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Times-Advocate, 1988-03-23, Page 4Let us Install an INS A-FI,.1M E Gas Fireplace trlywhere in your home with no mcney down and no payment or interest until October, then pay for it with your gas bill. Call, us for details ee You at the Home Show Apr!! 8, 9, 10 mum m am DEALER Baueys Hensall APPflatIM Dealer 262-2020 Page 4 Times -Advocate, March 23, 1988 Doua Wedlake spends his days in court Justice of the Peace Doug Wed - lake has been dispensing justice for almost 20 years. He gazes down on a parade of the accused from his elevated dais on the stage at the Exeter legion hall on the first and third Tuesday of every month. Historic roots Wedlake has done some research on the origins of his profession, tracing it back to his native Eng- land and the fourteenth century reign of Edward 111. Citizens of good character were appointed with the responsibility of maintaining the peace in the shires. Miscreants •w iuld be tried on minor offences dealing with dangerous driving, criminal negligence, impaired driv- ing and narcotic control and other federal offences. A police officer can come to a JP and swear out an "information" on a charge. The JP then decides if the information warrants the issu- ing of a summons. JPs may also grant search warrants when they as- certain that the police have suffi- cient reason to believe that what they arc looking for - drugs or sto- len goods - arc in a specific place. "A man's home is his castle", Wedlake pointed out. "Generally speaking, before 1 am asked to con- sider issuing a search warrant, 1 find that the officer has done a thorough investigation but has not always placed his reasons in writ- ing." Returned to this area Wedlake has made his home in Exeter for the past 41 years. He grew up near Bristol in North So- merset, and came Canada as an RAF engine fitter based at what was then RCAF Station Centralia. Wedlake served in Canada from 1940 until 1943, marrying Cana- dian Betty Fry in Goderich in 1943. Wedlake returned to this arca in 1947, and went back to work at the air base, this time in his own bar- bering concession. When the base closed in 1966, he opened a barber - tobacconist shop in Exeter which he operated for 10 years. Career change A chance remark by former Exeter Police Chief Mac McKenzie began Wedlake's career change. McKenzie noted that a new Justice of the Peace would be needed to replace Eugene Beavers, who was moving to Goderich. Wedlake recalls think- ing the life of a JP would be inter- esting and challenging, and the hours could be fitted in quite well with his current business. Wedlake made his request for the appointment through his local MPP, Charlie McNaughton, who passed it on to the provincial attor- ney general. He attended some county court sessions, had two in- terviews with a provincial judge, and received notice of his appoint- ment as a county JP in August of 1968. Wedlake started out by hearing ex parte" cases, where the accused had failed to respond to a summons. He would rcgister a conviction or a dis- missal on the evidence given by the police officers. At that time JPs typed up all in- formations, and Wedlake soon be- came very familiar with his copy of the criminal code by constantly looking up the relevant section. When in doubt about his authority to act, he could seek advice from his predecessor, the judge, the crown, or the police. JPs attend courses and seminars regularly, as well as updating them- selves through reading. The book- shelves in Wedlake's home office arc filled with weighty tomes deal- ing with Canadian law, enabling him to research case law. Wedlake's jurisdictic.. was wi- dened considerably when he was made a provincial JP in 1971, and during courts convened in the local pub. The system was brought across the Atlantic in the early days of Upper and Lower Canada. In pio- neer days, people could even be fined so many,pennies for failure to attend church. Now, charbes such as going through a stop sign, driving with no insurance, Speeding, and being intoxicated in� public place can all be dealt with by a JP. However, JPs have no power to hear and de- termine an indictable offence. Pro- vincial judges preside over cases \Tarria by Joan Beierling Goshen U.C.W. hosted a shower in honour of Toni Pennings (daugh- ter of Harry and Wilcmina Pen- nings) on Tuesday March 15. President Marg Hayter welcomed and thanked everyone for coming -out. The VanSlightenhorst girls then entertained with some songs. Next was a comical and hilarious skit with Noreen Hayter (acting as Harry) and Anna Keys (acting as Wilcmina) portraying their trip to the wedding in Ottawa. Along with the packing of the car, Wilcmina forgetting her purse, running out of gas on the 401, getting low in wa- ter, a flat tire, juggling the wedding gifts and clothes in the trunk of their card board Buick car, they fi- nally made it to the Chateau -Laurier in Ottawa where Harry actually says, its just like a second honey- moon! Marg _Hayter then read on the reci- pe of Happiness. Joan VanSlighten- horst read the address to Toni and Toni received many lovely gifts and thanked everyone very graciously. Lunch was then served. 'four sugar bush On Sunday March 20 the Varna Sunday School toured the Maple Sugar Bush at Albert and Doris Schilbe's. Due to the cold weather, the sap was. not running and they could not sec them boiling. But they did s c the lines all tapped to the trees and the different tools they use in preparation. They were also able to taste the maple syrup and their maple syrup candies in the shape of a maple leaf. Everyone thanked the Schilbes and then returned to the Sunday School Room at the Church and were served pancakes with maple syrup and a cold drink. The Youth Group will meet in Varna at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday. RITES OF •SPRING - The Varna Sunday school's trip to Albert Schilbe's sugar bush in Goderich township suffered Sunday's cold weath- er. But the children enjoyed keeping warm by the fire and sampling some - of the Schilbe's maple syrup. Here Sharon Chuter hands out the syrup to Valerie and Andrew Laurie and Jason and Heather Beierling. CASH BACK HSR BLACK Why wait for your tax refund when you could get Cash Back fast? It you qualify and are eligible for a Federal refund of $200 or more, you can get a cheque for 85% of the first $300 of your Federal tax refund and 95% of the rest.. Plus your Federal tax return will be accurately prepared at no extra charge. So why wait .for the refund cheque to arrive by mail? Ask about Cash Back at HSR Block, and get your refund fast. Available at most H&R Block .offices: 383 Main St., Rear, Exeter 235-1153 NEW HOURS Monday to Wednesday Thursday & Friday Saturday 10:00 - 6:00 10:00 - 8:00 10:00 - 3:00 Grand Bend news The ladies of the ORPHA Club met at the home of Marge Mason on March 7, with seven members present. Irene Kennedy chaired the meeting, and opened with two read- ings, "Service" and "A Voice". It was decided to send Easter cards to the following former members: Margaret Young, Louise Wilson, Lydia Stabbins and Fern Love, and a get well card of Gert Flear. The club sent a financial donation to "Bunny Bundle" in London. The next meeting will be April 4 at Mary Barbours' home, with Olive Webb to provide the opening and Dorothy Cutting to do the closing. Irene thanked Marge for hosting the club. Minnie Curts closed the meet- ing with a reacting "Present Joy". Marge served tea and sweets, as the ladies enjoyed a social time. Alliance For Life presents There is a special Right -To -Life National Telethon on Saturday, March 26, on Global TV Channel 6, from 10-11 p.m. This is spon- sored by all pro-life groups, so pleaee support their efforts and watch the program. Legion news The Grand Bend Legion had its usual busy schedule this week, in- cluding a dance. There was a St. Pa- trick's Day dance organized for Sat- urday, March 19. A rather small crowd showed up for the event, but made up for everyone who didn't .4 come by having twice as much fun! A DJ provided a wide selection of their favorite music, and there were, even prizes for four spot dances. There were 16 out for darts last Tuesday night, with Carrie Tiede • - man and Jack Hoffman winning first place, while Emma Cuckyuet and Gerry. Karns won second. De- light Rath got the door prize. The winners for the Friday Meat Raffle were: Ray Daigle (who won twice), Marg Hedlcy, Terry Wad- sworth, Art Chambers, and the door prize winner, Lou Ilamilton. Re- metnber the Legion will be closed on April 1 for Good Friday, so. the meat raffle will be held on Thurs- day, March 31 instead. He began presiding in Exeter in 1973. • Wedlake presides in Stratford on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. He is under the direc- tion of Judge Gary Hunter in the Exeter court, and under Judge W.J Ehgoetz in Stratford. Either provii. cial judge can delegate their authori- ty, and authorize Wedlake to hear any case they feel he can handle. Cases in the Perth county seat are more diversified than those in Exeter. Some involve environment protection, water pollution, and in- fractions of occupational health and safety and building code regulations and city bylaws. Most difficult decisions Wedlake singles out bail hearings as the most difficult decisions he has to make as a JP. He has the au- thority to release or detain certain accused persons. Will that person appear for trial? Will he commit further offences? Will he honour court -imposed conditions in the event he is released? These arc the questions Wedlake must take into consideration. "1 have to wcigh the rights of the person charged against the rights of the general public", Wedlake ex- plained. Looking back Reflecting back on his 20 years as a magistrate, Wedlake observed that some things have changed, a& d oth- ers haven't. The law has become more com- plicated. Individual rights are now protected under the Charter of Rights. Wedlake must ensure that accused persons have been properly informed of their rights, cautioned before making statements, and not subjected to inducements or threats. "The onus is always on the crown to prove their case beyond a reason- able doubt", Wedlake said. Young people then and now ap- pear in court on liquour-related charges. A pattern of liquor abuse seems to be a tradition in some families, Wedlake remarked. "You would see John in court, and a few years later his brother would appear", Wedlake said. Fines for liquour-related offences have increased steadily in the past 10 years. Wedlake has also observed an ero- sion in respect for authority. "It's not what's wrong with the young generation. It's what's wrong with the, parents raising the young generation", he asserted. Whcn someone has religious ob- jections to swearing on the Bible, the phrase "so help me God is omit- ted. Wedlake is a fee justice, paid a stipulated amount per hour for ser- vices performed, plus mileage and meals. He is waiting to see what happens to a bill currently before the legisla- ture that would force JPs to retire at 70. He doesn't want to devote full time yet to the woodworking hob- by that has produced a number of beautiful pieces of cherry furniture, including a dry sink, an end table, a gun cabinet and .ornamental wall cabinets, all in solid cherry, or the complementary hobby of woodcarv- ing, which has produced such items as cherry canes with bird -shaped handles. Wedlake enjoys his job, has learned a great deal about Ontario's court system in the course of 20 years, and would like to continue making a contribution to the socie- ty and country he chose four decades ago. AT HOME - Doug Wedlake, shown in his office in his home, has been pre- siding as Justice of the Peace in Exeter since the early '70s. SPSII " 0 .14 OFF ALL IN-STORE BRITISH WAIICOVERINGS CP., W0,1,3 •.. • ...r • 511:1% OFF 1.1411 ��Q ��PyRIICE 1 rr T //"^111k/Pe, 1Mne Ce4q Ponl 1 Ou, most e,cdng new po,nlW • $AA99 Arte, sole ,M„IX,K •0.. 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