Mary Gallagher and her best friend Susan Kennedy were not exactly the gentle and submissive women that were typical of the Victorian times. In fact, on the night of June 25-26 1879, they were intent on furthering their reputations as “dissipated characters who are in the habit of having friends in to see them and of carrying on the most disgusting orgies.”

The night started well enough with a visit to Place Jacques Cartier and the consumption of copious amounts of whisky. Mary then picked up a young man by the name of Michael Flanagan and all three of them returned to Kennedy’s house in St-Henri with the intentions of “carrying on the most discusting orgies” in exchange for tomorrow’s whisky money.

At 12:15 of the morning of June 26, the downstairs neighbour heard the noise of a body falling to the floor followed by a heavy chopping sound that went on for at least 10 minutes (somebody’s axe really needed sharpening). The constabularies were called in and were greeted by the sight of Mary’s head in a pail and of a jealous Susan that was completely covered in blood. A passed-out Michael Flanagan didn’t have a drop of blood on him as he was still recuperating from his participation in a most disgusting orgy.

Ultimately, Susan Kennedy was found guilty of murder and sentenced to be hanged. The execution was never carried out, she was released after 16 years in prison and died in 1916.

Every seven years, the ghost of headless Gallagher is said to haunt the area around the corner of William and Murray Streets, looking for her missing head. Although she hasn’t been seen since 1928, her 16th visit coincides with the long weekend so there is no excuse not to make it a party. A procession and commemorative event, in collaboration with Quartier

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