer on Campus - Carol Hay - Murdoch Mysteries S2 E20 - Citytv - Airdate 17 March 2009 - Retrieved 11 October 2024
After Perry received two years in prison in exchange for testifying against Gillies, the latter was held in Kingston Penitentiary until the date of his supposed execution on 4 October 1899. In reality, Gillies had faked his death by convincing terminally ill prison guard Robert Shoucair to be hanged in his place. Having assumed Shoucair's identity, Gillies escaped the noose and began disguising himself as a woman, Gillian James, to facilitate stalking Detective Murdoch. He bought talking dolls to record his voice on and leave clues while also unsettling the detective. He kidnapped young girl Veronica Bowden and left a talking doll in her place to get Murdoch's attention; he killed Robert Perry as another clue to his identity. At the site of his false grave, he left a miniature casket with a doll with Dr. Julia Ogden's voice recording on it to show Murdoch he had kidnapped her. Fortunately, Murdoch and Alexander Graham Bell were able to isolate the sound of a church's sprinkler system and deduce Dr. Ogden had been buried alive in the same cemetery, saving her life. Murdoch promised to watch Gillies hang personally. While Gillies' prisoner transport wagon was crossing the Rouge River in Durham County, it overturned, allowing Gillies to escape. The local police failed to recover his body and Murdoch assumed him to be alive.Murdoch in Toyland - Graham Clegg - Murdoch Mysteries S5 E11 - Citytv - Airdate 14 August 2012 - Retrieved 15 October 2024 In 1900, Gillies returned, murdering Ogden's then-spouse Darcy Garland to pin it on her and send her to the gallows.Crime and Punishment - Peter Mitchell & Maureen Jennings - Murdoch Mysteries S6 E12 - CBC Television - Airdate 8 April 2013 - Retrieved 15 October 2024 He placed Murdoch inside a trap to force him to make the choice between killing himself or letting Ogden die. Murdoch managed to outwit Gillies and contact the Constabulary, who captured Gillies and freed Murdoch from the deathtrap.The Murdoch Trap - Maureen Jennings & Paul Aitken - Murdoch Mysteries S6 E13 - CBC Television - Airdate 15 April 2013 - Retrieved 16 October 2024
In 1901, Gillies was again scheduled to be hanged.Murdoch Ahoy - Paul Aitken - Murdoch Mysteries S7 E01 - CBC Television - Airdate 30 September 2013 - Retrieved 16 October 2024 He spread a rumour in the Don Jail that he'd bribed the hangman $20,000; after the execution was moved to Kingston, Gillies spread the rumour that the money would be on the train that would take him there. He instructed his solicitor to remove that amount of money from his account to lend credence to the rumours. In actuality, he'd used the money to lure a woman and her son to board the train the night of his transport so that he could use her as a false hostage. On the night of the trip, multiple criminals boarded the train in an attempt to steal the money, and Gillies was able to play on the paranoia of his guards about threats both known and imagined. At a scheduled time, he wounded the woman as a distraction and escaped the train. After kissing Detective Murdoch, he leapt off a bridge into a shallow but swift river. Murdoch attempted to follow, but landed in a tree and fell unconscious. When he was awoken the next morning, Gillies had escaped, though all but Murdoch assumed him dead.A Midnight Train to Kingston - Paul Aitken - Murdoch Mysteries S7 E09 - CBC Television - Airdate 2 December 2013 - Retrieved 16 October 2024 After this, Dr. Leslie Garland, brother of Darcy, began impersonating Gillies in a series of threatening letters to intimidate Dr. Ogden and prevent her from associating with Murdoch.Unfinished Business - Peter Mohan - Murdoch Mysteries S7 E12 - CBC Television - Airdate 20 January 2014 - Retrieved 16 October 2024The Murdoch Sting - Jackie May & Michelle Ricci - Murdoch Mysteries S7 E13 - CBC Television - Airdate 27 January 2014 - Retrieved 16 October 2024Friday the 13th, 1901 - Lori Spring - Murdoch Mysteries S7 E14 - CBC Television - Airdate 3 March 2014 - Retrieved 16 October 2024The Spy Who Came Up to the Cold - Adam Barken - Murdoch Mysteries S7 E15 - CBC Television - Airdate 10 March 2014 - Retrieved 16 October 2024 A body was found in the river with injuries matching those that Gillies had been known to have had, and he was presumed deceased.Kung Fu Crabtree - Paul Aitken - Murdoch Mysteries S7 E16 - CBC Television - Airdate 24 March 2014 - Retrieved 16 October 2024
Years later,If the series had retained its one-year-per-season format, this would have occurred in 1915. a man claiming to be possessed by the Devil was arrested for murder. In reality, Gillies had implanted an device to transmit wireless audio beneath the man's skin to use him as his representative to torment Murdoch and Ogden and goad them into murdering him after years of physical pain and suffering caused by his escape. After Murdoch found Gillies lurking in the detective's own home, threatening to murder the infant Roland Connor, he quickly subdued the criminal. Murdoch finally got his wish to watch Gillies hang, and Ogden her wish to dissect his brain.The Devil Inside - Paul Aitken - Murdoch Mysteries S10 E10 - CBC Television - Airdate 9 January 2017 - Retrieved 16 October 2024
==Weapons and Abilities==
===Inherent Abilities===
*Intelligence: Gillies possessed a higher-than-average intellect for people of the time. (TV: Big Murderer on Campus, et al)
==Notes==
===Behind the Scenes===
*Gillies was played by Canadian actor Michael Seater.Big Murder on Campus - IMDB - Retrieved 11 October 2024Michael Seater - IMDB - Retrieved 11 October 2024
== Appearances ==
* Murdoch Mysteries
** Big Murderer on Campus (first appearance)
** Murdoch in Toyland
** Crime & Punishment
** The Murdoch Trap
** Murdoch Ahoy (mentioned)
** A Midnight Train to Kingston
** Unfinished Business (mentioned)
** The Murdoch Sting (mentioned)
** Friday the 13th, 1901 (mentioned)
** The Spy Who Came up to the Cold (mentioned)
** Kung Fu Crabtree (mentioned)
** The Devil Inside (final appearance)
**
==Links==
*James Gillies on the Murdoch Mysteries Wiki
==References==
Category:Humans
Category:Villains
Category:Criminals
Category:Murderers
Category:Serial Killers
Category:Torontonians
Category:Canadian characters
Category:Television characters
Category:Characters played by Michael Seater
Category:Deceased Characters
Category:1876 births
Category:19th century births
Category:20th century deaths
Category:Missionary Generation
Category:Disfigured characters
Category:Foes of William Murdoch
Category:Kill count (under 10)
Category:Creator: Carol Hay
Category:Inmates of Kingston Penitentiary