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The Seaforth News, 1962-06-14, Page 2777171-7777' 7 Fioneyrnoon Mixed With Murder The beautiful, raven,haired Madame Giraudin had married again, With her new husband went a social uplift, for he was Mr, Vete Goold, of a noble Irish family, After the wedding they honey- mooned. in Monte Carlo — and lost heavily at the tables. They Were forced to borrow from a rich Danish widow, Mrs. Levin, whom they had met at the ca. sino. When the Danish woman de- cided to leave Monte Carlo, she sent a note to the Goolds, re- questing the return of the money. Mrs, Goold was proud of her new position, and did not want to lose face with the interna- tional set, She worked out a . plan. The widow always carried a good deal of money and decked herself with diamonds, She would conte to the apartment to collect the loan before leaving the Riviera. Mrs, Goold decided that the Danish woman would not leave alive. The temptingly rich Mrs. Levin, carrying a parasol, left her expensive Hotel Bristol suite to collect the debt they could not possibly repay. And Estelle, the young Gi- raudin niece they had invited to live with them, had gone to visit friends. Mrs. Goold received the Dan- ish widow smilingly, and rapid- ly appraised the diamonds she wore, Her husband found it hard to smile. He had been into the town to buy, among other things, a hammer, a carving knife and a pair of saws. "Come drink this brandy, darling," she had urged, handing him a tumbler. "It will give you the courage." Trembling, he had drained it, and felt better. Now she was saying: "Cheri, please go and get what you have to give Madame Levin;" He went into the next room, and re-emerged with the ham- mer. Mrs. Levin was chatting casually with his wife. He dared not hesitate a second. As he struck at the woman she gave a stifled scream. His wife sprang forward to make sure she could not reach the win- dow. The frantic, deadly blows sil- enced Mrs. Levin. She slumped in a heap, staining the floor with her blood, Mrs, Goold poured more bran- dy for them both. Then they got busy, with not a moment to lose before Estelle's return. When Estelle got back, her aunt had a plausible story ready to explain the stains on the car- pet. Her poor uncle had sudden- ly been taken ill with a serious haemorrhage. They must leave her and go at once to Marseilles to consult a specialist. Their trunk was packed and locked, ready. Mrs. Goold had a story, too, for the concierge, who might have seen Mrs. Levin arrive. "What da you think? This friend came here asking for money, At such a time! I was terribly upset, and she left in a lit of temper by the side door." The guilty pair caught a train that same evening — August 6th, 190/. They deposited the trunk in the luggage room at Marseilles and told the clerk that they would be taking it on to Lyons the following day. They put up at the Hotel du Louvre. Mrs. Levin had told the man- ager of her hotel that she was leaving, but she had not taken her luggage. That was the Goolds' first mistake. writes Trevor Allen in "Tit-Eits". And why should the pair want to take a heavy trunk with them, merely to eonsuik a specialist at Marseilles? They did not know that the Danish woman had told a friend that she was calling on the Goolds. She had told a Mine, Castel- lazzi, who made a point of calling at the Hotel Bristol that evening, 'and when Mrs. Levin had not re- turned by midnight, went to the police and demanded that they make inquiries, A startled Estelle received the officers in her nightgown and explained why her uncle and aunt had gone to Marseilles. The policemen nodded and be- gan looking over the apartment. — casually at first, then more thoroughly after noticing the hastily cleaned -up bloodstains on. the carpet. Pushed out of sight in drawers, a cupboard and odd corners, they found the stained hammer, knife and saws wrapped in newspapers and blood-soaked. cloths. They also found a parasol. which Mme. Castellazzi instantly identified as Mrs. Levin's, and the Danish woman's note saying she would call, The luggage clerk at Marseilles noticed blood oozing from one faulty corner of the large trunk. As soon as he could, he went along to the Hotel du Louvre to report the matter. "Oh," said Mr, Goold affably, "that trunk has poultry in it," and tipped him for his trouble. But the clerk decided to tell the police. They told him the trunk was not to be removed, The clerk then went back to the hotel to inform Mr. Goold. of the decision, and found him and his wife ready to resume their journey. Goold did not • ap- pear to be greatly concerned about the trunk. Whatever was decided about it, he said airily, he and his wife intended catch- ing their train. They took a cab to the station — and there they found police officers guarding the trunk. Goold was still seemingly unper- turbed, but his wife turned pale. In the trunk police had found the dismembered limbs of the Goolds' victim, Mrs. Goold was wearing some of the widow's jewellery. Arrested, Goold said that the Danish woman had quarrelled with a jealous lover while visit- ing their apartment, and had been stabbed. He and his wife, fearing that they would be accused of sour - der, had panicked and disposed of the body. But, when he heard that his. wife had told quite a different - story, he confessed. He said that he alone was guilty of the mur- der. The trial, however, left no doubt that the woman was the instigator of the crime. She was condemned to be guillotined. He was given a life sentence. A reprieve enabled Mrs. Goold to join her husband in the penal colony, and there they died — she of fever, he committing sui- cide soon afterwards. MADE -OVER TALE In this year's version of an oft -told tale, according to Ben- net Cerf, it's Brigitte Bardot who stepped out of a shower in her Paris Ritz suite and found a window washer gazing raptur- ously at her from his perch out- side the bathroom. Miss Bardot was reportedly too stunned even to reach for her traditional towel; she just stared and stared. Finally, the window washer broke the impasse by hollering, in colloquial French. "Whatsa- matter, lady? Ain't you never seen a window washer before?" LOOK-ALIKES — Two ladies in the British spotlight show a shriking resemblance to each other. Rita Tushingham, new jnovie star, poses against a tree near London with a serious sok-alike expression of Princess Margaret right, who leans ergainst o pillar at Clarence House, her London residence. ROYAL NUPTIALS — Don Juan Carlos of- gpai;enand; Princess Sophie of Greece were married in Athens, Greece i •' s HItONICLES hNGERFARM c��.ao�.�e o.cieeie It pays to have a bird feeding station. This past week besides the usual run of sparrows, rob- ins, and starlings we have seen an oriole, a downy woodpecker, flickers, brown thrashers and dozens of red -winged blackbirds — and a budgie bird! At first I thought the latter was a blue bird. Then I remembered a neighbour had put her budgies out for an airing and somehow or other the cage door came open and away went the budgies. Our neighbour hopefully set the sage on a table but so far the budgies have shown no inclina- tion to forego their new found freedom. Who can blame them but how long can they sur- vive, find their own feed and escape prowling cats who look upon, birds as legitimate prey? Fortunately our Ditto does not bother much about hunting birds but she will crouch motionless for ever so long out in the field watching for mice. Well, I expect green thumb experts have been busy in the garden just lately, We are not experts but we have been busy. In fact Partner was up at Bob's for two days putting in shrubs for them as he and Joy decided to do a little landscape garden- ing at the front of their house. While Partner was away the grass and dandelions at home really took a jump and I also had a new shrub for him to plant when he got home. It is a viburn- um. I saw one in a friend's garden; she told me it had beau- tiful white blossom heads and a perfume that spread all over the district. That was enough for me — I love flowers that smell sweet as well as look nice. One way and another it was a busy week. One day I was at a Press Club luncheon to hear Vida Peane tell about the plans that are being made by the Cen- tennial Conunittee for celebrat- ing Canada's Centennial in 1967. Apparently it is something to which every organization should be giving some thought — in fact many have made tentative plans already. Some are arranging to finance scholarships of various kinds — for science, music, medicine, literature and so on. Others are making a point of having local histories written and published — which I think is a grand idea. Too much his- tory ras already been lost, and so many lovely old buildings have been demolished to make way for modern industry and super -highways. We should at least have pictures and records to show these places at one time did actually exist. The next night our doctor came in for a social visit and stayed until nearly one o'clock, arguing with Partner about poli- tics and world affairs. He was born in Central Europe and had many unpleasant experiences during World War II, including going home one time after an absence of eighteen months to find his father had been taken away and killed, by the Com- munists. As regards Canadian politicis he contends that none of the political parties in Canada have a man to head the . party who can really qualify as a true leader. Then .we got on to social- ized medicine to which he is naturally opposed, not only for the sake of the doctors but for the patients themselves. But he does think that medical benefits s ISSUE 22 1962 a n d hospitalization generally could do with an overhauling.. That some patients are six hospi- taI who shouldn't be there, tak- ing up beds that areurgently needed by more serious eases still on the waiting Iist. With that I agree because I know of. several such instances. It. is often less trouble for the fancily to have those with chronic com- plaints in hospital than to look after them at home. And I cant see that socialized medicine is likely to help that situation at all, Well, in Iighter vein, you often hear the expression — 'What you give you get in return." It generally refers to some form of retribution as the result of a mean or unkind act. But you know: it can be just'the opposite. For instance Saturday I was do- ing some last minute shopping, which I generally try to avoid. At the grocery store there was the usual line-up at the cash registers. At my desk I was second in line. Presently I turn- ed around and there was a lady with just three items in her hands. Well, you know how ir- .ritating it is to buy just a few things and. then have to wait while customers ahead cash in with a whole cart -load of gro- cerries. So I said to this lady — "You go ahead of me — you have so little." At first she pro- tested but in the end she accept- ed my offer. Then after she had cashed in she turned to me and offered me her stamps. Then it was my turn to .protest but she said — "No, you take them, I have no use for them." (I pre- sume she was not a regular cus- tomer at that store.) So you see -'what I mean — I gained a few stamps by being just a little bit considerate of another per- son. And I rather fancy we both felt glad things happened the way they did. It's the sort of thing that gives one a nice conr- forfable feeling. Q. Is it proper to use the ab- breviations — Chas., Jas., Robt., or Wm. — when addressing en- velopes or in the writing of salutations to letters? A. Abbreviated names are never proper in salutations. But if a man usually abbreviates his name in his signature, you may follow suit in addressing your envelope to hint. You Can Help Nab Hit -And -Run Divers By Patrol Sgt,,Don Sazrnder's as told to. HAI, TENNAN'1` As the man in charge of the hit-and-run squad of Metropoli- tan Toronto Polite, 1 have the kind of job where you neves' know what's going to happen next Just the same, 1 can confi- dently make one prediction, dur- ing the next 30 days, at Least 200 motorists within our jurisdiction will become hit-and-run drivers. It doesn't make any difference whether an accident is big or small; whether only, a. fender was, ereased or a pedestrian lofted'; whether the fleeing driver is to' blame for 11 or not; whether lie' hit or got Crit; or whether he stepped on the gas a moment after the. crash or got out and' lingered a while at the' scene — any driver who, leaves without identifying himself or offerings assistance to the injured is corn - miffing an offense under the. Canadian Criminal' Code, and the police must try to catch' him, If you''re' surprised to hear of any city averaging 200 or more hit-and-run cases a month you're Probably going by what you see in the newspapers and hear on the air: Quite naturally, only the really spectacular cases ever get much publicity, Car for car, Tor- onto is probably no worse than most Canadian' cities and towns, and better than some;, in, its rate of hit-and-run eases. Conserva- tive estimates for all' Canada, ran to 15,000 cases. last year with one out of every seven hit-and-run. accidents involving bodily injury, When it has reached those pro6 portions, I'dtnand-run is obvious- ly a crime. that no police force,. however efficient, can hope to' control without considerable help from citizens at large; Most people when they stop to think about it,. realize that hit- and-run—mare, than armed rob- bery or murder—is a crime in, which' we are all potential vie• tiros' sad may become, actual' vic- tims: at almost any time; by the sheerest chance, It's easy to' visualize your own parked ear being smashed by a• hit-and-run' driver. It isn't hard to imagine somebody in your family as a hit-and-run victim left lying. on the street, perirape dying for want of medical attention or in danger est getting, stnuek a second ' time. We don't have lo spell out such possibilities when we ques- tion Ibystand'ers and ask for their help. But we often wish that more people at the scene had known before the accident what they could do to increase• our chanes of catching the wanted driver and presenting a full' ease its court. "Whodunit' writers a 1 w ay s, make a big point of the fact that the tiniest and most s1'rpposedly trivial scrap cif information or evidence can be enormously im- portant in pollee work. But it's true, anti both police and public would benefit if everybody real- ized how true it can be in, hit- and-run cases. The fact that the driver was a young -looking man, for instance, can be enormously useful to us as we piece together the details of a case. Suppose we are given that fact and then, from another witness, we get a license number. We may find that the registered owner is a middle-aged man. We'Il knock at the owner's door, and when a middle-aged man answers, we may ask, "Ts your son home, please?" Nobody of course has told us the man has a son, much less a son who was driving the suspect car at the time of the accident. But if we've guessed wrong, nobody is hurt. On the other hand,.if our hunch is right, the son will figure we know a lot more than we really do. He may agree at once to come to the station and make a state- ment, Naturally, the first thing we hope to get from witnesses at a hit-and-run scene is a description of the hit-and-run car—the li- cense number, the make, the madrl, the chlor. 13ut 11 y'ez're;.. ever et su;;r un aceldent, notice that the pollee ate also anxious to know whetlit,z the ear bad any distinguishing marking* (such as a broken window> or equipment or ornaments (such tie. a (oxtail on the radio antenna). We want to know whether any. body got even a glimpse of .the driver, whether he was alone, in what manner he was driving, whether he switched all his lights (somebody tattier along the street might remember seeing. a car go by with, its lights out) and' even the direction the driver was headed, Some witnesses would he a bot more help, to, esthey would, write down what they see — especiaU''y license numbers., which are harder to'rememrber titan yon, think. If you're ever a witness, and you don't have' a' pencil or paper when, you seethe license,. concentrate on the first three digits and scratch all the num- bers, yore see irrlo' the• dirt( at tire roadside, or write them with your finger in the dust en the side, of a oat or building and guard them until you do get a, pencil. One very prominent citi- zen ryas dismayed, one night, a• couple of year's ago, to find the, police knocking on, his door with- in an hour after he had oommiti. ted a hit-and-run. Itt was no, feat! of magic on our part: an alert' witness had accurately recorded the man's license number as he was fleeing from the scene. (An- other motorist, however, gave us the best license identification we ever expect to get .in a hitrand- run case: his license plate fell off right at the scene!) On the other hand a woman once swore that a certain hit= and -run car had a' license begin- ning 1'53-4. Two of our men spent hours copying down the names and addresses of car owners whose licenses began with these numbers—taken in any order, in case the. woman, had' the order confused, Since we knew the make of the car, our men were 1 able' to, eliminate a' Ibtt of names,. ' but even at that, they came back with about 200 names and ad- dresses. We had' to check out' every one. It was an' enormous i job,. but tab's ease, was a fatality,. and we were, determined' to solve. it. We checked every .name — and got nowhere. Later, the' driver turned hiinself in. His li- cense didh't aontaiia even one. of the, numbers- the woman, gave us. Eaten so,. we would' rather have. . false leads like, that than, no. Leads at all. Ekcept for hit -and -aunt. drivers and their companions,. people ael'dbm' give us_ false ire formation: on. purpose, and! ft's- x• matter of professional, thorough} mess with' us to check out every. tip, Metro' Toronto, police anent unique in thi's way. No, matter where you. live,. you' can be sure' that any information you, give• youv police fbrce,about a hit -and - ran accident will lie followed' urn exhaustively,. Just as seemingly trivial recol- lections et witnesses can be inc,- portant, so, can tiny scraps of physical evidence. It's ineved'ible' what scientists can deduce in the lab from bias mf' grass, paint,. metal and mud—the commonest pieces of physical evidence in hit -and -rim cases. It therefore behooves you,, as a witness or bystander, to leave such evidemce' undisturbed. (Continued Next Week) "Do you think a light bu ming itt the window would loot.'" JET SMASHES HOUSE—Firemen look at the ruins of a house in Pittsburgh, that was sliced in half and set afire when struck by a Michigan Air National Guard F 84 jet, The pilot safely boiled out after the plane developed engine trouble while coming in for an emer- gency landing, Two women in the house were injured.