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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1979-08-16, Page 100:11.,, THE HURON EXPOSITOR, AUGUST 16, 10/9 renaipiy by ANC* Gibb William Donnelly, the handsome 34 -year cid survivor of the DImIlleitt PlassaCrewas an unwanted reminder for the Biddulph: Peace Society that they had failed in their mission to rid the Lucan area of the 'wild kish family. Now a more cautious man than Will would likely have immediately relocated his family to safer territory following the funerals; of his parents, brothers and cousin, but Will Donnelly was never one to back down from a fight- An article in the Expositor reported Donnelly "is possessed f an undaunted courage, as is manifest from the cool • carelessness with which he travels about the locality filled with friends and relatives of the men now awaiting trial in the London ga01.## For Seaford) and area residents, Will Donnelly's story held a special fascination. The man had lived in Zurich for some time and ran a stage line between that town and Seaforth for over a year. The young man, according to the Expositor, often drove the stage himself and was. "exceedingly affable and obliging and was a general &write along the road." In the weeks following the Biddulph. murders, Will Donnelly received a number of threats warning him that his life was still co the line. One letter warned, 'You know well enough whom the slugs were 'intended for that took effect in your brother John. It was a slight miscarriage but it was as well to get Jack out of the way. There may be a slug or two left for you if you don't be careful. . .I am not a man that does anything by halves. My motto is "root and hranch" when a family has to be exterminated by reason of their depredatory and incendiary acts and I believe you are a member of such a famiky .Yours warningly, One Who Knows 't,FOR•IMI••.41,•••••?!...,17.1. ,.1•77P•717aggli••77.M.7.77•••••T•i7••,,•.•• • What He Knows." The letter's author was suspected m. be * london lawyer whose brother .served MI the vigilante; Committee. But ntany newspaper readers liked to believe the letters were actually written by Donnelly himself to win sympathy for the survivors. A letter writer to the Globe went: even further/he suggested Will PotIPCHY bimself !had Oulu his family- RRESTS. The Man Who had to supervise the investigation of the Donnelly murders was William Thomas Trounce Williams, chief of police of London. The men his officers Arrested on suspicion of murder included Incan. constable James •Carroll; John Kennedy Jr., brother-in-law of Will Donnelly; Martin McLaughlin; Thomas Ryder; James. Maher Sr. and Jr.; John, Darcey; Grouchy Ryder; Pat Ryder, Jr., Michael Hennan; William Carroll; John Purtell; Mrs. James Maher and the Maher's hired man, James Shea. At first, several of the prisoners were lodged in the Liman jail, and later moved to London. James Shea proved a particular favorite with the London policemen, since he was a talkative British army veteran who entertained with a string of war stories. As the investigation continued, a number of the original suspects were freed. The men who finally came to.. trial included James Carroll, Martin McLaughlin, John Kennedy, Thomas and James Ryder and John Purtell. The first step in bringing the Biddulph Peace Society to heel was a public inquest held in Lucan shortly after the Donnelly funerals. The witnesses included the three Whalens and young Johnny O'Connor. The O'Connor evidence was the ritnst damning he identified James. Z'..arroil, It*e,r and Purteiiaswembers of the hand Mat tbrolte int* the Donnelly home /end mcd_ ered the familY. IfrPAITIES UNKNOWN" The 15 juirs at the inquest deliberated all night, ably assisted by a pail of beer sent up to their , quarters by a friendly Lucan iperchant, and returned a verdict the next - the'Donnelly family had been killed by "sqm6; ,party oz parties unknown", The general feeling noted by reporters covering the trial Was still that the Donnellys got "just what they deserved." When the Biddulph defendants were brought to the preliminary hearing in the Kddlesex courthpuse, London, on Feb.. 21, there were so many of them they had M sit in, the jurors' box. Their friends and relatives kept them well supplied with gifts,. of food throughout the trial, including fresh fruit and candy, presented to them When court was in session. Again, the major testimony was de- livered by young Johnny O'Connor but this time, Will Donnelly was also called to the stand. He identified John Kennedy, James Carroll and John Ryder as the men who shot his younger brother and testified he also thought he recognized the voices of Martin McLaughlin and James. Ryder in the late night attack at Whalen's Corner, Of the 13 people held on suspicion of the vigilante murders, only eight were commit- ted for trial. With Johnny O'Connor considered the most valuable witness, he was placed under the special protection of London police constable Charles Pope. The O'Connors however, proved to be a trying family. They demanded special cash allowances and better living conditions and Mrs. O'Connor tried unsuccessfully to claim a reward offered by the government C, for information on the :Biddulph murders. le014111y Caistable Pope decided while Johnny was a pleasant young man, he could stand the antics of the family no ionger. The fliddulph murder trial, came up first ott the spring assizes of Middlesex County court, and the defence lawyers pleaded for a change of venue due to feeling in the area. Their appeal was denied but the case , was held over to the fall session of court, The defendants remained in jail where some complained of gaining weight and the jack of exercise. When John Kennedy's mother died, he was refused leave to attend her funeral. The court decided to try former Lucan, constable James Carroll first, and charged hirr, with the murder of Johanna}, Donnelly. Again, Johnny O'Connor offered the key testimony, but this time defence law produced a couple who swore that both the Carroll brothers spent the entire night of the murder in their home. When the :jury went out on Saturday morning, spectators and reporters expected a guilty verdict. Late Saturday the jury returned to the courtroom and announced to the judge they were unable to reach a consensus. Will Donnelly continued his campaign to hunt tip incriminating evidence against the defendants, and the police tried to persuade John Purtell, considered the weakest of the' conspirators, to confess. Purtell resisted. THE LAST TRIAL On Jan. 28, 1881, the Expositor reported the second trial of James Carroll was underway in London and "the witnesses are as reticent as ever, and the evidence has to be dragged from them." When -Johnny O'Connors described 'the beating death of Bridget Donnelly to the crowded courtroom, Carroll became ill and had to be The Sound of Music provides a harmonious finish to season Tattoo featured at CNE The nuron Country Play- singing than doing her house winds up a most assigned chores. She is sent successful season with a off to become governess to family favourite, The Sound the seven children of wealthy of Music. The Rodgers and widower, Captain von Trapp, Hammerstein musical tells played by Peter J. McColl - the true story of the von nell.. Eventually, the Captain Trapp family, who fled from and Maria marry and escape Germany during Hitler's re- from war torn Germany over gime to the safety of the mountains to America, where they became Switzerland. famous folk singers.. 4t ' Cast in the roles of the begins in the abbey of 'children are seven local Nonnberg, Austria, where a. youngsters, Douglas Wood - young postulant Maria, burn, Lisa Cain, Jeff Green - played by Deirdre Van wood, Mary Margaret Winkle, is more intersted in Murphy, Jennifer Canadian Fiadio-television Conseil de la radiodinusio and Tilecommunications et des telecommunications Commission canadiennes Notice of Public Heaeing HULL/OTTAWA 2 OCTOBER 1979, 09:00 : The Canadian Radio -television and Tele- communications Commission will hold a Public Hearing beginning on October 2, 1979 at the Conference Center, Phase '141,, 140 Promenade du Portage, Hull, Quebec to consider the following: ONTARIO REGION JOHN C. WARD, GOWANSTOWN, ONTARIO Mitchell, Seaforth, Ontario and surrounding: ares. [790759500] Application for renewal of its cable television broadcasting licence serving Mitchell, Seaforth, Ontario and surrounding area, expiring March 31, 1980. Locations where the applicatian may be examined: Town Hall, Mitchell, Ontario. Town' Hall, ' Seaforth, Ontario. - GENERAL INFORMATION. How to intervene—Anyone wishing to comment on an application must Submit a written intervention, stating clearly and ''concisely the relevant facts and the reasons for the intervener's support for, opposition to, or proposed modification of, the appli- cation - also whether or not the,intervener wishes to appear at, the hearing. Deadline for receipt of interventions at the Commission and with the Applicant: September 12, 1979. - to be sent by registered mail or personal delivery to Applicant and CRTC Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0N2 with proof of service. Must be actually received on specified date, not merely posted on this date. Examination of Applications and Documents —At local address given in this notice and at the Commission, Central Building, Les Terrasses de la Chaudlere, 1 Promenade du Portage, Room 561, Hull, Quebec. Further information Is outlined in Rules of Procedure available for the sum of 35 Cents from: The Publishing Centre, Printing Centre, Printing and Publishing, Department of Supply and Services, 270 Albert Street, Ottawa, Ontario. Information: Write to CRTC or phone 819-997-1027 or 997-1328. Ottawa J.G. Patenaudo, August '7,1979 Acting Secretary Genoial. CRTC - Public Notice 1979-97 McCrindle, Myvonney God- win and Cathenne lnculet. Also in the cast are Trudy Mason, Sister Barbara Ianni, Lynda Maxwell, Nancy Kerr, Philip Street, lOmberley McCaffrey, Mark Bolton, Patty Gail', John Heath, Mark Flear, Joseph Vayda, Celia Punter, Elaine Allen, Jillian Brown and Kathy Kaszas. The Sound of Music, is directed by James Murphy, musical direction is by Erna Van Daele with choreography by Jillian Brown. The show opens on August 22 and plays through September 1, except August. 28. Two preview perform- ances will be held on Tuesday, August 21 and Wednesday, August 22 The glory and pageantry of Scotland's colourful heritage will echo throughout Tor- onto's Canadian National Exhibition from August 16 to 19 with the staging of the 1979 Scottish World Festival Tattoo at Exhibition Stad- ium. Featuring the Scots Guards and the Royal High- land Fusiliers from Britain and Australia's Scots College . the Tattoo is a two -and -a -half hour spectacle unmatched anywhere in the World. The '79 Tattoo, with an international cast of •over 1,200 performers, also will feature bagpipe bands from Scotland, Australia, North ern Ireland, England and Canada, plus some of the world's finest military bands from the British Isles and the Blyth to hold benefit Patrons will have one last chance to see This Foreign. Land at the Blyth Summer. Festival this year. A benefit performance of the play has been scheduled for Saturday, August 18 at 2 p.m. All proceeds from the per- formance will be donated to the Actors' Fund of the Canadian Actors Equity Association. Actors, technicians and administrative staff will be volunteering their time and services, over and above their regular duties, in order to make this performance a success. The total of all admissions paid to the performance will be used to aid those actors who, through, illness or misfor- tune,' have become unable to practise their craft. Admissionto this perform- ance is at regular Festival prices -- S4.25 for adults, $3.50 for senior citizens, and S2.50 for children. Re- servations for the perform- ance must be made through the Festival's main box office (phone 523-9300). The final performance of This 'Foreign Land will be that evening, August 18, at 030 p.m. ATTEIV11ION QUIL'TERS A Quilting at Bethel s • Bible Church Aug. 21-24 for WOODSTOCK AREA TORNADO VICTIMS Donations of qullt tops linings and baths. apprecbited Phone 527-0119 527-0952' toestit itai***** Huron 4 .co ca* ,0 Tavern e e #'4 N.° Wed.—Sat. & Sat. Matinee IP. • • read Et Buttert 11111 Conthmous Entertainment from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. lilt III HIGHWAY /08 DUBLIN 345.2820 1111/ $11i4.0.44Vipas Next Weekend Applause Dining Room Open Daily from 12 Noon Good Old -Fashioned Home -Cooked Meals United States. Also included in the '79 Tattoo will be the grace and beauty of 80 champion High- land Dancers...the daredevil of acrobatics of the Royal Engineers Gymnastic Team, one of Britain's best the colourful Musical Ride to the Pipes by the. Metro Toronto Police equestrian unit...and the Stirring High- land songs of Glasgow's Jack. Whyte. . SUMMER T1MES'79 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Monday, August 20th - a.m. tennis instruction, 9-11:30 SDHS. No fee. - 1 p.m. craft afternoon (pavillion) Tuesday, August 2Ist - 9-11:30 a.m, tennis instruction - 1 p.m. water afternoon Wednesday, August 22nd - 9-11:30 a.m. tennis instruction - 1 p.m. Basketball skills competition Thursday, August 23rd - Mini Golf *Please register, fee to cover costs Friday, August 24th - Mini tennis tourney (for those taking lessons) COMMERCIAL HOTEL SEAFORT)-1 This week & Sat. Matinee -,j1NETTEHPpRTER-$.1101N-r: Next week & Saturday Matinee Deacon York and the Fire "n" Brimstone Band FIN F. FOOD FINE F,\'FFH'1'1'\1F"I s Thursday, August 16 , 8:30 p.m. Ethel Community Hall PURPOSE: TO discuss the Grey township secondary plan Grey tovOnShip Counell • temporarily excused, since, according, to his doctor, he was suffering from rheumatism of the heart. In the end, after hearing over 90, witnesses, the jury returned a verdict of "not guilty" and James Carroll and the other defendants were discharged, carried out of the courtroom on the shoulder of their exuberant supporters. The verdict was also greeted with cheers when it was posted on the door of the Lucan post office. The Expositor, in announcing the decision, concluded "it is now likely the perpetrators of the horrible crime will forever remain hidden, unless some providential occurrence will hereafter disclose the mystery." Will Donnelly left Lucan and operated a hotel in the town of Appin, where he died' at the age of 52 years, aged by the family tragedy. Mysterious fires, and many ef tke vigilante committee died either violent or tragic deaths. Bob Donnelly, another Of the family's sundvors, did return toLIMO, and operated the West End hotel for many years, dying in 1911 in the Ontario Hospital for the Insane. The vigilantes did escape punishment for their crime, but their descendants have often been plagued by historians, writers and just curiosity seekers, still trying to solve the mystery of the Biddulph murders. The Biddulphites, by taking the law into their own hands, have .assured James Donnelly and his family an undying place in the annals of Canadian folklore, which is, perhaps the final irony of that night in February, 1880. See the CANADIAN, NATIONAL EXHIBITION Special .Buses leave Bus Depot in Daily Except Sundays GODERICH (Goderich Taxi) - 7:55 A.M. CLINTON (Bartliff's Bakery) 8:20 SEAFORTH (United Trails) 8:35 MITCHELL (Cosy Grill) 8:50 STRATFORD (Gray Coach) 9:20 Daily August 15 - Sept. 3 For reservations ca Goderich Clinton Seaforth Mitchell Sundays 9:55 A.M. 10:20 10:35 10:50 11:20 Stratford Goderich Taxi Bartliff's Bakery United Trails Cosy Grill United Trails 43 West St. 46 Albert St, 100 Main St. -25 Ontario Rd. 9 Market P1. 524-2092 . , 482-9727 527-1222 348-8741 ' • 271-7741 Coach House Travel 59A Harnilton St. 2 • or can United Trails 527-1'222. 524-2615 OPEN HOUSE HYLAND SEEDS invites you to join us for a tour of our HYBRID CORN, SOYBEAN, WHITE- BEAN & COLOURED • PERFORMANCE TRIAL PLOTS TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 1979 TIME: 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. LOCATION: THE BELL BROS. FARM ON No. 4 HIGHWAY, 1/2 MILE SOUTH OF HENSALL. — Refreshments will be served — NOTE: In case of rain the date will be Wednesday, August 29th. W. G. THOMPSON & SONS LIMITED, BEAN .\ • The Huron -Perth County Roman Catholic Separate School Board REGISTRATION OF NEW STUDENTS i(Kindergarten to Grade 8) Parents of Kindergarten students who have not yet registered their children or residents new to the Huron -Perth area may register their children at any of the follosking schools on - • TH'URS'PAY,,AP,,19V,S173017H..:;•:„.,,-.. . between the hours of 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m HURON COUNTY SCHOOLS St. Joseph's School (KINGSBRIDGE) Mr. David Zyluk. Principal R.R.#3. GODERICH (529-7646) St. Columban School (ST. COLUMBAN) Mr. Ray Contois, Principal R .R.#2. DUBLIN (345-2086) Our Lady of Mount Carmel School Mr. Gary Birmingham, Principal R.R.3, (Mount Carmel) DASHWOOD (237-3.3,7) Ecole Ste. Marie Mrs. Lilliane Laporte. Principal R.R./2, ZURICH (236-4860) St. Joseph's School Mr. Donald Farwell. Principal 169 Beech St.. CLINTON (482-7035) Precious Blood School Mr. Laurie Kraftcheck. Principal Saunders St., EXETER (235-1691) St. Mary's School • Miss4ietty Clark, Principal 70 Bennett St., E. GODERICH (524-9901) Sacred :Heart School Mrs. Mary O'Malley, Principal. • Box 68. Corny,. St., WINGHAM (357-1090) St. James School Sister Theresa Mader, Principal Chalk St., SEAFORTH (527.0321) St. Bonifate School Mr. Gactan Blanchette, Principal Box 128, ZURICH, (236.4335) PERTH COUNTY SCHOOLS St.. Patrick's School Mr. Larry Cook, Principal Mill St., DUBLIN (345-2033) Kindergarten children need to be 5 years of ago on or before' Decembir 310, 1979. Where there are suffklent student spaces, a child, who, attains the age of 5 yeart after the: 31sti of December but prior to the 31st of January, may wi the request Of the parent, be registered In Kindergarten for the school yam: Please bring Birth Certificate, Social insurance Numberkif available. 0.H.I.P. Number, Immunization Cards and any other pertinent health records at the time of registraton.