Born to Die: A Cop Killer's Final Message

Can$16.95
1-894384-69-5

Author-Ian Macdonald and Betty O'Keefe

Macdonald and O’Keefe’s latest book delves into the life and times of Joe Gordon, the cop killer who lived and died in 1950s Vancouver, British Columbia.

Before Gordon was hanged at British Columbia’s Oakalla Prison Farm in 1957, he wrote about his downfall. His final words were published in the Vancouver Sun after his execution. They included a plea to parents to love and care for their children, so that they wouldn’t end up like him.

Joe Gordon knew no parental love. His introduction to the life of a common criminal arrived early. From the time he was eight years old, he spent time in various institutions and jails. When he wasn’t in jail, he could be found in Vancouver’s seedy downtown east side, where he would indulge in backroom gambling, a quick fix, booze, guns, and bravado. His sordid career ended with his death sentence for shooting a well-respected policeman during a failed robbery.

Born to Die not only conveys the story of Gordon’s sensational trial, but also describes Vancouver’s underworld and the Vancouver police department’s struggle to deal with that element amid a time of widespread police corruption. The book also sheds light on a hard-nosed justice system and the society reflected in that structure.

Gordon’s last words of almost 50 years ago provide a fascinating reference point for the society in which he lived. But they also invite readers to ponder their relevance in today’s world. His tragic life and path to oblivion are often repeated and can be witnessed over and over in any community in North America.

5.5 x 8.5, 192 pages, softcover

 

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