Stan Sauerwein

In 1892 Francis Mawson Rattenbury arrived in Vancouver, a city with a population of 14,000, to make his name as an architect. He was to became one of British Columbia's most famous architects, creating many famous buildings still prized today, including the BC Legislative Building and the Empress Hotel in Victoria, the Vancouver Court House, later the Vancouver Art Gallery, and many other landmarks.

In 1923 he met Alma Pakenham a beguiling 26 year old. His wife Florrie, refused to give him a divorce so he openly invited Alma to their home. Eventually this ploy changed her mind. Later when Rattenbury's fortune was in reverse, he decided to leave Canada and return to England. Alma was a serious spendthrift and at a time when money was scarce, she had to have a chauffeur. Stoner, the young man chosen for the job became infatuated with Alma and eventually the relationship developed into an affair.

When Ratz was found with a severe head injury both she and Stoner were charged with murder. The dual court case provided lurid details for the staid Bournemouth community for weeks. Eventually, after 47 minutes deliberation, the jury found Alma not guilty and Stoner guilty. After spending some time in a nursing home, Alma borrowed money from a nurse and left to go out for a while. Her body was recovered from the Avon River with six stab wounds, assumed to be self-inflicted. Stoner's death sentence was reduced to life in prison after an appeal. There is still some doubt about who wielded the mallet that killed Ratz.

This short book provides all the details of Rattenbury's life in a workmanlike writing style, but for anyone interested I recommend Terry Reksten's book Rattenbury.… (meer)