The Fate of Télesphore Gagnon

[ Pierre tombale de Télesphore Gagnon, Alonzo Le Blanc et Roger Chamberland, ]

After having served only 5 years of his life sentence, Télesphore Gagnon was released from the St. Vincent de Paul prison. He returned to live in Ste. Philomène de Fortierville in 1925, but not in his previous house, which was sold to Narcisse Beaudet and then to Adjutor Gagnon. Once back in his home town, he worked as a carpenter. Following the death of Marie-Anne Houde in 1936, he married for a third time, taking Marie-Laure Habel of Ste. Philomène as his wife on January 8, 1938.

Télesphore Gagnon's reaction to the reception of his daughter's death in Quebec popular culture is most interesting. For example, he attended a performance of the play "Aurore, l'enfant martyre," in Manseau, near Fortierville. After the performance, he is said to have stated, "That was it, and that wasn't it." Télesphore Gagnon reappeared in the media again in 1951, when the upcoming release of the film La petite Aurore l’enfant martyre was announced. Télesphore and members of his family sought a temporary injunction to prevent the release of the film, fearing it would hurt their reputation. Finally, the request was rejected and the film came out on the big screen.

Télesphore Gagnon died ten years later, on August 30, 1961, in Ste. Philomène de Fortierville.

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