Castlegar News September 17, 1986 A PORTRAIT OF CANADA'S HANGMAN MUCE LEVETT Canadian Press If the death penalty returns to Canada, what form might it take? Poison dripping through an intravenous Repeated jolts of high-voltage electricity? Would gas rise from a small, smouldering sack of rapidly dissolving cyanide pellets or would riflemen sight down their barrels on a target pinned over the heart? All of the above are in use today in the United States. The traditional method of execution in Canada has been hanging — although nobody has been hanged for nearly 25 years — and indications are that if Parliament returns the country to capital punishment, it will mean a return to the rope. A spokesman for the solicitor general's office in Ottawa says there has been no suggestion so far for a change needle? LAST IN 1962 Hanging — the last in Canada was in 1962 when two men died on a Toronto seaffold — was a chilling business. There were always witnesses, a dozen or so, invited to watch. The black-bordered invitation came through the mail. At least one reporter was generally invited. It was the county sheriff's job to carry out a hanging but few had the stomach for instead, the sheriff called in an expert In one particular instance in 1950, the ‘condemned man was a mousey, middle-aged millworker. The crime was a sex killing and the victim was a quiet, middle-aged spinster. The body was found on a muddy tidal flat not far from where Expo 86 blazes today " FEATURE REPORT Those who accepted the invitation gathered on a July day before dawn in the warden's office at the penitentiary in New Westminster, B.C. DON’T REACT When the time came, they were warned to stay together. No smoking. Don't react outwardly to anything you might hear and above all, don’t react to anything you will see. The witnesses formed up in a top-floor corridor which ran between a line of cells. They walked in a group toward a door at the far end The occupants of the cells they were passing, some of them waiting to take this walk themselves, shouted and swore at the group as it passed Beyond the door was a room divided by a rail fence and the witnesses were herded behind it Before them hung a heavy rope fixed to a bar. The rope was curled into a loop, which was held in place by a short length of soft wool. Below the loop hung the noose. The room was a floored-over section of a disused elevator shaft. The door opened a second time and another group entered guards and prison officials and a priest; the condemried man and one other. The expert HOOD PUT ON The guards worked swiftly, moving the killer to his place on the trap-door just below the noose. He moved willingly and smiled slightly, as if his co-operation might win him some sort of consideration. His hands were fixed behind him and his legs were strapped together. A black cloth hood was drawn over his head and the noose was pulled down. The heavy knot was behind his left ear The other man — the expert — moved behind the screen and the priest read quietly from a book. Unseen, the expert waited for a certain prearranged word in the prayer. When it came, he pulled a lever Nobody saw the killer go One moment the still figure. like a ghostly, faceless doll, was there. Then he was not. The rope, no loop now, was swaying and trembling where it entered the black hole in the floor The walk back down the cell-lined corridor was as unreal as a dream. The prisoners, so raucous before, were as silent as the men passing by ALL JOHN ELLIS By tradition, the hangman always operated under the alias of John Ellis, the name of an English hangman who lived hundreds of years ago. John Ellis was busy in Canada in those days before hanging came to an end. The year 1950 was not an unusual time in this regard. In that one year, nine persons were executed. There were double hangings in Edmonton, Vancouver and Winnipeg. Single hangings took place in Vancouver, Ottawa and Montreal On a mild spring morning in 1950, a hunched little man in a dark suit walked into an Edmonton hardware store and purchased 24 metres of 2.2-centimetre sisal He paid $11 The woman who waited on him said later she figured he was a local farmer buying rop to tie up his cattle He was a farmer, but not from around there. He was rope from Ontario and the rope was not for his cattle MADE NOOSES By nightfall, John Elis had cut the 24 metres of sisal into four equal lengths. Two of these were knotted into nooses and affixed to the main gallows beam at Fort Saskatchewan jail, 30 kilometres away Shortly after midnight, in the presence of a small group of witnesses, the nooses were slipped over the black hooded heads of two convicted murderers. The died together that night strangers to each other After this assignment, John Ellis slept the night in the jail. Later, he collected his fee — usually $100 a subject plus a small federal retainer — and caught the train for Vancouver, when two more “subjects” waited men who were FAMILY UNAWARE In an interview in later after capital punishment had been rescinded, John Ellis said that even his wife and children had nc years lea what he did on his many trips away from his Ontario farm report said that this particular John Ellis. Canada’s last up to now, learned his One from his predecessor. That predecessor was described as a dandy trade who always working in frock coat and striped trousers, with a gardenia in his buttonhole Being that I had seen different executions and being that I had the qualifications in anatomy, also the fact that I think in this particular occupation that I am helping ustice to be obtained. I was quite willing to go ahead with this if my qualifications were accepted by the government.” he was once quoted as saying your acivertising dollars do better in... 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RRAP PROGRAM FREE ESTIMATES 15 Years Certified Rooting PHONE LORNE 352-2917 Septic Service COLEMAN COUNTRY BOY SERVICE Sump & Septic Tonk Pumping PHONE 365-5013 3400 - 4th Avenue Castlegar CASTLEGAR SIDING & ROOFING Vinyl ® Aluminum Cedar Siding © Soffits Facia * Rooting Metal Shingles ® Tar New or Re-Roofs CALL FRED 365-2522, MARCEL 365-2537 ——_—_—__ RON’S CUSTOM UPHOLSTERY We offer quality, professional workmanship at low, low prices! CALL TODAY FOR FREE ESTIMATES! Kosiancic’s Farm Crescent Valley Call 359-7231 or 359-7953 Tree Service Reosonoble Rates 365-2710 357-9930 Free Estimotes Weight Loss Watch this diet work. Hours Fri. 7.30am.tollam Sat. — Bam Call 365-6256 Mon Foam Campaign kickoff The Castlegar United Way started its 1986 fundraising campaign Good news. The president of the B.c. Forestry Association was in Castlegar this week saying all is not doom “Lo ve a The winning numbers in Saturday's Lotto 6/49 draw were 8, 9, 11, 15, 19 and number was 10, 25. The bonus Chernoff the champ Aimie Chernoff cap- tured the junior girls’ title at a cross-country with a pancake break- fast Saturday... A3 and gloom forests... AS in B.C. The $500,000 winn He) number in Friday's Provin- cial lottery draw is 3355116. running meet this week ... BI SUND News CASTLEGAR, BRITISH COLUMBIA, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1986 NDAY Vol. 39, No. 76 SU Cloudy today with frequent sunny periods and @ high of 20. Chonce ot precipitation 10 per cent. Mon with sunny periods ae 60 Cents 3 Sections (A, B & C) THE GREAT PUMPKIN . Saturday s Robson Fatt Fair . Jody Lutze of Castlegar grasps huge pumpkin which came up a winner at Pumpkin weighed nearly 91 kilograms (200 pounds) and was entered by Wilbur McLeod of Ootischenia trete by Cher9! Coiserten Robson Fall Fair a hit By CHERYL CALDERBANK Staff Writer Robson Hall and Robson elementary with activity community's school buzzing Saturday were during the annual fall fair The fair attracted about 272 entries in 28 categories and according to Linda Krull, one of the organizers of the fair. there were some “fantastic quality entered. In fact, Krull said the judges had a tough time picking the winners The most popular categories were Krull said also a number of entries in the fruits and vegetables. there were the croche' g. knitting and flower arranging categories The on receive an which were didn't basket and categories entries making, quilting by machine jewelry making Krull said she was also pleased to see entries from men in this year's fair The men's crafts category attracted a One the fair entries man entered jam in and another entered a pie, taking second number of some place One man who had entries in the fair was Hobson resident Don McAllister He entered an item called the Wil-Me College instructors to vote on contract By CasNews Staff Selkirk College reached a tentative agreement Friday with its vocational instructors. However, both sides are withholding details of the pact pending ratification by instructors and the college board The college board is scheduled to meet this afternoon to vote on the agreement, while instructors hope to vote sometime this week Danny Bradford, chairman of the B.C. Government Employees’ Union local 57 bargaining unit which repre 80-100 full-time vocational contract sents the instructors at college campuses around the West Kootenay, said final details of the contract must still be worked out before it is presented to the union membership He said the BCGEL the college Monday details. The agreement came a day after the BCGEU served 72-hour strike notice on the college. The instructors have been without a contract for nearly a year. The new pact will cover the period Oct. 1, 1985 Sept. 30, 1987 will meet with to go over those emergency release hoster which he ex pects to market all across Canada The worker's holster carries an industria oxygen mask be easily put in use when needed device was designed by his broth law Hugh Wilson, and McA leather worker is which the manuf McAllister says Celgar Pulp Operation of the which factured in Robson McAllister has also made carrier which is designed so t holsters. light doesn’t fall out of the carr he user sits down McAllister wor leatherwork categ ond pr He also won firs some leather moccasins and devices in men’s crafts for some ger It was McAllister's ering anything at th I think it’s exciting | challenge Another Wilson took home three pr Lo compete Grace of ( prize for her doillies in t category, second place for a bat in the knitting category and for a stuffed pig in the s section ht was atso Wilson's firs entering something in the though she has entered iter fairs before. She said it feels nice” to win after thinking + weren't good enough to enter BY WYOMING JUDGE Powers handed suspended term By SIMON BIRCH ‘Staff Writer Former Castlegar resident Dixie Dee Powers was given a suspended sentence Sept. 10 in Casper, Wyo., after she pleaded no contest to one count of conspiracy to make false statements while selling a security, the Castlegar News has learned. Powers, 36, also known as Laura Grace Gibbons, is wanted in Canada on charges of fraud and running a pyramid scheme that RCMP say collected $3.4 million in the West Kootenay. Natrona County district attorney Scott Evans told the Castlegar News in a telephone interview from Casper that Powers was sentenced to one to two years in the Wyoming state peni tentiary following a half-hour trial before Judge Harry Leimback in Wyoming's 7th District Court “That sentence was suspended on the condition she be put on probation . and forthwith return voluntarily to Canada.” Evans said, adding that Powers was also placed on probation for two years. However, Wypming authorities held Powers in jail for one week following her trial in order to allow Canadian authorities time to go to Wyoming to get her. But no one from Canada went to get Powers. “They (Canadian authorities) knew all of our time constraints,” Evans said. “To my knowledge, they aren't con cerned about her returning volun tarily.” A trump card Canadian authorities apparently have to get Powers t return to Canada is her son, believed to be about eight years old. Evans said Powers had the child with her when she was arrested in Wyoming. “Because she was in jail, we (the state) maintained custody of the child,” he said. Evans said the child will be turned over to Canadian authorities, not Powers. “We have asked that Canada take back a Canadian citizen,” he said, referring to the child. “I imagine it's just a matter of mechanics.” Although Powers is no longer in custody, Evans implied that the child will be sufficient enticement to get her to return to Canada voluntarily. I don’t think Canada at this point is FOR SOCRED NOMINATION fearful of her fleeing again,” Evans said. Staff Sgt. Alan Tomlins of the Nelson RCMP detachment, whose commercial crime unit is in charge of the case against Powers in Canada, said the return of Powers to Canada has to be worked out between the United States and Canadian immigration depart ments. “It's a matter between Canadian immigration and American immigra tion people,” Tomlins said. convicted of a felony in the states, being a Canadian citizen, is considered a non-suitable person to be in the states.” RCMP say Powers was born and raised in Nova Scotia. “We were told she was released from custody. Our understanding is that American immigration people would take steps to have her exited from the United States,” Tomlins said. “Our understanding is that she would be released from the custody of the court into the custody of (American) immi- gration people.” “All we can do it keep a lookout for her and maintain the continued on poge A3 Moore tosses in hat By CasNews Staff After weeks of waiting. Castlegar Mayor Audrey Moore tuok the plunge Saturday, announcing she will seek the Rossland-Trail Social Credit party nomination number seeking to carry the Socred banner into the next provincial Moore brings to seven the genera! election in municipal politics She said there is great potential in the West Kootenay and “Td like to help the people in the provincial government put it all together for the benefit of all of us.” Moore said she is a “positive person”, but also pointed out, “I think the riding has been in the wilderness long of candidates enough.” the last nine as mayor of Castlegar Walt Siemens of Trail. president of the Rossland-Trail Social Credit party, and Pau! Moroso of Castlegar, president of the Castlegar Chamber of Commerce, also announced this week that they are running for the party's nomination They join Burt Campbell of Castlegar, Trail Mayor Chuck Lakes. Sid Crockett of Genelle and Anders Thomsen of Fruitvale who had already declared their candidacy Moore said she waited until now to announce she is running because she had to complete some “research” I believe in researching and talking with a lot of people o make sure there is support in the riding,” she said in an nterview. “I've completed my research,” she added Asked if the decision this week by former Cominco executive Marc Marcolin not to contest the nomination played a part in her decision to run, Moore said: “I think had Marc run he would have been a strong candidate.” Siemens, who carried the Socred banner during the 1983 provincial election when he lost to the NDP’s Chris D'Arcy, said Marcolin’s decision not to run prompted him to join the race With him out of the way I think I'm the best candi date,” said Siemens, adding that he was one of the local Socreds trying to convince Marcolin to run. Reading from a news release announcing his candidacy Moore said she has a lot to offer the riding after 13 years continued on pege A3 FREER TRADE COULD SPELL Staff Writer Prime Minister end of Canada. says the Canadians Mel Hurtig. ar audience of about 300 their objection Mulroney, and join the Council of Hurtig. who testified at the Washington last 20th week college's anniversary Series He has twice made headlines spokesman for Brian Mulroney's proposed trade agreement with the United States could mean the chairman of the Council of he Council of Canadians. OUR DEMISE By CHERYL CALDERBANK freer Edmonton based publisher, told an Wednesday College that if they care about Canada they should voice to Kootenay West MP Bob Brisco and night at Selkirk Canadians. freer trade talks in was the third speaker in the Distinguished Speakers in the past year. As the nationalist group advocating Canadian sovereignty of Arctic water Hurtig mv intrusion by U.S ways agains! the More recently, his publishing firm released The Canadian Encyclopedia Hurtig told the crowd that unless they don't make known their opposition to the freer be too late a year from now We are very lucky to live in said economy and become less dependent (on the U.S.) There are all kinds of ways we could diversify our ve berals were in favor of free Urade but Borden asterminded the protest demonstration ships invo Canadian seas trade proposal it may this country,” Hurtig Rober Hurtig said the freer trade talks are really talks ure of Canada v of the rig told how during Liberal W Borden MEL HURTIG . treer trade economic suicide about the quality of life and nation he 1911 election, there was Hired Laurier and Conserv issue The and the wer the free trade continued on page A3