The Citizen, 1990-02-07, Page 2Sentenced
Being led away to a London jail is Klaus Henschel who was sentenced to 18 months in jail and allowed
to enter the temporary absence permit when he is eligible. Henschel, the former owner of Brussels
Stockyardsdefrauded thecompanyand Canadian cattle producers of over three quarters of a million
dollars.
Henschel gets 18 month sentence
Continued from page 1
Henschel’s former business prac
tices. Henschel’s first business was
a hotel in Germany which had been
bequethed to Kristin by her par
ents. The Henschels sold that
business and used the money along
with a $150,000 loan from Hage-
meier to establish a business called
Consumer Building Products in
London. This business was soon
generating sales of over $2 million
said Dawson. Then the Henschels
moved the business to Ingersoll
where he purchased an aluminum
manufacturing company and built
an addition to the company,
Dawson said that Henschel’s
disturbed character may have par
tially resulted from the fire that
destroyed the new building as a
result of arson. The building was
insured but the loss was devastat
ing said Dawson who revealed that
this loss along with the death of
Henschel’s parents made him feel
like he wasn’t up to rebuilding the
business. “In retrospect, it may be
that the seeds of what later
happened started at this time,”
said Dawson.
Soon after, Henschel bought a
Ford dealership in Stratford which
never flourished so he later sold it
and bought the Brussels Stock-
yards for $850,000. Henschel re
portedly put $500,000 of family
cash down for the purchase and
$250,000 of his working capital was
placed with the bank. Yet, “Hen
schel felt that soon after purchas
ing the business, he had been
taken in,” said Dawson.
Dawson made some arguable
comments about the reasons Hen
schel took this attitude. These
comments were that the financial
statement of the Stockyards at that
time was not made in accordance
with standard accounting practices
and that Henschel had not been
told a former employee of the
stockyards had set up a rival
business against the Brussels
Stockyards. “Henschel felt that his
business would fail. He felt that
now he had made another mis
take,” said Dawson.
Dawson indicated that Henschel
was also being pressured by Hage-
meier, the man who had lent
Henschel $150,000 over 15 years
earlier. “Henschel felt threatened
by what was going on,” said
Dawson. It was not clearly stated at
the trial whether or not Hagameier
was pressurng Henschel for that
money.
These were the events that led
Henschel to steal such a large sum
of money from Canadian cattle
producers, said Dawson who told
the court that Henschel hadn’t
intended for anyone “to suffer
permanent substantial loss. My
client believed that when he left, he
left behind substantial assets that
would be left over to cover costs.”
Another key element for the
defence was that the actual losses
to farmers due to the theft were
minimal. The bankruptcy company
in trustee of the funds has paid all
the victims from funds returned
from the Swiss Bank and the assets
of the Brussels Stockyards. Almost
the entire amount was restituted
except for about $18,000 which was
paid in the courtroom. Henschel
gave the judge a personal cheque
for $6,000 while Henschel’s em
ployer of Thermoshield, paid the
remaining $12,000.
Brussels Council discusses
industrial park development
Brussels village council, the
Public Utilities Commission and
the Industrial Committee are ex
pected to meet next week to look at
the development of the village’s
industrial park and set prices for
the sale of the lots.
Donna White, deputy clerk
treasurer told council Monday
night that the PUC had given its
okay for installation of water ser
vices to the industrial park and
estimated the cost would be
$40,000. Councillor Bruce Hahn
who chaired the meeting in the
absence of Reeve Gordon Work
man who was away at the ROMA
convention, explained that there
had been thoughts as to whether to
install the water before develop-
Toastmasters Club
The fledgling Brussels Toast
master Club met on Monday even
ing in the basement of the Brussels
Mennonite Fellowship. Acting
chairperson, Allan Dettweiler, wel
comed the group which included
two guests from the Elmira Town
Criers.
Amidst much laughter and
applause, everyone produced a
one-minute impromptu speech for
Table Topics. Paul Van Veen of
Ethel said he had learned long ago
that “you learn something every
time you make a speech, even if it’s
a poor one. No one should ever
pass up an opportunity to make a
speech.”
Two members, Tillie Lichty and
Bev Brown, made their first five
minute speeches.
Henschel’s employer also reveal
ed that he would hire Henschel
after his imprisonment. Henschel
presently takes care of the business
end of the operation.
The Henschel family is residing
in a rented townhouse on Osgood
Drive in London where Kristin is
currently employed as a salad
bar waitress at a restaurant. The
children, 19-year-old Claudia and
17-year-old Robin are in school.
Henschel will be serving his jail
sentence at the jail in London on
the request of his defence lawyer.
Judge Hunter gave Henschel the
18 month sentence after saying
“two years less a day would not be
an inappropriate sentence...”
Henschel was not fined or given a
probation period after his release
from jail.
ment began but it was felt fire
hydrants would be necessary and if
the hydrants were being put in, the
water services might as well be
installed as well.
Councillor Greg Wilson urged
action on getting the lots sold,
saying those working on the Indus
trial Committee had been working
for a long time on the project and
needed to see some results. He
indicated there were some buyers
already interested in some of the
lots.
“But at what price?” asked Dave
Hastings. The village must recover
its costs in developing the area, he
said and other councillors agreed.
A date of Feb, 15 was set
tentatively to all the groups to meet
to try to iron out details that would
allow the sale of lots to begin.
NOTICE TO VILLAGE
OF BRUSSELS
RESIDENTS
DOG OWNERS
1990 Dog Tags are now
available and must be pur
chased by Feb. 28/90.
Licence Fees are as follows:
Male or
Spayed Female $ 8.00
Additional Male or
Spayed Female 10.00 each
Female 10.00
Additional Female 15.00 each
B. Hugh Hanly
Clerk-Treasurer
4.
Brussels
People
By Bonnie Gropp
Phone 887-9114 or 523-4792
Members of the Brussels United
Church congregation were invited
to stay for lunch following Sunday’s
service.
The lunch was prepared and
served by the teachers and mem
bers of the Church School. It
featured the basic foods of the
developing nations - rice, com and
grains.
It was part of the Church
School’s effort to raise awareness
of the Church’s project.
Then Days for World Develop
ment. Rev. Cam McMillan’s ser
mon on Racial Tensions was also
part of the project.
Lorna Snow of Montreal, P.Q.
visited her aunt, Sheila Richards
and Jane and Douglas Richards of
Ailsa Craig last weekend.
Brian and Diane Huether, Mur
ray and Marlene Fischer, Brad
Smith, Sheila Gulutzen, Jeff Smith,
Karen Johnston, Darlene Wilson
and Don Fischer returned home
Saturday after seven glorious days
in sunny Acapulco.
Congratulations to Heather
Wheeler who obtained First Class
Honours with Distinction with a
mark of 99 per cent in Grade I
Rudiments in the December ex
aminations with the Royal Conser
vatory of Music. She will receive
her Grade VI pianoforte certificate
now. Heather is a pupil of Mrs.
Winona Martin of Brussels.
Brussels 887-9731
Feb. 8-9-10
Open10a.m.-5p.m.
NOTICE TO BRUSSELS
P.U.C. CUSTOMERS
Watch for the new blue format of
- hydro bills which will be mailed
out this week.
Name and address will appear
as on tax notices.
B. HUGH HANLY
MANAGER
BRUSSELS P.U.C.
CAPTURE A HEART
WITH FLOWERS.
□
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Valentine’s Week.
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Flowers
Brussels 887-6900 & 887-6351
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