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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1970-05-21, Page 4PAGE FOUR Doesn't Appear lair ! ( an editorial from the Exeter Times -Advocate) The system of justice throughout this country is often critized by many people, primarily because the punishments handed out do not always appear to bear any sensible relationship. To form an opinion on the cases on the basis of the limited information supplied by the news media or streett talk adds to the problem. Without the background infor- mation and the record of the accused person, it is fool- hardy to attempt an expression of opinion regarding the various penalties. In recent court sessions, a youth from this area was sentenced to nine months in reformatory for the theft of liquor from an area outlet. This penalty appears stiff indeed in relation to the comparatively light fines hand- ed out to some drivers who have been involved in fatal accidents. No doubt the presiding judge based his opinion on the record of the people involved in the various incidents and was of the opinion the youth who committed the thefts needed some correctional training. On the other hand, a driver responsible in a fatal accident probably was not driving any worse than the hundreds of others involved in accidents in which there are no fatalities. The cause of the crash, of course, must be consid- ered as well as the effect. Two persons may be charged with careless driving. Each may have fallen asleep at the wheel and careened into the ditch. In one instance, no one may be injured, and in the other a person may be killed. But should the penalties for the act be different. There will be differences of opinion on that question and even among the men who make the decisions in the courts of law. As long as humans are involved in the decisions, there will always appear to be contradictions in the penalties handed out. However, one disturbing aspect of the court system is the prevalence of charges being dropped or reduced, particularly when an accused person decides to contest his case. Too often the Crown appears ready to take a guilty plea on a lesser charge as opposed to fighting the case on the more severe charge. An area youth appeared in Exeter court last week, facing three counts. They were impaired driving, driv- ing while over 80 mgs., and careless driving. Through his defence lawyer, he ended up pleading guilty to careless driving and the two more serious charges were withdrawn. Another person faced five charges arisingfrom one incident and he pleaded. guilty, through his awyer, to two of the charges. Again, the most serious charge was withdrawn. It's difficult to argue the pros and cons of this situat- ion because the facts of a case are different from any other. Is it a matter of laying a number of charges in the hope that the accused will become frightened at the aspect of a severe penalty and readily plead guilty to one of a more minor nature? Or, is it a situation in which the members of the legal profession cut down on the amount of work for each other? Or perhaps, our court dockets are so filled that it's necessary to avoid lengthy contested cases where pleas on lesser courts can speed things up. If that is the case, the system should be scrutinized with the thought of adding more staff. In the case regarding the driving while over 80 mgs. it appears strange that this would not be held over until the legality of the breathalizer tests are known. Unlike many charges which are laid upon the basis of a human decision, such a charge is based on scientif- ic evidence and appears most difficult to defend against, Why then, would the Crown not be prepared to contest this charge rather than accept a plea of guilty on a lesser charge of careless driving? Many other persons have appeared in court on charglis of driving while over 80 mgs. and to our recollection, none of diem have had the opportunity to plead guilty to a lesser charge of careless driving. It may be more than coincidence that few of them have been represented in court by lawyers either. This aspect of justice does not appear fair, and it is quite prevalent in Huron County. ZURICH Citizens NE # `S PRINTED BY SOUTH HURON PUBLISHERS LIMITED, ZURICH HERB TURKHEIM, Publisher Second Class Mail Registration Number 1385 its 9 Member: Canadian Weekly. Newspapers Association' V Ontario Weekly Newspapers Association ,.r'�i� Subscription Rates: '$4.O0 per year in advance in Canada; MO in United States and Foreign; single copies 10 cents. ZURICH CITIZENS NEWS A life of troubles This may be cheating, but somebody else is going to write my column this week. I received a 12 -page letter from a Prairie wife that made me sick of my own petty whining. With a minimum of editing, and changing only names, here it is. "Dear Smiley: We've read your column for a long time. I enjoy it. When you told of your daughter's illness, I wasn't able to read the column because my husband was seri- ously ill with cancer of the lung. I was with him most of the time. I read the one later where you thanked everyone for their prayers .. . "Anyway, I wanted to tell you how so many people prayed for my poor husband. He died March 9th. I really believe all the prayers helped him accept it. He got pneumo- nia suddenly, had the last rites, went into a coma and died. He was quite thin, but could have lived down to skin and bones, because he had a strong heart, and was only 51. "He was taken prisoner at Dieppe. The first year they had their hands tied. When the Russians began getting closer, they (the Germans) moved them on boxcars and on foot, with very little food. He once said he thought he should al- ways carry a piece of bread in his pocket the rest of his days so he'd never have to go hun- gry again. (Ed. note: Me too.) "He came home in '45 and quite a few of his chums died of lung conditions soon after the war. Anyway, his nerves were really bad, and with trying to farm and father four boys he was an alcoholic for six years. Then he went to an A. A. centre. It was terribly hard on him, but he quit for six years. Then he ended up with cancer. "He used to tell of all the close calls he had had as a prisoner. Then, one day, he was riding a tractor, standing up and looking for a new calf. The big wheel hit a hole and then another, and threw him over the front and the tractor ran over him. "It broke his right hip and his pelvic bones. He turned over on his stomach and crawled a quarter -mile to the road. He had our faithful dog with him and sent him for help. The dog came back and licked his face, and Jack told him again to get help. He went south to the edge of some neighbor's trees and barked and barked. The farmer was just going with his tractor to work again after supper. He told his wife, who thought it was a coyote, that it was Jack's FOCUS: One Moment of Time Our camera records a child's First Smile . . . makes an official report on the bride's radiance . . Commemorates a trio posed for Dad's birthday surprise. Moments like these can never bo recaptured unless they are per- fectly preserved by HADDEN'S STUDIO. Your family's pictorial history should be in qualified hands. Contact dog and something must be wrong. "When he saw Jack lying there on the road, he thought it was a clump of old rags. Anyway, Jack told us how he prayed and thanked God for the neighbor paying attention to the dog. "In the hospital, the doctor operated on his bladder. The pelvic bones had busted through, and the blood was taking urine all through his system. "Our neighbors had a bee for him and put the crop in. He got home on crutches. That fall, our crop got hailed out. So he sure had his hard knocks in life as well as close calls. "He used to talk about his accidents so he could say, `I'll likely die a mean death.' "So when he found out it was cancer in his lung, he seemed to expect it. He had his operation, and lost his voice all summer and got really thin. Then he gained weight up to 147 pounds and got his voice back, with all our prayers. (But, to summarize, large lump on neck going to brain; loss of control of right hand, burning bedclothes when ciga- rette dropped; mixed up men- tally.) "So I think the prayers helped him to come to his death sooner than he could have. He felt very bad about being a prisoner and being through so much and people didn't appreciate what they went through to save our coun- try for us. He was very sad about Vietnam. "He would just cry when he'd see the Bob Hope show at Christmas, all those young boys going through so much and the big -shots making mil- THURSDAY, MAY 2L 1970 Carrne Women Pian Activities Women's Missionary Society senior group meeting was held at Carmel Presbyterian church with president, Mrs, R, A. Orr opening the meeting by reading the Hymn, "Christ is the Lord, " which was sung at the Synodical in Paris last April. Study and devotional was giv- en by Mrs. Harry Snell and Mrs. Grace McEwen, and those part- icipating with the program were Mrs. Pearl Love, Mrs. Harold Bell, and Mrs, Clarence Volland. Sylvia Bell, daughter of Ivlrs. Harold Bell, played the piano solo very nicely. Mrs. Orr gave the Synodical report, as she was the delegate for both the evening and afternoor W.M.S. Preparations were being made for the 80th anniversary of the W . M. S. Seniors and the 40th for the Arnold Circle W , M . S , for June 8, at 8:15 p.m., with a guest speaker, Mrs. John B. Fox, of London, and guests are invited from Huron Presbyterial, Exeter and Cromarty. Members made their contrib- ution with a prayer to the box of the least coin. Several volunteer- ed to help with the craft work in September at Queensway Nursing home. Mrs. Gordon Schwalm was ap- pointed as the first vice-president which was left vacant by Mrs. George Waly due to her ill health. A thank -you letter was read from Mrs. Fulton of London, for the lovely knitted shirts that sev- eral members and Home Helpers knitted for the under -privileged children of overseas. Meeting was closed and was followed with the Ladies Aid, with President, Mrs. Clarence Volland, and Mrs. Harry Snell as secretary. Several items of interest were discussed during the business session. lions on their deaths and crip- pled lives. "Thanks, Smiley, for listen- ing. I have four boys." Rest in peace, old kriegie. Be of good faith, noble woman. Be good to her, four boys. Business and Professional Directory OPTOMETRISTS J. E. Langstaff OPTOMETRIST SEAFORTH MEDICAL CENTRE 527-1240 Tyesday, Thursday, Friday, Sat- urday a.m., Thursday evening CLINTON OFFICE 10 Issac Street 482.7010 Monday and Wednesday Call either office for appointment. Norman Martin OPTOMETRIST Office Hours: 9-12 A,M, — 1:30.6 P.M. Closed all day Wednesday Phone 235.2433 Exeter Robert F. Westlake Insurance "Specializing in General Insurance" Phone 236-4391 -- Zurish Guaranteed Trust Certificates 33/4% 3, 4 and 5 Year Terms Hadden's Studio 8 V2% 1 and 2 Year Terms GODERICH 118. St. David St. 524-078? J. W. HABERER ZURICH PHONE 236.4346 AUCTIONEERS ALVIN WALPER PROVINCIAL LICENSED AUCTIONEER For your sale, large or small, courteous and efficient service at all times. "Service That Satisfies" DIAL 237.3300 -- ' ASHWOOD FUNERAL DIRECTORS WESTLAKE Funeral Home AMBULANCE and PORTABLE OXYGEN SERVICE DIAL 236-4364 — ZURICH ACCOUNTANTS Roy N. Bentley PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT GODERICH P.O. Box 478 Dial 524-9521 INSURANCE For Safety .. EVERY FARMER NEEDS Liability Insurance For Information About All Insurance -- CaII BERT KLOPP DIAL 236-4988 — ZURICH Representing CO.OPERATORS INSURANCE ASSOCIATION