The Huron Expositor, 1979-03-29, Page 10ea
matinees at 2:30 p.m.
PSB
SHOW & SALE
Friday 10 -7 prop In
'40 ONTARIQ,STREET
•
STRATFQ.RD • •
1.01‘04-• EXPOSITOR, MAROR
Seren dipity
by Alic0 Gibb
Huggard surrenders n 1.
Editor's note: This artielel VOntintles the stet)! of 30hil
'Jenard, the Seaforth lawyer who embezzled Vier
S150,000 of hi* clients's money in 1936. •
With.the Toronto brokers..fletcher and McLaren, baek,
out ortiaa there was only one remaining .missing part or
the puzzle in the John fluggard case. That ..part was M.
Huggard bins
Then on July 3, in drartiatie and uneXpeeteit Surrender'.
John Huggard walked ban a Los Angeles peliee satin
and surrendered, When the news reached Seaforth, even,
the Dontinion Pay festivities took second place as the main
"tOpiC of cony“satiqn around town. By July 17. Jelin
Huggard had rrived safely at Huron County jail in
• Goderich, passing. through Seaforth on the wayalthough
this fact certainly wasn't publicized beforehand, john
Huggard wasted no dine in making a fell confeasien COM ,
investigators.
A Huron Expositor article said. "When the story is fully
revealed, it may tell how clientssecurities were taken
from safety deposit boxes in Seaforth, thence to Toronte,
by motet,' used as. collateral on Short-termlaans, replaced
by other securities, first by bearer bonds and lawr
registered bonds, allegedly forged, and then rushed bagk
to their safety deposit boxes. ." This was the "n:1$
operandi" that Huggard and his partners had ased for
severalyears, ' • a
Robert. Fletcher and Gordon McLaren were again
• arrested in July, this time charged with theft in disposing
of $10,000 worth of securities 'belonging to Mrs. laabella
McDonald. John Huggard also confessed what had
happened in his scheme to borrow -Clients' stocks to play
'thestecit market,
A, "SUCKER!'
.„ It seemed fluggird.took the stocks and bonds to Toronto
and,give them to the two brokers to use as collateral in
purchasing certain stocks he considered good investmentS.
Fletcher and McLaren deciding to carry the illegal gesture
a little further, failed to carry out the stock transactions
ordered by the lawyer and used the • stolen securities for
their own purposes. The story they told John Huggard was .
that he was sustaining losses in his investments which he
had to keep coveting by borrowing more stocks and bonds
• from his clients' savings. • -
The final deal, involving a 540.000 transaction, would
411,
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boa partially pulled Haggard otttAif his ntlagniate. OW
lawyer ordered the two hr4ter410 eery a wellArnewla Stgiglt
and.thebrolters led the lawyer tobetieve they had carried
out hia orders, The stock rose drainatically in a !Short 'time
and John048$4,,rd went to collect the money he planned:0)
. .put bee intta la g len s rng boxe.Tbat .
came face to face with the fact that he had been, doped. or
as he told imestigators, when he learned what a "sucker
be'4 been taken for 4 M. Mci,,Arert 4 Marl he ,OnCe
trusted.
John HOggard was almost immediately transferred to
MirldleSea County jail so he tvOuldet cerne in. contact with
his two ecr-conspirators in the Gedericb jailhouSe.
By the middle of August. McLaren and Fletcher were
facieg 3t charges of theft. for a sum amounting to $94,300.
• The brokers' lawyer asked for a change of venue, claiming
there has been too mach pre-trial publicity,in the area for
his clients to receive a fair trail, but the motion was turned
down. OciT Gordon McLaren and John Huggard told the
investigat rs that they had contemplated suicide when the
investigation began but that was tn...ir only sign Of qmat*
before the mat.
GUJI4TY• •
John flUggard Pleaded, guilty to the characa 'against
14, him, and ffi/as sentenced to three years frup sonMent, in
. the Kingston Penetentiary/At: the conelfisi n ofis trial,
Judge T. Costello said, 'slitiow Your counsel is. right When
he says a man of your station - and standing in the
. —community has been punished sufficiently in his own
mind. If it were pot for the exemplary punishment whiOi
the law demands, 1 would let you go free on a suspended
sentence, . .1 have to eommend you on the assistance you
have given the crown and I must commend you on the :
qualities you have shown, . ." One of the PlaialVdefettces
offered by Huggard during ,his trial was 'that he had .
specolated in the stock market because he wanted to make
money to keep his.wife in 'patty. •;,; : •.,
'The'• Stratford Beacon -Herald wasted no k time in,—,
attacking the sentence passed by Judge Costello in a
lengthy editorial, John Huggard; the editorial said.
brought "the cruel fact •oi poverty" to a number—of
Seaforth berries, and to people who had trusted the man
with their life's savings*. The judge's comments, the
editorial. contitmed, were "close to being an apology" to
$
il
; 1 . •
I :
: ; , ''''• ''; -- 'll
Mr. Haggard and "theiade's sympathy has outweighec
consideration of the public ttltereg."
in an interesting follow-np to the Huggard ca9: Mrs.
Haggard was awarded :the -family car in her husband's
bankruptcy ease, on the grounds that she had only lent the
ear
to her hashatta for use in hi a busmeaa. The couple's
danghter, Helen Rankin, was a star witness in the case• ,
SENTENCED
ootiovember MeLarett and his partner Fletcher were
sentenced to, five year terms in the Kingston Penetentiary
when they botb pleaded guilty to theft in g total of 32
eases.
Was the good-hearted 'lawyer really simply a man who
trusted an old friend unwisely? Or was he a cold,hlooded
opportunist who lcnowingly aSect.bis clients' money to.
speculate 'far his own ends -not caring that he was wiping
out the rewards of a lifetime of hat4 labOnt fer many
people?
Although the Huron. Expositor had carried front page
Stories on tlevelopments in the iIuggard case for many
montha, it wasn't until the end of the second trial that the
editor chose to -comment on the case.
• The editorial verdict was much the same as that in the
Stratford paper. "Compared with the plight of many, if not
Most of the victims they deliberately robbed. and
plundered. the 10% of these self -convicted men is easy."
The editorial went on to attack the three men for wiping i
, oet the savines, accumulated by care and self•sacrifice .
front the earnings of kfifetime of labor, fot,an independent,
old age. Their .11.u+
•41.1hct. writer concluded y saying the whole case had been
"a sordid story" and that the Sentences of the men "Do
iot encenrage respect for the administration of justice,"
/The 'final note in the case was John .1; Huggard's
• disbarnient from the practice of 1w-Paased by his peers,
the Law Society of tipper Canada.
• By late fall, the Huggard ease had received it's full
share of attention in the press. A man called Edward
Windsor, also known as King. Edward VW decided the love
Of Wallis Warfield Simpson was more, valuable than a
crown, and the public turned their attention from
Seaforth's embezzler to the shy, self-conscious young
father, Gorge, the Duke of York, who would become the
next king,
Star of\Gift to Last
Janet Amos will
be new artistic
director
After a lengthy search, the Board of
Directors of the Myth Centre ler the Arta
has named Janet Amos As Associate
director and as the successor in 1980 to
James Roy as. artistic director of the Blyth
$oruroOr Festival,.
Ms.. Amos was Selected frominore than
30 aplicants and brings a wide range, of
experiences totbe position. She is perhaps
best kneWnfor her work as an actress on
C.B.C. -television in the series "A Gift To
Last" and in. specials such as The Massevs
and itt theatre at the Shaw Festival where
she played Major Barbara in 197ii. $he has
alg' Played atin'Y important roles with
Theatre Passe Ivluraille in the past.
It was for her ability na a director,
however, that Ms. Am e.3 was chosen for
the Elyth position. She has previously
directed plays in Torento and at the 1977
Blyth Summer Feativaly-
Mrs. Sheila Richard , president of the
• beard of dirOtoss of the fIlyrii Centro,. sold
it was Ms. Amos' feeling for the, region,
served by the theatre and her commitment
.10 the unique mandate of the :Blyth Festival
that was the deciding factor in her choice
from a list of strong candidateS,
Although Toronto -born, Ms, Amos has
had a strung contact with the area served
at ES lYt91=71111
by the El/Yth theatre Isine k)N
MUrailie company that put together The
fWaast;s how member
ciei: t :to ,ea fThewemgftuees away
7
'She las since returned with several, other
productions and is also. married to an area
,native, Ted ,lobna,,Who wrote and perfor-
med the 1978 Festival nit' production, The
5°I17s.Ani
IScaenss4aald she would liketecarrY On
and build upon the foundation built by Mr.
Rey and his wife Anne who. have directed
the Festival since its inception in 1975, Mr.
Roy set the policy of producing Canadian
plays of specific interest to the small town
and rural audience of the Western Ontario
region. "1 feel that it's connection Witta the
community and the way it reneets,boilt the
ommunity and the country makes it lane of'
The most exciting theatres anywere*," Nis./
Amos said,
As associate director she will work
closely with Mr. Roy this summer to
familiarize herself with the operation in.
preparataan for assuming artistic director-
ship in September.
Ms Amos is also a member of the
Advisory Council of the Canada Council
and of the Canadian Actors' Equita
Associatien Council. •
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• James Murphy, Artistic
Director of the Huron:
Country Playhouse has an-:
nouticedthe line-up of plays
for the "1979 Festival of
Summer Theatre. Mr„''
MurphysSaid it iS acseason of
five World:hits and that each
one would be given a two,
week run.
The opening production
will be the delightful British
farce, POOLS PARADISE by
Philip King. Peopled with
those wacky characters from
his SEE HOWTHEY RUN; it
is filled with slapstick high
jinks that promises to keep
audiences roaring with
laughter. It opens June 27
and rails -through July 7.
Next is the chilling, thriller,
ANGEL STREET by. Patrick
Hamilt;n, the author of
ROPE and- HANGOVER
SQUARE, In 1943 under the
name 9f GASLIGHT, the play
• was turned into a film with
Charles Boyer and Ingrid
Bergman, • it apeJuly
11 and closes July 21,
HARVEY by Mary Chase
will'be the third production.
• This beloved comedy ,about
Elwond P, Dowd and his
friend Harvey, an invisible
six foot tall white rabbit has
_been enchanting playgoers
mid movie fans alike all over
• the world for years. It has
been made into a motibn
picture and a television -
special, both starring the
venerable James Stewart. k
, •
4
Opens July2aziduns
through August 4.
The fourth presentation is
the hilariouS comedy, THE
OWL AND THE PUSSYCAT
by Bill Manheff. An instant
success en Broadway With
Alan Alda and the late Diane
• Sands, it was later made•into
a Hollywood film; The -play is
a human and humorous view
• Of the age-old battle of the
sexes. It opens August 8 and
closes August 18.
. Last, but not least, the
_Huron Country .Playhonse is
proud to present the award
winning' Musical, THE
SOUND OF. MUSIC, With
music arid lyrics by lodgers
and Hammerstein and book
by Howard Lindsay and
. ,
• D,'tgetOurMarcIi
FREE 'Coke or Gingerale
Main St. •with ever
y pizza.
Seeiforth •
7th Annual
Seaforth.Optirnists
CANOE ,RACE
Sunday, April 1
RACE STARTSat the Egmoildville bridge at 11).M. endsat
• Vanastra bridge 11/4 miles East of Clinton.
REGISTRATION - at the bridge in Egrnopdville 9 30 a,m.'4;Z •
FEE $10. pertenoe, $S. for One man canoe, Or Kayak
CLASSES
F SERVICE CLUBS, Aniatetirs .only good eause and fun participants.
•Entrant can never have won atrophy in any other class before
• G • Pettily, 2 persons. 1 under 16 '
MC3 lover 18
• D Mixed -Amateur, 1 must be female; 2 persons (MC3)
C Meng. Amateur 2 person MC3
:B Mens Advanced Amateur 2 Persons MC2
A Mens Expert Ma- 2 Persons • •
E kayak 1 or 2 persons
Tickets for canoe avoidable frimt members & Wendy Klein; at SDHS ,
• TrOphies fcir -1st, 2nd and 3rd in oath ciass, .•
pArticipants receive a crest from Siatorth Optimist
Proceed* Optimist Youth Work end crippled childtejL
•
Phone;
Arnold Stinnisen
Harry Arts
Keith McLean 527-01100
Breakfait Served befere races
5 27O4 10 Draw for 14ft AlciongOin
527-1795 canoe after races at the
Optimist Club building .
$
Rtissel Crouse. The ever
popular and endearing
musical concerns the real life
• struggle of the singing Trapp
family during •the rise of
Hitler's Germany, It opens
August 22 and runs through
September 1,
Each production opens on
Wednesday evening at 8:30
p,m. and plays through
• Saturday evening with a
Saturday matinee at 2:30
p.,/n. during the first week.
^During the second Week,
perforinances. :are given
Monday._...:lwough Saturday
• evenings at 8:30 p.m., with'
Wednesday and,• Saturday
• 40th wedding
Anniversary
for
Mr. & Mrs. James
CAMERON
of
• FormerlyoSfaCrttia
anbrooki.
•Walton
in
• Brussels Legion Hail
Apr! 7
.• ..Dtaltg9.1viisites0*
Everyone Welcome
You andNadia
have a lot in common.,
Nadia •
works•hards
studies hard
.
and plays hard.
She knows she has to
— if she's going to
Succeed.
Wouldn't you
do the same
•if you had to
overcomethe
• •restriction_s
• imposed on
you by:a
physical
disability?'
Nadia has high
hopes of finding an
important place for
herself in society when
• she gets a bit older -7,
• just as you did at her age,
But Nadia. — and
thousands like
her— needs help
• with some of
• life's obstacles__
and difficulties.
• But then,
haven't'
we eat—
.
one time
or
another?
Help
• Nadia by
supporting
the Easter
• Seal appeal in
our community.
• And please --
do it now.
Help Easter Seals
de
help crippled children.
Seaforth Area needs
$
0
to. trteet
Be Generous Give N OW
..difts may benieltetSea banks or mailed to the'dhairtrian
the 'Crippled Children's bOtrifilittek Seaforth ; .
n. n ttnt t „. n, tOr onultnittft,t ttt. tt • n
• The Seaforth and area Cancer Society
campaign begins soon. Seaforth's
objective is
t.
•
We are co
Ofld
17 tin
---,--........,...nweennapement •
5.-';
. t .
• , •
• •
• . . .
Cancer 15 a tough and expensive puzzleto delve
-- but t ome ot the pieces are coming togethet,
Now, nearly 100% Ot skin cancer is curable.
Almost all Cases of cancer of the cervix can be
cured when diagnosed early. We've ptoven
cancer is not contagious or hereditary:
Still,. there are missing Pieces. Pieces that only
research can fit into place. And it's going to take
more money, Please give generously when your
Cancer Society calls,
We know cancer will be be ten.
What's it worth to you'?
\tf
X . •
CANADIN4 -CANCER SOCIETY
*remilaLse$444.14emosimmi4s4m444014.4.41.
WeOek. your help
Envelopes giving details of ttie annuai Cancer. Campaign
are going' Out toil area residents. Who are asked to
forward .their gifts by mail in the envelope provided to
11.*L Spittal,
, tmpaign Chairman
Seaforth, Ontario
or leave At A Seaforth bank.
YOU ARE MAKING THE DIFFER N,C
CANCER CAN EIE BEATEN
l• I
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