Next Story Back Table of Contents
Four men from this district, Anthony and George Skrypnyk, Eino Tallonen
and William Schmidt, were committed for trial on a charge of murder in connection
with the torture slaying of Mrs. Viola Jamieson, 49, of Flanders, Ontario,
at the preliminary hearing before Magistrate Wolfe at Kenora Monday.
George Armstrong of Fort Frances, in charge of road work near Flanders,
told the court he was summoned by the son of the deceased woman about 6:30
June 10. Armstrong, because of what the boy told him, went to the root house,
broke in the door and found the woman partly buried in gravel, tried to
raise her but she fell, and he then raised and assisted her out of the root
house. he described her burns, noting especially sever burn and loos skin
from the area between shoulder and top of her girdle. She was conscious.
Constable Parfitt, Ontario Provincial Police, Fort Frances, got word 7:30
p.m., and went to Flanders with Constable Savage and West. They made enquiry
at C.N.R. station and Ontario-Minnesota Pulp and Paper Company office, and
then went to the house. Only door to the house was through the kitchen.
They found the house in disorder, plates, sealers on the table, and in the
living room bedclothes were strewn around.
In the root cellar the entire gravel floor had been spaded over, At the
entrance porch of the root house was an Aladdin lamp.
"Dr. J. E. O'Donnell, of Fort Frances, said he knew Mrs. Jamieson and
had performed the post mortem July 3, 36 hours after death. The woman died
of infectious toxemia as a result of burns, he said. There were third degree
burns from abdomen to below breast on the right side and also on the left
breast, the left forearm and on the elbow and hand. Both hips have endured
sever suffering he said."
Isaac Sheldon, 50, said he had lived with Mrs. Jamieson for the past six
years at Flanders. Two boys also lived in the house.
He described his movements before the crime and said he had driven 22 miles
to his work on that day with the woman and boys. When he left them, they
drove home in the truck. He said he only knew one of the accused --- Schmidt.
Sheldon said $1,300 was stolen from the house about June 1 and was reported
to the Police; one thousand belonging to Mrs. Jamieson and $300 to himself.
A further $700 was still hidden near the premises.
"He returned home June 11, after the crime and noticed the cellar had
been dug up."
Inspector Kelly, criminal investigation department of the Ontario provincial
police, took charge of the case June 26.
Inspector Kelly said he took possession of the lamp and sent it to R.C.M.P.
in Ottawa for finger printing. Sgt. Ralph William Wonnacott, finger print
expert, said that he had received two sealers from the Provincial Police
for examination.
"He said he found prints on one sealer and on a lamp glass also submitted.
He testified that one impression was identified as that of George Skrypnyk.
That on the lamp chimney was identified as that of Anthony Skrypnyk."
Crown then called Mrs. Pearl Lee. She said she lived William Schmidt in
the west and later came to Fort Frances. Later they went to Fort William
where they worked at the Canada Car Company. There they met Anthony Skrypnyk
and a girl named Laura. Later the met George and May and finally Eino Tillonen
and a girl named Norma. After describing and earlier trip by Schmidt to
Fort Frances, she said that on July 23 in Port Arthur Schmidt told her that
he and "the boys" had done the thing at Flanders. He said that
if he had listened to her, he would not be in the position he was. He said
that the Skrypnyk boys and Tillonen were with him.
At this point H. J. Donley pointed out that this evidence would only be
used as hearsay in the case of the Skrypnyk's trial. However the Crown counsel
proceeded. Mrs. Lee said Schmidt told her: If it was not for Tony he would
not have done it. He broke down and said he would never listen to Tony again
... Tony insisted on his going. She said Schmidt told her the Skrypnyks
planned it. Schmidt tried to delay but they said they would go anyway even
if he did not.
She said he left that evening to go to Manitoba with $50 she gave him. (Schmidt
was arrested at Morris, Man.)
Mr. Kajander of Fort William and H. J. Donley of Kenora are retained as
defence counsel for Tillonen. The trial will be held in Fort Frances at
the next meeting of the High Court which opens September 26.
"The preliminaries were held before magistrate Wolfe of Kenora with
Deputy Attorney General C. L. Snyder conducting the prosecution for the
crown."
After hearing testimony of the foregoing witnesses and reading a statement
which was not read aloud to the court, Magistrate Wolfe committed the quartet
for trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court in the District of Rainy
River.
Attending the preliminary hearing from Fort Frances were the following:
N. L. Croome, district Crown Attorney; H. L. Cruso, District Police Magistrate;
Dr. J. E. O'Donnell who gave medical evidence; George Armstrong who appeared
as a witness; Constables Savage and Parfitt of the Ontario Provincial Police;
Harold Jamieson, son of the late Mrs. Jamieson; Edward Allan of Rainy River,
railroad engineer, witness, who was not called; and Wilfred Christie.
Next Story Back Table of Contents