Becket vs Crowland

ROBERT POWLEY

Niagara Falls News

[Welland Tribune, 12 March 1897]

Robert Powley, who shot his wife on Monday across the river, was employed at the construction of the new Grand Trunk bridge. He was in trouble here two years ago for lying in wait to assault a Grand Trunk fireman.  The remains of the poor murdered woman were interred at Fairview on Wednesday.

A TERRIBLE MURDER was perpetrated at Niagara Falls, NY. on Monday night. Robert Prowley, a railroad switchman, forced an entrance into the rooms of his wife with whom he had not been living for over a year, and with an outburst of curses sprang to her bedroom, dragged her from her bed and while holding her down deliberately fired shot after shot from his revolver into her breast. Anyone of them would have been fatal. Powley had been in prison for attempting to kill his wife on a previous occasion, and on getting out, his wife refusing to live with him again, this was his revenge.

JACOB BARRICK

[St. Catharines Journal, 3 July 1856]

INQUEST-On Saturday, the 14^th inst., an inquest was held in view of the body of Mr. Jacob Barrick, an elderly farmer long resident in the Township of Wainfleet.

Mr. Barrick was a man of considerable property and some money, though in his habits rather addicted to intemperance.

It appears that on Friday he was seen coming down the tow-path of the Welland Canal Feeder, in company with a Frenchman named Juan Baptiste Kaugey, both of whom had apparently been drinking freely and were quite noisy.

On Saturday the body was found floating in the water, near the Half-Way House, west of Marshville, and, upon being taken out, Mr. Bald was called upon to hold an Inquest as before mentioned. The investigation continued throughout Saturday and Monday, but the precise terms of the verdict we have not learned. From bruises upon Barrick’s face and head, and other circumstances, suspicion attached upon the Frenchman that foul play had been used, which, as we are informed, led to his arrest and commitment to the gaol at Merrittville.-Welland Herald

PEDESTRIANS HAVE RIGHTS ON HIGHWAY

As Wm. Crompton Paid $13 to Find Out

[Welland Tribune, 4 February 1910]

Welland, Feb. 1.-William Crompton was this afternoon fined $10 and three dollars cost for nearly running over Judge Wells, as the judge was walking on the road on Monday afternoon at five-thirty.

The prisoner pleaded guilty and said he had been drinking.

Crown Attorney Cowper and Chief Jones prosecuted; Magistrate Burgar presided. The prisoner had no counsel.

The charge read that on the 31^st of January the said William Crompton, did attempt in and upon one G.W. Wells to commit assault which might have caused actual bodily harm. Sec. 295 C.C.V.

“How you elect to be tried?” asked Magistrate Burgar. “I don’t know, “replied Crompton.

“How old?”-“Twenty-four years.”

“Where born?”-“England.”

“Country or town?”-“Country.”

“Married or single?”-“Single.”

“Religion?”-“Baptist.”

“Read and write?”-“Yes.”

“Trade?” ”-Laborer.”

“Temperate?”-“I drink.”

“Drink every day?”-“No.”

“Just once in a while?”-“Yes, Sir.”

…………………

BURGLARY!

[Welland Tribune, 4 September 1885]

When Councillor Minnis arose on Friday morning last he found those most necessary articles of clothing-pants and boots-missing. The unmentionables were subsequently found in the kitchen, but the boots had walked away-on the burglar’s feet. The open kitchen window shewed the route they has taken. Further investigation revealed that the pocket of the pants had been gone through, and some $4 or $5 in all had accompanied the boots thence. Fortunately $65 in Mr. Minnis’s vest pocket, hanging on the bed room door knob has escaped the thief’s notice. Mr. Minnis, like most Wellanders in time of trouble has called on Chief Gilchriese who sent word to Constable Anderson at the C.S.R. to be on this look out. Mr. Gilchreise, himself, having heard that a suspicious-looking person had gone down the W.R.R. track early in the morning, went to Port Robinson but his search was fruitless. But Mr. Anderson had better luck. Examining a freight train about to move out of the yard, he found that a man with rather ill-fitting boots on had crawled in an empty car and pulled the slide-door to after him. Mr. Anderson called on the fellow to come out and give himself up. He pulled the door to and refused, apparently determined to stand a siege. Thinking better of it, and jumping quickly out of the car he pulled off the boots and attempted to make off, but was collared by the constable and lodged in gaol. The prisoner was found to be one Andy McCulliff, an old resident of this county but who has been away for some time past. When brought before Mr. Hellems for trial on Monday, prisoner stated that he did not know whether he was guilty as charges or not. He had been drinking and remembered nothing that occurred after leaving St. Thomas on Thursday with a satchel and $20 until taken in the car with boots on which did not belong to hi, and with this satchel gone and only between $4 or $5 in his pocket. He had no lawyer to defend him, and did not wish any. Mr. Raymond prosecuted. A plea of not guilty was entered, and evidence taken as above. Mr. Minnis and Mr. Seger both positively identified the boots found on prisoner as Mr. Minnis’s. Mr. M. could not swear to the money but it was the same kind and amount he had lost. Mr. Dowd swore to seeing prisoner coming down from the C.S. R. depot after midnight the morning of the burglary. In short, the case was proven beyond possibility of doubt, and prisoner was convicted and sentenced to six months in central prison.

POLICE COURT

POLICE COURT

[Welland Tribune, 23 April 1897]

The Police Court officials have been enjoying their Easter holidays, but business is on again at the old stand…John Abner Crysler and David Crysler have laid an information charging Jas. Dougherty of Allanburg with taking chickens from their premises in the early hours of last Saturday morning. The matter will be investigated next Monday before Squire Hellems….John Hines who was arrested by Officer Mains of the Ontario Police, is awaiting trial on the charge of having killed a horse belonging to Mr. Potter, a resident of Pelham, and which is noted elsewhere. Hines was arraigned on Tuesday and remanded for a week, no evidence being taken. The case promises to be a very interesting one.

COUNTY COURT

[Welland Tribune, 2 April 1897]

ASSAULT- Joshua Moyer, who resides near Chippawa, was arraigned before his honor Judge Fitzgerald on the charge of assaulting and beating his wife. The case is referred to under Niagara Falls South items…Mrs. Moyer was first called. She swore that her husband drove his team recklessly from the Clifton House hill to Falls village, swore at her and attempted to push her from the wagon. That when he stopped at Dune, Durham’s hotel she, being afraid of her life, left the rig and went to Mrs. Marr’s near by for protection. That he came there to take her home, and when she refused he pushed her down, shook her, tore her clothing, soused her in the ditch, and tried to drive the team over her. She said her husband had been drinking and was ugly because she would not give him a greater portion of some money that she had received as an option on the farm, which she owned. Mrs. Moyer said the abuse had been going on for a long time, and she could stand it no longer. She swore that he threatened to brain her. She intended to sue for alimony. To Mr. Crow-I have been advised to bring this suit…Mrs. Marr and Mrs. Marr’s son gave very clear evidence, corroborating the wife’s testimony as to the assault in front of Mrs. Marr’s house…F.R. Abbs swore that Moyer used some very forcible language in his store, but did not strike or assault his wife there. As far as witnesses knew the defendant’s reputation was good. …This closed the case, and Mr. Crow for the defence said it was only a family quarrel and asked for an acquittal. Prosecuting Attorney Maccomb  strongly objected, and thought the evidence warranted conviction…His Honor said it was one of those unfortunate family affairs, and he hoped man and wife could make up and go home and live together another seventeen years. However, the defendant had been proven guilty of common assault, and he would fine him $10 and costs (which were quite heavy) and have him bound over to keep the peace.

BURGLARS AT STONEBRIDGE

Ramey and Appleyard Robbed Wednesday Night.

Special to Tribune

[Welland Tribune 12March 1897]

STONEBRIDGE, Thursday, March 11- Robbers effected an entrance into R.H. Appleyard’s hardware store and H.S. Ramey’s grocery and butcher shop last night and succeeded in carrying off over $100 worth of money and goods.

They broke into Appleyard’s rear store door and tapped the till for 50 or 60c, in coppers, several of which were dropped on his office floor; they also took two or three dozen pocket knives, two revolvers, ten or twelve boxes of cartridges and a bicycle cyclometer.

Ramey’s front door was forced, and here the robbers were even more successful. Unfortunately Mr. Ramey had left between $60 and $70 cash in the till, which was appropriated, along with a lot of tobacco and cigars, canned fish (for the Lenten season), tea, and other groceries; also Mr. Ramey’s revolver, that had been left in the till to guard the money. Files, etc., were stolen from Kramer’s blacksmith shop to assist in the work.

We are sorry for our friend’s loss, and trust that the thieves will be captured. All outside points have been notified.

POLICE COURT AND JAIL NOTICES

[Welland Tribune, 5 March 1897]

Very Ill-An old engineer named Bartlett (or Barclay) who was sent up from Thorold, is all broken up, and it is doubtful if he will pull through. It is said that he once kept a jewelry store in either Dunnville or Caledonia.

DUNNVILLE NEWS

[Welland Tribune, 15 March 1889]

Detective Murray has been working Dunnville of the past week in the hope of ferreting out the murderer of the old man who was found in the canal there last fall. The old “stationery pedlar,” who everyone supposed, was the victim, was in town last week as big as life. He positively denies that he was killed, of course.