Lewis Hutchinson

Lewis Hutchinson, a Scottish immigrant to Jamaica, was the first recorded serial killer in Jamaica's history and one of its most prolific.^[1]

Early life

Hutchinson, better known as the Mad Master and Mad Doctor of Edinburgh Castle, was born in Scotland in 1733 where he is believed to have studied medicine.^[1]

Criminal career

In the 1760's, he came to Jamaica to head an estate called Edinburgh Castle. He was said to have legally obtained the house (now a ruin) but to have maintained his group of cattle through the theft of strays from neighbors. This would not be the only accusation made of Hutchinson.^[1][2]

Shortly after Hutchinson's arrival in Jamaica, travelers began to disappear, and suspicion started to mount. For many miles, Edinburgh Castle was the only populated location on the way from Saint Ann's Bay and, not knowing that they would become the target of Hutchinson's rifle, travelers would rest at the castle, only to succumb to the Mad Doctor's attack. Hutchinson murdered for pure sport, what may be described as a thrill killing, as passers-by from all races, shapes, sizes, and incomes were fair game.^[1][3]

What is true about Hutchinson's killings is debatable. He would shoot lone travelers and was said to feed on the flow of his victims' blood as well as dismember them. He or, according to some sources, his slaves would then toss the remains in a cotton tree or a sinkhole for animals to feast on. That sinkhole became known as Hutchinson's Hole. At the height of his villainy, he would invite guests to his castle to be entertained before killing them.^[1]

Capture

Hutchinson's reputation for debauchery made him notable as many would avoid him out of fear. His slaves' tales of terrible treatment and the gruesome details of the murders made him legendary. This is why he was allowed to roam free for a time, until he shot an English soldier by the name of John Calendar, who attempted to apprehend Hutchinson. After Hutchinson shot Calendar, he bolted south to Old Harbour and boarded a ship. The Royal Navy, commanded by Admiral Rodney, caught Hutchinson before he could escape.^[1][2]

Trial and execution

Shortly after being caught, he was tried and found guilty. In 1773, he was hanged in Spanish Town Square. Although the final toll is unknown, upon searching his home after his arrest, approximately 43 watches and a large amount of clothes were found. The records of his trial stand in the National Archives.^[1][3]

Accomplices

During the trial, slaves' stories revealed he did not act alone. Planter James Walker and Roger Maddix, were sentenced to death for participating in the murder of farmer William Lickley and schoolmaster Timothy Cronin. Maddix's wife, Dorcas, Miss Susanna Cole and Miss Elizabeth Thomas watched schoolmaster Cronin's death by strangulation while pinioned in stocks. Cronin's watch and seal were found in Thomas' possession. Miss Thomas was found not guilty.^[1]

In Popular Culture

• In Assassin's Creed III, fictional protagonist Connor Kenway visits Hutchinson's abandoned Edinburgh Castle in 1776 (three years after Hutchinson was hanged) in search of Joseph Palmer's piece of Captain Kidd's treasure map, which was implied to have ended up in Hutchinson's private museum. Using his Eagle Vision, Connor searched the mansion--which has begun to deteriorate and become overgrown by the surrounding jungle--and reconstruct past events: an unidentified man tried to steal the map from Hutchinson's collection, but was killed before he could escape and disposed of in what appears to be Hutchinson's Hole, where Connor finds both the thief's corpse and the piece of the map.

References

• Cundall, Frank, 1915, Historic Jamaica p. 295ff, Institute of Jamaica. Archive.org
• Black, C.V., 1966, Tales of Old Jamaica, Longman Caribbean Ltd.
• Black, C.V., 1983, The History of Jamaica, Longman Caribbean Ltd.