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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2017-02-01, Page 44 Huron Expositor • Wednesday, February 1. 2017 The DeadlyBea Nuron Expositor PUBLISHED WEEKLY — EST. 1860 P.O. Box 69, 8 Main Street Seaforth Ontario NOK 1 WO phone: 519-527-0240 fax: 519-527-2858 www.seaforthhuronexpositor p[ ]POSTMEDIA NEIL CLIFFORD Advertising Director neil.clifford@sunmedia.ca SHAUN GREGORY Multimedia Journalist shaun.gregory@sunmedia.ca DIANNE MCGRATH Front Office seaforth.classifieds@sunmedia.ca NANCY DEGANS Media Sales Consultant ndegans@postmedia.com SUBSCRIPTION RATES 1 YEAR $50.00 (47.62+2.38 GST) 2 YEAR S95.00 (90.48+4.52 GST) SENIORS 60 WEEKS $50.00 (47.62+2.38 GST) 120 WEEKS $95.00 (90.48+4.52 GST) Publications Mail Agreement No. 40064683 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT P.O. Box 69 Seaforth ON NOK 1 WO For any non -deliveries or delivery concerns: phone: 519-527-0240 Advertising is accepted on condition that in the event of a typographical error, the advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. In the event of a typographical error, advertising goods or services at a wrong price, goods or services may not be sold. Advertising is merely an offer to sell and may be withdrawn at any time. The Huron Expositor is not responsible for the loss or damage of unsolicited manuscripts, photos or other materials used for reproduction purposes. Seaforth Huron Expositor is a member of the National Newsmedia Council, which is an independent ethical organization established to deal with editorial concems. For more information or to file a complaint go to www. med�acouncil.ca or call toll free 1-844-877-1163. Member of the Ontario Community Newspaper Association and the Canadian Community Newspaper Association. We acknowledge the1.1financial support of the anaaa Government of Canada. long standing family feud of obscure origin ended in urder on the Blyth Road on May 26, 1884. Tlie brutal beating of William Maines by members of the Beamish family was one of the most sensational trials in 1 luron County and "caused deep and wide -spread sorrow" and 'horror' on all sides, according to the `Huron Exposi- tor' as county opinion chose sides in the tragedy. The Maines and Beamish clans were large Irish families who farmed on the road between Auburn and Blyth. Some said the families had lived 'amicably' as neighbours for 17 years. However, when James Beamish (60) was arrested for murder, he told the Clinton 'New Era' that years before Maines had 'unlawfully' over charged him when he was the toll gate keeper but that incident had long been forgotten. He neglected to mention that court records show that as early as 1864, the Maines and Beamish families had legal difficulties. Eleanor Maines was convicted of assaulting one of James Beamish's children and William Maines was found guilty of assaulting James Beamish. Clearly, there were long standing grudges between the two families. Some considered William Maines a 'bully.' It was alleged that at one point, he threw one of his daughters into a creek and a son into a water barrel. It was rumoured that he tied one child up in the barn. Both families had hot tempers and encounters with the law but they were also described as 'prosperous; 'well- to-do' and 'respectable' by their neighbours. The latest round of trouble began with a verbal exchange "over some trivial matter" between Thomas Manasseh Beamish (18) and George Maines, the sons of James and William respectively on Satur- day, May 24th. Although no blows were struck during the exchange, a lot of "loud, no doubt, silly talk was indulged in," according to the 'Signal.' Both parties withdrew, but George Maines reported the incident to his father. Huron History David Yates m The next day, William Maines, described as "a hasty, violent man, much given to quarrelling" and son, George, went looking for Thomas Beamish. They found him with some friends near the local cemetery. Beamish was lying on his back when William Maines suddenly grabbed him by the throat. In the ensuing scrap, Mains tried to bash Beamish on the head with a club but was restrained by Beamish's compan- ions. The fight was broken up for the time being but as Maines was led away he swore revenge `before the sun went down, or re [Beaniishl went to work the next day." Later that afternoon, Henry Beamish (23), his brother Thomas, and another man named Tamon were walking past Maines' house when William and George Maines challenged Henry Beamish to settle the mat- ter right then and there. Beamish refused to fight on the Sabbath. It was an argument that the Protes- tant Beamish and Maines clans understood. It should also have given both parties time to cool down. Old rpan Maines told Henry Beamish to meet at 6:30 the following morning at the junction of the Clinton and Blyth roads promising that "if my boys can't lick you two [Henry and Thomas], I'll drown them." At the appointed hour on Monday morning, William Maines and two sons, George and John (22), described as "stalwart, able bodied men" were waiting at the corner within sight of the Beamish homestead. James Beamish approached Maines to see if the dispute could be settled peacea- bly while his son, John accom- panied by his brother, Thomas, ish-Maines Feud started on their way to Blyth where John worked as a framer. What happened next was dis- puted at the four day trial in Goderich from September 29 -October 2, 1884 but whether provoked or not, l lenry Beamish normally a quiet, 'sober and industrious' man got into a fight with old man Maines. Perhaps fearing for his brother and father's safety or revenge for past humiliations, Henry Beamish gave old man Maines a brutal thrashing. In a second scuffle, George Maines attacked Thomas Beamish while John Maines ran between the two melees wielding a club. James Beamish encour- aged Henry's savage attack on the prostrate William Maines by shouting "give him the boots!" When 16 year old Willie Maines tried to rescue his. father, James Beamish held him back. After a savage mauling, Henry Beamish told his boys to pick up their father lying prostrate on the road- way. Maines' sons carried their mortally wounded father to the family home where he died later that evening. At the subsequent inquest held in the Blyth Temper- ance Hall, it was determined that Maines suffered four broken ribs, one of which punctured a lung but it was blow to the head which ruptured an artery which caused Maines' death.. Henry and his father, James, Beamish were taken into cus- tody and charged with murder. Thomas Beamish, who had twice been thrashed by George Maines and had not laid a hand on William Maines, was also arrested for murder. None of the Maines boys were charged. The case caused great excitement locally and the county was not slow at choosing sides. At the fall assizes in Goderich, it was discovered that neither side was totally blameless for the murderous brawl. Yet, the Beamishes bore a dispropor- t pnate burden of the legal pen- alties for what was a very com- plex two sided affair. The judge's instructions to the jury weighed in heavily against the prisoners. The jury reduced the murder charge which could have seen the guilty parties hanged to a verdict of manslaughter. The jury also recommended clem- ency for the defendants in light of extenuating circumstances. The judge sentenced Henry, and his father, James Beamish to twenty years in Kingston Peni- tentiary. "lhomas was sentenced to five years. When the sentence was passed, old man Beamish, already suffering from the advanced stages of tuberculosis collapsed. The ' Lucknow Senti- nel reported that "his moans could be heard all over the courthouse." As the facts became known, public opinion swung in favour of the accused. While not con- doning the actions of either fam- ily, the `Signal' concluded that the "Maines were much more at fault than the Beamishes:' The paper argued that William Maines' quarrelsome nature was morally the cause of the whole affair" that has left two large families 'bereft' of their father. The Beamish cause was taken up brother local papers. Goder- ich Mayor, Horace Horton, cir- culated a petition asking for executive clemency for the Beamish family. In December 1884, James Beamish was released from prison due to ill health. He died in early January, just 10 days after his release. The 'Clinton New Era' reported in March 1885 that the 100 acres Beamish farm was sold 'cheap' at auction for $4,450 complete with good buildings to pay for legal fees. The 'Signal' argued that "now that a 'life for a life' has been paid, the persecu- tors of the Beamish family should feel avenged." With the patriarchs of both clans dead, the matter should have ended. Yet, more tragedy was ahead for the Beamish fam- ily. Although Thomas and Henry Beamish were pardoned in June 1886, Henry Beamish's libera- tion was short-lived. He died from the tuberculosis that had already claimed his father and one sister, Alice Beamish. The, Beamish family survivors returned to Brampton while the Maines family stayed on in 4' Huron County. The 'Huron Sig- nal' concluded that "the tragedy has thus turned to be a double one, and carries its own moral." SEAFORTH HURON EXPOSITOR M HOURS OF OPERATION MONDAY: 9:00-4:00 • TUESDAY: CLOSED • WEDNESDAY: 9:00-4:00 • THURSDAY: 9:00-4:00 • FRIDAY: 9:00-4:00 • SATURDAY & SUNDAY: CLOSED ADVERTISING DEADLINE FRIDAY AT 2:00 • PHONE 519-527-0240 • FAX: 519-527-2858 www.seaforthhuronexpositor.com