T.F. FORESTELL TAKES OVER AS CROWN ATTORNEY

Succeeds H.W. Macoomb Who Will Resume His Own Practice

[Welland-Port Colborne Evening Tribune, 3 January 1947]

Tobias F. Forestell, K.C., Welland County’s newly-appointed crown attorney arrived from Fort Erie yesterday to take over his new duties. He succeeded H.W. Macoomb, K.C., who has retired after an 11-year term as crown attorney, to resume private practice with the firm of Macoomb, Macoomb and Street.

The new crown attorney is Welland county’s fourth. His predecessors were Mr. Macoomb, T.D. Cowper, K.C.; and L.D. Raymond. K.C. He has been practicing law in the county for 27 years, coming to Thorold shortly after being called to the bar in 1920 and moving to Fort Erie in 1922. In December 1935, he was created King’s Counsel.

A native of Campbellford, where he was born October 28, 1896, Mr. Forestell received his early education at its public and high schools following which he attended St. Michael’s College, Toronto University.

He is a veteran of the First Great War in which he enlisted in the 56^th battery, R.C.A., in 1916. He went overseas that year and saw active service until he was wounded in November, 1918. He received his discharge in April 1919, was awarded the Military Medal and returned to Toronto where he completed his law studies and was called to the bar, October 20, 1920.

Mr. Forestall has been an active member of the County Law Library Association, the Canadian Legion, the Progressive Conservative Association and the Niagara Parks Commission. He is a past president of the library association, past president and past zone commander of the Legion and now chairman of the Service Bureau Committee of the Provincial Command of the Canadian Legion; past president of the Niagara Riding Progressive Conservative Association and the Welland County Progressive Conservative Association.

TO RESUME PRACTICE

Mr. Macoomb looks forward to resuming practice. During his years as crown attorney, his firm has been obliged to turn away criminal work; however, according to Gabriel J. Macoomb, would now return to that field.

The retiring crown attorney, who was born in January, 1872, has had some 50 years legal experience. He received his early education in Welland and Toronto where he graduated from Osgoode Hall and was called to the bar in 1895. It was then that he became a member of the firm of Harcourt, Cowper and Macoomb.

In 1905, he went into law practice on his own. However, five years later, he again associated himself with the late crown attorney, Mr. Cowper, under the firm title of Cowper and Macoomb.

In 1920 Mr. Macoomb formed a partnership with D. Ben Coleman-now judge of Ontario County. His son, Gabriel entered the firm in 1933 and George Street became a partner in 1939.

The retiring crown attorney has led an active public life.

He was a member of the Board of Education, retiring in 1935 after 30 years’ work in the interests of Welland youth. He was a member of the Welland Public Library Board for many years and its president for one year. Mr. Macoomb was president of the Welland Swimming and Life Saving Club for two years. In 1935 he was president of the Welland County Bar.

His political affiliation has been Liberal and for many years he held the presidency of the Welland City Liberal Association.

He is a member of Central United church and takes an interest in its Men’s Club.

Summers, Mr. Macoomb usually spends on the shore of Lake Erie where he has a home. He has two sons-Hudson W. of St. David’s and Gabriel of Welland. His wife is a member of the Hibbard family of Smithville.

Mr. Macoomb is also a member of the Alabama bar for he practiced law in Birmingham for several years.