The Exeter Times-Advocate, 1970-11-26, Page 1Crediton woman dies after severe beating
Police report no motives,.
clues or suspects as yet in the
death of Miss Pearl Fanner, the
70.-year-old Crediton woman
Huron firms
receive loans
who died in London hospital
after a severe beating in her
home early Saturday morning.
Inspector Lloyd Lyle,
Toronto, Criminal Investigation
Branch is heading the,
investigation, assisted by
Det.-Sgt. George Herries, Mt.
Forest headquarters; four
members of the local
detachment, Constables Dale
Lamont, Bill Glassford, Frank
Giffin and Don Mason; as well as
officers from the OPP
I TRAGEDY STRIKES CREDITON — The police village of Crediton was shocked over the weekend when
they learned of the death of Miss Pearl Fahner who was severely beaten in her home on King Street
north, early Saturday morning. Her house is shown here with a number of Ontario Provincial Police
officers in the background. T-A photo
elderly residents in the
community to calm them down.
His comment that it was a
"shocking tragedy" echoed the
thoughts of all residents of the
community.
Miss Fahner is survived by
two sisters, Mrs. Clinton (Ida)
Sweet and Mrs. Edward (Louisa)
Westcott, both of Exeter,
The funeral was held from
the R. C. Dinney funeral home
on Wednesday with burial in
Crediton cemetery. Rev. Douglas
Warren officiated.
Pallbearers included Gerald
Schenk, Donald Dundas, Emery
Pfaff, Joe Varley, Lloyd Bender
and Clarence Fahner.
Donald Dundas and Howard
Schenk got no answer when they
arrived at the house and then
went to a neighbor'e home to
call Miss Fel-1'1er on the
telephone,
When there was still no
answer, Miss Clara Geiser, a
cousin of the dead woman, was
called and she heard moans
coming from the bedroom.
Miss. Fahner was found lying
on her bed, bleeding very badly
from the side of her head.
News of the beating shocked
area residents and fears
circulated throughout the area.
Rev. Douglas Warren of Zion
United Church, spent Saturday
afternoon visiting homes of the
detachments in Sebringville and
Goderich,
The police have been
interviewing people throughout
the Crediton, Centralia and.
Huron Park areas in an effort to
come up with some clues to the
murder.
They have requested anyone
with information which they
deem may help in the
investigation to contact the local
OPP detachment.
Miss Fahner, who lived alone
in a house north of Zion United
Church, died in St. Joseph's
Hospital, London, Sunday night.
She had suffered a skull fracture.
"She was very, very badly
beaten," said Det.-Sgt. George
Herries.
Her, bedroom was
blood-stained, furniture there
upended and there was evidence
that she had put up a terrific
struggle.
There was no indication that
entry was made into the house
by forcing open any of the doors
and police indicate that robbery
did not appear to be the motive.
A broken broomhandle,
which may have been the
weapon used in the beating, was
near where Miss Fahner was
found sprawled across her bed.
Discovery of the brutal attack
was made around noon Saturday
when two Crediton men went to
the victim's home to repair her
chimney.
The Hon. C. S. MacNaughton,
Huron MPP, announced this
week that two Huron firms will
receive assistance under the
Equalization of Industrial
Opportunity loans.
A $100,000 forgiveable loan
has been approved for the
manufacture of plastic products
in Seaforth.
Standard Products (Canada)
Ltd. will receive EIO financial
assistance to produce a line of
plastic extruded automobile trim
in the former Boshart Furniture
plant.
Mr. MacNaughton said
employment is expected to total
50 people when full
employment is reached.
The firm, whose headquarters
are in Stratford, will be the only
Canadian producer of a line of
plastic moulding now being
manufactured in the U.S.
The other loan has been
approved for a $60,000
expansion to the plant and
facilities of C. H. Epps
Manufacturing Ltd., Clinton.
The loan is for $20,166.
The expansion is expected to
create a total of 13 new jobs.
The company plans to
develop a more extensive
product range, including plastic
components for pumps and
pumping systems which it
manufactures.
Equalization of Industrial
Opportunity loans, provided by
ODC, are forgiveable provided
certain conditions are met by
the recipients over a six-year
period.
Area members acclaimed
for Huron school board
PEARL FANNER
... dies after beating
Money for liquor
—have it for fine Most district positions on the
Huron County Board of
Education were filled by
acclamation as the result of
meetings held Monday.
In an afternoon session at the
Hay township hall in Zurich, Jim
An Exeter youth was refused
time to pay a $60 fine after
pleading guilty to having liquor
while under age in Exeter court,
Tuesday.
Judge Glenn Hays told Larry
Huron County Board of
Education.
Present Members, John
Broadfoot of Tuckersmith and
Mrs. Marilyn Kunder of Seaforth
are being opposed by Morgan
Smith of Bayfield. Smith is a
former member of the board
that governed the Huron
Centennial school at Brucefield.
Power break
effects district
A MID-WINTER SCENE — It's only the latter part of November but
the scene that greeted most Exeter residents early Tuesday morning
was certainly mid-winter. Murray Greene is shown completing the
monumental task of removing snow from the front of his variety
store. T-A photo
Vote for council
in Tuckersmith
Reeve Elgin Thompson and
Deputy—Reeve Alex McGregor
were returned to office by
acclamation Monday afternoon
by ratepayers of Tuckersmith
township but an election for
council will be necessary.
Ross Forrest, one of the
sitting members of Tuckersmith
council is retiring and two new
names were posted on the
nomination board along with
incumbent members Cleave
. Coombs and Ervin Sillery.
Coombs and Sillery will be
opposed by newcomers Lambert
Branderhorst and Mrs. Ann
James for the three-seat council.
Taylor of Hensall was returned
to his post on the County board
as the representative of the
villages of Zurich and Hensall
and the township of Hay. No
other names were presented for
nomination.
At South Huron District High
School in an evening meeting,
Clarence MacDonald and Garnet
Hicks of Exeter were acclaimed
for another two year term by
ratepayers from the town of
Exeter and the townships of
Stephen and Usborne.
A third candidate Wally
Burton of Exeter was proposed
but the former business
administrator of South Huron
District High School failed to let
his name stand.
Charles Rau of Zurich was
named as the representative of
all separate school supporters in
Huron to the County board.
Rau, replaces Dan Murphy, a
Goderich lawyer who resigned
his post because of increased
business pressure.
Ratepayers in the town of
Seaforth, village of Bayfield and
the townships of Stanley and
Tackersmith will go to the polls
to select two members for the
ALBERT ARMSTRONG GEORGE DIXON
Scott Hamilton that he would
not give him time to pay the fine
as Hamilton requested.
The Judge explained that if
the youth had money for liquor
he should have it for his fine and
then told him to go out and get
it.
Hamilton, who pleaded guilty
to the offence in Hensel' on
November 7, returned later with
the money. It was the youth's
second offence in the past year
and a half.
Thomas Dixon, Parkhill, was
fined $50 for having liquor while
under age, and Frederick Brock,
Crediton, paid $40 for having
liquor in a place other than his
residence.
In other cases heard, Judge
Hays handed out the following
penalties:
Grant Amos, RR 3 Ailsa
Craig, was fined $40 for failing
to stop for a school bus on
which the lights were flashing.
Walter Weber, Dashwood, was
fined $35 on a charge of making
a left turn when it was not safe
to do so. He was involved in an
— Please turn to page 3
Election at McGillivray
Shouldn't get
much worse?
Two fight for reeve's post
Vandals with guns shot out a
number of insulators and
plunged the area into darkness
early Friday morning.
About 6,000 homes were hit
by the blackout at 6:09 a.m. and
some were without hydro for
almost two hours.
Walter Palmer, Clinton,
Ontario Hydro area manager,
said the Provincial Police were
investigating the incident, which
he described as being
"irresponsible."
He said the insulators could
have been shot out Thursday
and the flash-over caused by
Friday morning's rain.
The smashed insulators were
in the Devil's Elbow area and it
took Hydro crews until 10:00
a.m. to find the trouble spots.
"It's a tedious job," Mr.
Palmer explained.
The blackout forced changes
in menu at some breakfast tables
while some people who rely on
electric clocks were late for
work.
AUTO IS COVERED — Many cars were left on Main Street Monday night when the violent snow storm
hit the area and some were hard to find Tuesday morning. T-A editor Bill Batten was no exception as his
Austin was completely buried. Fellow employee Jim Snowdon is starting the big chore of uncovering.
Night of fun
— not politics
Fourteen candidates enter
Grand Bend election race
Despite suggestions from
Toronto newspapers that "An
Evening with Charlie and Addle"
is developing into a major
political event, local organizers
insist it's going to be a "fun
evening".
The popular Provincial
Treasurer and his wife will be
toasted by over 800 people at
the recreation hall at Huron Park
this evening and among the
visitors will be Premier John
Roberts and 15 of his cabinet
ministers.
Guest speaker is the well
known radio and TV
personality, Gordon Sinclair.
Organizers report any
political aspects are being
avoided. The attendance of the
large number of cabinet
ministers is a recognition of Mr.
MacNau gh ton's popularity
within the party ranks.
Two buses and a couple of
airplanes will help bring some of
the crowd from Toronto.
Winter hit the area this week
and brought only one
consolation. The rest shouldn't
be much worse!
Up to 30 inches of snow hit
the Exeter area by
mid-afternoon Tuesday and
clearly caught most people
completely off guard, with the
possible exception of
snowmobile owners who were
out in full force.
While the main highways
were kept open in this area, few
people could get to them
through clogged side streets,
concession roads and laneways.
Visibility was nil at times
during the storm but fortunately
there were no serious accidents
reported.
Most area schools were
opened, although some buses
were late in arriving and most
dismissed pupils around 2:00 so
the buses could get the children
home before dark. Murphy bus
lines cancelled their runs for
Biddulph school pupils.
Area motels were filled
Monday evening as the heavy
snow and poor visibility forced
many motorists to take shelter.
Tuesday morning, are;;
residents started to dig out, but
they fought a losing battle with
the snow until late in the
afternoon when it subsided.
Garages reported a rash of
calls for tow trucks and firms
engaged in snow removal from
lanes and parking lots worked
well into the night on Tuesday
to keep up to the demands.
Sales of snow tires boomed.
One of the lengthiest list of
candidates ever presented to
voters of the village of Grand
Bend will be on the ballots for
Jack Murdy, Lucan, was
acclaimed as the member to the
Middlesex county board of
education when the only other
person nominated, Harry Wraith,
also of Lucan, failed to qualify.
The Monday meeting was
drawing to a close around 10:15
p.m. when Roy Cunningham
brought up the subject of fire
List six winners
in Exeter draw
The first six winners have
been named in the first draw for
the Exeter Board of Trade
Pic-A-Prize contest.
Luck continues to run in one
area family. William Snow Jr.
was one of the names drawn
from this week's coupons. His
father won a prize in last year's
contest.
Other winners this week
were: Mrs. E. McKeever,
Dashwood; Mrs. Lloyd Johns,
Exeter; M. Caldwell, Dashwood;
Mrs. Audrey MacGregor, Exeter;
and Mrs. John Neevel, RR 1
Hensall.
All coupons have now been
destroyed and the second draw
will be held Monday.
McGillivray Township
ratepayers will go to the polls
December 7 to elect a reeve,
while all other officials were
returned by acclamation at
Monday's nomination meeting.
Councillor Albert Armstrong
announced his intention to
oppose Reeve George Dixon,
because he said he couldn't
adhere to a policy of "blood,
sweat and tears".
He described the blood as
being the taxes people have to
pay, the sweat as that being
produced by people working to
raise money to meet taxes and
the tears being those that would
be shed over a policy of
"confusing administration".
In his brief remarks, Reeve.
Dixon said he too had sweat
blood on occasions during his
first two years and hoped the
next wouldn't be as rough.
The vacancy on council
created by Armstrong's attempt
to step up was filled by Ben
Thompson, who lost out to
Dixon in a fight for the reeve's
post in 1968. He previously
served several years on council.
He'll be joined by incumbents
Jack Dorman, Gerald Wright and
Mac Hodgins.
agreements and this spurred a
debate that lasted another hour
and appeared to leave most of
the ratepayers rather confused.
The confusion resulted from
statements made in a debate
between Reeve Dixon and
George Mercer, the township's
representative on the fire area
committee which is made up of
members from McGillivray,
Lucan and Biddulph.
Armstrong sided with Mercer
on some of the points raised,
while the three sitting members
of council backed up the reeve
in his explanation of the
situation.
At the present time, the three
municipalities are negotiating
over the erection of a new fire
hall in Lucan. Dixon said he
agreed a new hall was needed,
but that his council wanted a
change in the percentage each
would pay in view of the
changes in assessment in each
municipality since the original
fire area was established in 1959.
At that time, McGillivray
paid 31 and two-thirds percent
of the costs, Biddulph paid 33
and one-third and Lucan paid 35
percent.
— Please turn to page 5
village said, "I feel our village
taxes are away out of line. If
elected as Reeve I will take a
long look at the village
expenses."
Payne added, "I would like to
make Grand Bend into an
all-year round resort. It's a
shame to have Main street
locked up for many months.
With a little thinking and a lot of
work, we can make changes."
While admitting his own lack
of experience in the municipal
field, Payne suggested that many
of the previous Reeves didn't
know everything when they
— Please turn to page 5
Officials in Hay
back unopposed
The entire council of the
township of Hay was returned to
office for another two-year term
by acclamation at a quiet
nomination meeting held in the
township hall at Zurich,
Wednesday afternoon.
The council consists of Reeve
Joseph Hoffman, deputy-reeve
Lloyd Hendrick and councillors
John Tinney, Harold Campbell
and Lionel Wilder.
Following the hour of
nomination, each member of
council gave a brief report to the
gathering of about 35
ratepayers,
Reeve Hoffman and
deputy-reeve Hendrick gave
reports on their work at the
county level and councillors
talked about work being tarried
out throughoug the township.
John Pinney, who is the
council representative on the
Ausable River Conservation
Authority outlined some of the
board's recent operations,
He added that the township
in its entirety hopes to become
part of the Authority early in
the new year.
Clerk Wayne Horner served as
chairman for the afternoon
meeting and presented a
financial report on township
business,
FIRE DESTROYS CHURCH — A fire that broke out Friday evening completely destroyed the
13rucefield United Church, Damage was estimated at $150,000, An explosion in the furnace room is
suspected as the cause of the blaze, The church was built in 1908 at a cost of $10,329 and served a
congregation of 500 persons, T-A photo
the biennial election slated for
Monday, December 7.
Reeve Orval J. Wassmann will
be opposed by Howard Green
and John J. Payne Sr. for the
position of chief magistrate of
the summer resort village.
Wassmann is completing his
eighth year on Grand Bend
council while Green is returning
after an absence of a couple of
years. He previously spent eight
years on council.
Payne is making his second
attempt in the municipal field.
He was defeated by Wassmann in
a two-way battle in December of
1968.
Sitting members Ian Coles,
Ivan Luther and Dave Jackson
are back in contention along
with newcomers Bill Cochrane,
Murray A, Des Jardins and Mrs.
Shirley Sylvester.
Cochrane was a member of
council a few years back while
Des Jardins was village clerk for
a lengthy period. Mrs. Sylvester
is making her first try in the
political field.
Five Grand Bend residents
will be attempting to gain the
two seats available on the Public
Utilities Commission.
Present PUC chairman
Lawrence Mason is being
opposed by former councillor
Roland Grenief and rieWCOrnetS
Prosper Van Bruaene, Jack
Mennen and Bill Baird.
Two nominees for the
Reeve's position suggested that
they could come up with ways
to cut the village tax rates.
John Payne Sr., who operates
an irt4tranee agency iii the
43r,i&MEWM.N4M,
Ninety-sixth Year EXETER, ONTARIO, NOVEMBER 26, 1970 Price Per Copy 15 Cents
HOWARD GREEN JOHN PAYNE
three-way fight for resort eve
OFIV WASSMANN