The Huron Expositor, 1980-10-02, Page 14'''77'7,7f:VC77175. • ,
77,
7 7,
7777'.77"77,77
once the first picture of the' dapper Mt. McCardle was
'publistred'in loeill papers, Beechvgood area eesidents were
Confident he was the sante "Btlrley" McCardle who had
once led raids on the St, Colueeban stOre.
Io the years sitiee, he'd left the SC Columban parish,
McCardle had .worked first in Alabama, and then at a
variety of jobs around the United States, sometimes
travelling under aliases , like Parker and Connelly.
The night McCardle was brought hack to, Loath* he'd
no sooner stepped off the train, hat pulled down over his
eyes, when an overly zealous pews photograpber reached.
forward, knocked his hat off; and snapped a picture,
IVIeCerille felt a sharp pain in his arm, and for the next
several hones coniplained to jail guards that he thought
something was amiss. When a &dor Was finally called, be
foued MeCardle's arm had also been "snapped" (broken)
by the photographer.
The next day, when he was' brought to court, McCardle
nodded aud smiled at %embers of the press, .and when
asked about his arm, said, "I know it wifee't intentional, so
, tie bard feelings,"
Almest immediately, the press deseribed McCardle as
"the brains of the gang," sometimes also calling him a
Chicago gangster. Once McCardie had regained his
spirits, and changed from the tired, frightened man who
stepped off the train to Soinething of a minor celebrity, he
wasted no time in co-operating with police.
Serendipity
• • .
by Ake dik413'
•
By September, 1935e 'When Premier William Aberhart
was visiting his Mother in Seaforth, the London police
were investigating reports that another kidnapper, one
AlbertPrearam of Detroit, had been shot and killed by,
rival gangsters. They were also 'a4lcing questions about
RuseellYlenOwles;ea" known cohort 'of McCardle's, and a
Windsor Man. named John Hannon:
By mid-September, Murray had launched a $50,000
damage suit against John Labatt for "alleged malicious
persecution aid wrongful imprisodmeht." He claimed his
health suffered due to worry during his imprisonment and
that his false arrest caused great hardship for his family,
The man who returned to Kentucky with oply $2 in his
pocketebletstrouleteralsiwg-the money to pay a lawyer tor
. THE MASTERMIND
Frit, he told police he'd devised a plan to kidnap Labatt
as early as 1930. Sure eneugh, he had discussed the
proposition with David Meisner in a:Detroit hotel in July,
1934, but Meisner made no bones about the fact he didn't
want to be involved in the plot.
"Who was the mastermind?" eskerlehe crown.
"I gave some directions, but 1 wasn't' any dictator,"
McC,,ardle replied.
While McCardle 'wasted no time in clearing David
Meisner and "Piccolo Pete" Murray, his confession
implicated three other Men, inclu4ifig Londoner Louis
McCaughey.
McCaughey was not a man 'operating on the edge of the
law, as the other kidnappers were -.he was sales manager
of Labatts, and had been a trusted employee of" the
company for years. According to McCardle, he was also
one of thee kidnappers, and though -he hadn't played an
active role in the plot, he was, in for a five -way split of the
ransom money.
On August 27, 1935, after another short trial, Piccolo
Pete Murray was released. He'd served seven months in
jail on a false charge.
Reporters met him at the door of the prison and asked
what his plans were.
BAD BEER?
"1 am going to send a wire to my wife and then I am
going to see if John Labatt's beer is as bad as his
eyesight," was his quick response. He also warned he'd
be seeking compensation for the time he'd been unjustly
imprisoned.
launchimthe eivil suit. •
Once Iviaiel Mccerdle's trial, was underway, the
London' Free Press devoted pages to the courtroom
testimony - no one had to bother attending court,' it was
printed verbatim in the paper.
McCardle admitted in court he tried to drive a bargain
with police by confessing in order to get a lighter sentence.
When he was asked to write out the kidnap note, as
dictated by a court official, he spelled 17 of the 20 words
correctly. However, be explained it was Knowles who
dictated the noted originally and "he is a college
graduate."
' Ironically, many of the witnesses who'd so positively
identified David Mele'ner as , a kidnapper, hesitated in
identifying McCardle. Many who'd seen Labatt and his
kidnappers in the Muskoka area didn't recognize
McCardle in court.
Closer to home, when his two sisters ,were shown his
photo, they also weren't certain he Was the same man
who'd left the 'family farm 26 years before.
John Basil Bannon, identified by police as the "one-time
wealthy Windsor rpm runner' and by himself as a real
estate agent, was the man who originally informed police
Mee -tittle -was -in ehe-Crown Point -jail.
STOOL PIGEON
Bannon, 43, claimed he was paid 5500 by police to act as
a "stool pigeon" - McCardle testified Bannon•was in on
the plot from the start. McCardle testified it was Bannon
who told him Louis McCaughey wanted to -join the plot -
Bannon later told the court the suggestioh of implicating
the Labatt's employee was "the biggest joke ever,"
(McCaughey was exonerated by the court).
The trials went on for weeks - Russell Knowles wasn't
finally convicted and sentenced until February. 1936,
looking "as -dapper as ever" in court.
D,uring his testimony, the Beechwood native admitted
he planned to kidnap Labatt much earlier, '.but hesitated
wireiehe leertieerthe nehmen!e hlad heart trouble:He s
the two men who'd assisted him in the actual kidnappi
were Iteee;e11 :Knowles end Albert Pegram. but that
Barrie* and, McCatilhey Were to share in the ransom. '
*hen the prosecutor asked McCardie if he had served
time in prison before, McCardle wouldn't aeswer.
"Well, you don't lay claim to being any saint?" the
prosecutor asked.
"NO, not eeaCtly,'" McCardle replied.
' This time, John Labatt wis Much more hesitant in
positively identifying his kidnappers. He told the court, "I
don't feel as sere about these things as I did." It was
hardly a surprising reaction.' Meisner, a shy, lean man
with a Very noticeable white growth over his eye hardly
resembled' the dark, bushy -haired, 180 -pound McCardle,
On Nov. 2, 1935, the judge handed down his decision on
the kidnapping. Michael McCardle, because he'.dassisted
police, reeleved a 12 year sentence to Portsmouth, John
Basil Bannon received a 15 year sentence as did Russell
Knowles.
,____When..McCardiew,as aske'd-after-sentencing-if he had
any last words for the court, he rose and addressed Jan"
Labatt. „
NO DANGER
• - "Ievish to say that while Me. Labatt was held captive, he
was never in any danger ofpersonal injury. 1 also wish him
to know that there will never be any rep risal against him
or members of his family forco-operating with the police
or testifying in court."
The %own noted, "If 'anyone but McCardle had been in
eharge,1 believe Mr. Labatt would have lost his life. A
weaker or more vicious man would have killed him.
The judge, a Magistrate HaWkshaw, had the final word.
He told McCardle," 'YOu. came- from a very respectable
parentage and as a boy were well -represented in that
locality. You saw fif to go across the border and associate
with gangsters.''
David Meisner, the Ashfield Township native, was
fray granted, a secood triae and in March, 1936, after
deliberating ke seenhours, a jury found himenot guilty of
kidnapping Labatt. Meisner, who had spent a year and a
half in a Kingston prison for a crime he didn't commit, told
reporters he was sure his prison sentence had led to his
mother's early death. With the charges behind him, he
wanted to return to Kentucky and open a haberdashery.
What happened to Michael James Francis McCardie -
one rumour is that he died while serving out his sentence. I
haven't yet traced the final chapter in the story, but 1
hope the charming rogue from Beechwood didn't meet an
unpleasant end.
John Labatt, -president of the brewery from 1915-1950,
died of natural causes in 1953 - and his celebrated
kidnapping received only one brief mention in his
obituary.
(I would like to thank W.G. Strong of Ottawa for sending
me the original information on McCardle's involvement
and sending me to spend many interesting hours reading
reports of the crime and trial in back. issues of the London-.
Free.Press.)
ft
On the Orient Express toe Istanbut
After almost freezing to death during the night in a rail
passenger car without heat. and then repaying the Turkish
rail system by taking two breakfasts for the price of one.
things returned to normal on the ride.
A disproportionately large part of 'the day was spent
doing nothing aside from enjoying endless amountkof heat
that had been denied the night before. Soon reading and
visiting took their usual place at the forefront of
recreational activities.
Most evenings saw gatherings develop In one or another
of the compartments monopolized by travellers like
ourselves. 'This night was no exception. and, as is the
norm. meeting peeple was the main aim of the sessions.
On this evening. the most hit -meting character was an
American j011iTtliiSt WHO was heading to Europe via the
Orient Express. SOTI/ChOW. though I'm net sure bf the
details, this train' winds its way from the ar East to
Vienna, and includes vast stretches of
Russia on the itinerary.
That, in itself, was a fascinating story, but equally
interesting was the fact that the journalist had been
working it:Japan for two years both as a freelances and for
a large American daily. He had been reassigned to
Europe. .
Granted, it wet all second hand, but the tales he had to
•tell about the teed of the Rising Sun were still -
enlightening. Two years had given him a good look, and
he was more than willing to share his visions.
It all added up to good entertainment as the train slowly
wound its way trough the mountains towards Istanbul.
Later that night, the second and most disturbing event
on the trip took place. Perhaps not wanting to be outdone
by the Turkish tictics of the night before (not heat). the
three Pakistanis had come up with a plan of their own.
which they calmly announced when we returned that
night.
The door of thekoompartment was locked.
"Go sleep somewhere else." was their command. "Go
sleep in your friends' compartment."
TI. eve"'
COMMER CIAL
HOTEL
SE4F()RTH
THIS WEEK'S EMERTANMENT
Wednesday to Salm-day
and Satueday Matinee 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Steve Wilson
& The Good Old Boys
NEXT WEEK'S ENTERTAINMENT
Wednesday to Saturday
and Saturday Matinee 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Midnight Blues
pREE
Pork
Barbecue
Saturday
night 6-8
FINE FOOD
FINE ENTERTAINMENT
New Column
by Herb Shoveller
Evidently they were bitter that most of our days were
spent travelling up and down the narrow passages of the
train.
Our ally In the comperiment, the girl from France, was
out, and we suspected a similar fate had awaited het
earlier that evening.
The entire situation was making it difficult to keep these
three fellows in my good books. Several Minor altercafions
had already takett place over the first three days on the
train, but all had been disposed of diplomatically. This was
the one that punstred it over the limit.
There are ways to, handle such- situations, the most
obvious being to find a train attendant arid let him use his
autherity to put down the uprising. There were none to be
feared. Somehow. I was glad of that. because something
deep inside me wanted a showdown.
The plan was simple. Get help from friends.
White we were off gathering troops for a nicely designed
one-sided battle. the Pakistanis played their hand. They
really didn't want the compartment to themselves: they
had another aim tn mind, and it all focussed on thd girl,
who arrived during MU absence.
By the time we returned with our unarmed forces, the
entire play had been performed. The girl had somehow
Managed to get away from them and was safely stowed in
anotAer compartment. Meanwhile, the three feliows were
feverishly explaining this misunderstanding to Turkish
officials who had developed out of thin air. Remarkably the
whisk offait blew over quickly. The girl. for her own
reasons, did not need any involvement with the police, and
it was all over as quickly as it began.
In spite of our corripartment mates' endless attempts to
make life and the trip miserable kr as, there were too
many good things going on.
Friendships grow rapidly when one is travelling. it
seems, and the process is even faster when the travelling
is done on trains. The train doesn't have to be somewhere
in the dark depths of Turkey. at between Tokyo and
Vienna, for it to wink. It happens between Cepreol and
Wawa, too.
NOT ON BUSSES
It doesn't happen on busses. Maybe it's because you are
packed on to those coaches like so many sardines. or
maybe it's because one is gra nteu so ' personaspace'
on a bus that any kind of concilliatory move means
foreUking some of that boundary.
. Trains are different. You don't have to battle to mark out
Blyth Lions
BINGO
Every Saturday night
8 P.M.
Blyth Memorial Hall
JACKPOT $150.00
IN 80 CALLS
your territory, and in the same sense you are not restricted
by it. The end result is riding on trains • makes one
friendlier.
, A case in point: It is high in the Turkish mountains on a
right. sunny. cold winter day. The train, as is the norm in
this country, has ground to halt for no apparent reason.
AT ter an hour, there is no movement a d. if this were a
bus. one would properly expect rider to sit prim and
proper, and not complain. They may eh 2 a guess at the
cause of the delay (though never cip or n anger). but
they would never take advantage of it.
That is not so on the train, at least on this one.
It took two people to jump off and start throwing a chunk
of iee around to make things start happening. Soon thetv
was a full scale tackle football game in progress. with
Canucks and Americans manning the sides of course.
Who would have though the • argument over the
supremacy of Carredian versus American football (if there
can really be an argument) would be fought in the Turkish
mountians?
It was a riotous affair that degenerated into a snowball
fight and ended abruptly about an hour later when the
train whistle sounded. Nobody bothered to keep score. but
for the patriots in the crowd. we Canadians certainly didn't
shame ourseises. '
Tomorrow thie extension of the Orient Express pulls into
Istanbul.
•!-StiriO4Expcisrron
octoBER z 19
. Gary WilliaMe, a Seaforth.nativo, has atutouaeci h -ell .
be seeking re-election as Ward 5 alderman in London in
the Nov. IQ municipal election, • e ' ' ' ; ` '
' Mr. William's, 37, a division supervisor at tendon Life,
Seaforth.
in the the Westrninister Park area ofthe city. Hewes first
elected to council in 1975, and has chaired the community
boaM%asg.eInent
Mrd, of
and rnaGeorge.
SCQ
and prCqeCtiVeSCrviCes committee and cthieeaDrweaartnere:Sn:dm:
board
.
spent the past week with Mrs. James Souter of John St,
li .
Mrs, Glen Bridge of Brussels and Lyle Carter of London
spent Sunday with tiers, sewer,
FATHER OF
NAPPER • — This
photo, which belongs
to the Maloney family,
Is» believed to • bq
Michael McCardle's
father, a Beechwood
area farm. Mr.
McCardle-had several
other sbns, but they all
moved from OW local
Area:
KID -
1,4E •
EXPOSITOR
WANT -ADS
Phone 527-0240
Mr. and Mrs. M.E. Clarke who have been spending
the summer at their cottage spent a'couple of days in town
this week.
Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Davidson of Brockville and formerly
of Seaforth were in town on Saturday.
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Vail Egmond of London were in town
'thr the 'Ciderfest over the weekend.
-Mreeand--Mrs—Brure- Hoelecher Who recently opened
their new market in 'Glencoe were here SaturdaY.
Mr. and Mrs. bale Bannerman and son Derek Darwin of
Port Elgin visited his parents Mr. and Mrs. Darwin
Bannerman in Egmondville on Saturday.
, Mr. nd Mrs. Wm. Scott who have been visitors in
• Austra lia teturned home last week.
Mrs. Frank Kling who with her sister-in-law Mrs A.F.
Edmunds of Barrie have been on a tour of Scotland and
England returned home on the pueen Elizabethl anding at
New York. The passage was particularly rough and Mrs.
Edmunds received injuries when she fell during the storm
and which necessitated several days in the ship's hospital.
Mrs. Keith Heiplieh and Mrs. Gordon Papple spent
Wednesday and Thursday this week at Wiarton at the
Grey-I3ru,ce area convention of. Federated Women's
Institute of Ontario. They were representing London Area
'Women's Institute.
Among the 180 delegates attending the fall conference
of Region Two, Hospital Auxiliaries' Association of
Ontario, inPalinerston Monday were Beth Phillips, Janet
Cluff, Pat Bennett and Wilma Oke.
Rent- visitOrs with Mr. and 'Mrs. Ed Andrews,
Harpurhey were Mr. and Mrs. Peter G,anaway and Mrs.
Win. Pitman; Lynhurst, England, Mr. and Mrs. Inert
Andrews and Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Andrews and Bob
Norwich.
Mr. and MRs. Ed Andrews visited their family in
Norwich and attended a family reunion in Burgenville:e
Miss Janet -Lynn Oykstra, London visited with her
grandparents Mr. and Mrs'. Ed. Andrews Harpurhey.
What's happening?
What's happening is a weekly column, space donated by The
Huron Expositor. To list your event, call the Recreation Office at
527-0882.
DATE "
'Sat., Opt. 4
Sat., Oct. 4
Sun., Oct. 5
Sun., Oct. 5
Tues., Oct. 7
Wed., Oct. 8
EVENT
Public Skating
Story Hours
Public Skating
I.H.L.-Games
Clinton Jr.0 vs
Seaforth Jr. 'D'
Mothers & Tot
Skating.
PLACE TIME
Arena. 1:15 - 3 p.m.
Library 1:30 - 2:30
Arena 2-4 p.m.
Arena 7-11 p.m.
Arena 9 p.m.
Arena 1-3p.m.
Henson
Rev. Mcdonald accompan-
ied by Mrs. Grace Drum-
mond and Mrs. Harold Park-
a. were in Listowel on
Tuesday as delegates to the
Huron -Perth Presbytery of
the United Church held in
Trinity Church. ,
Rev. McDonald was in
lestowel the first of the week
due to the death of his aunt,
Mrs. Irvine Hewitt. on Sun-
day. His mother Mrs. Carl
McDonald of Atwood. who
has been spending a few
days with her son returned
home for the funeral.
Seaforth had theatre
Continned from page 14
pictures *ere still silent movie% starting
actors like Charlie Chaplin and Harold
Lloyd, but Mrs. W.H. Bullard entertained
audiences le providing some pleasant
piano accompaniment. Jim Thompson was
the ticket seller and admission was five
cents.
The Princess soon had competition w hen
Ben Duffs mpened another theatre nearbv
in 1910 It operated only a short time. but
was wel1-1trun since each night Duff's
small son would appear on the platform.
dressed for Ned. and hie moeregoers
' Good Night
The tows, s other theatre. opened ;n
1917, was The Strand, owned by James
Willis, and operated in pert of what is now
Box's Furniture Store. 'The 'Strand only
survived until the early 1920's. ,
When Sutherland s Opened the Regent
in 1932, they also 'owned theatres in St.
Mary s. Exeter. Mitchell and two in
Goderich. Although Toni Haley said the
theatres were never equipped for cinemas-
copethe movies which played locally were
usually first tun pictures.
Today. recalling those days. Tom Haley
said operating the theatre "was a
fascinating business." But by the time he
arrived in town. television had already
started luring away moviegoers and proved
to be the villain that spelled the end of a
town theatre. Movies in Seaforth are now
just a memory.
The public is invited
to attend the Annual
. COMMENCEMENT .
of The
-Seaforth District High School
Friday, October 3
-,30 p.m.
DANCE TO FOLLOW -AT ARENA
Everyone Welcome
•
.411111t112 4ilt4t &.47, .6'.4« 4, gig 4 Agg4.1a4k.e4gr, 4t•ttkA.-Aris2
presents
The Annual
Bannockburn Fall Colour Tour
On Sunday, • October 5 at 1:30 p.m.,
interested persons are Invited to attend the
annual fall hike at Bannockburn Wildlife
Area. Bannockburn is a $62 acre scenic
refuge of fall colours, interesting habitat
and edible plants. Located 2 miles west and
1 mile north of Brucefield, it, borders the
dean, attractive Bannockburn River.
Naturalists will be leading two walks - one at
1:30 p.m. and the second at 2:00 p.m. Free
refreshments will be served.
•
INTEREST
FREE
For
12
Months!!
SPECIAL INTEREST FREE
OFFER ENDS
SATURDAY, OCT. 4
'OULU.
VARNA, ONT.
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