Part two of Alan Wade's account of a little known Port Arthur/Loon Lake incident.
As we saw in the previous post (see below), Col. Little, a prominent local businessman, attacked his 69-year-old gardener, John Neilson, on September 25, 1921 at Loon Lake during a dispute over wages. After the confrontation, Neilson went to lawyer Byers' place. Byers took him to the place of Dr. Spence, who administered first aid. Neilson then took the train to Fort William and went to McKellar Hospital, where he stayed until June 5 the following year and underwent three operations.
At 2:20 p.m. on Friday, November 3, 1922, the jury came out with its verdict in the civil court case which resulted from this incident.
Frank Keefer, the Colonel's lawyer had argued that Neilson was falsely claiming that a previous medical condition had been caused by the confrontation and that he was exaggerating the extent of his injuries with the active encouragement of others, in particular his lawyer, Byers. Keefer: "We have proposed to show that the medical attention given had nothing to do with the case. I propose to show that he didn't have to go to the hospital; to show that it is the worst trumped up thing you ever heard of."
Keefer had the following exchange with Dr. Gillespie: "He was kept around the hospital for kindly motives?/ He had no place to go. Did the doctors have anything to do with keeping him there?/ They asked us and we said we couldn't turn him in the street."
With Dr. Cook: "You found this obstruction and you knew that was the accumulation of a long while?/ Probably yes."
He elicited this testimony from Dr. Crozier, a friend of the Colonel's: "I examined him thoroughly and found his right ear and cheek swollen, the apparent effect of a blow. He had no other marks. He was complaining of his bladder. I asked him if he ever had that trouble before. He told me he had it frequently. He said he had it with every cold. I thought, like Col. Little, there was an unscrupulous lawyer trying to make something out of it."
Little continued this theme when questioned by Byers: "I began to think there was a conspiracy going on and sent Dr. Crozier over. There were still further rumours among them that Neilson was dead. I thought you were doing a little ambulance chasing."
Byers' strategy was to emphasize the seriousness of Neilson's injury. He elicited this testimony from Neilson: "My head is not so sound; headache, aches over my eyes. I'm dizzy. I'm nervous, get easily excited; after all that pain in the hospital. I don't hear so good with my right ear. I don't see so good. My memory is not so good. I can't grasp anything so quick. I have an ache in the small of my back. My arms are weak and shaking. My hands, I can't close them together. I can't hold my coat to put it on. I have pain in my knees nights and days. I can't bend my knees. The calves are aching. I can't lift anything to speak of."
Dr. Cook testified that Neilson's right eye was swollen, his right cheek discoloured and his abdomen distended. On October 3 he operated because of an injury to his bowels from mauling or bruising.
Byers' arguments convinced the jury. It awarded Neilson $2,490- $250 for doctors, $250 for hospital, $1100 for loss of earning power, $500 for indignity, and $390 for suffering.
(My thanks to Dave Nicholson, local genealogist, for giving me the tip for and source references to this story.)
Showing posts with label Alan Wade. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alan Wade. Show all posts
Friday, September 5, 2008
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
PROMINENT CITIZEN ASSAULTED EMPLOYEE by Alan Wade
Local historian, Alan Wade, researches true tales of old Thunder Bay. This is one of his best.
On September 25, 1921 at his summer camp at Loon Lake, Col. Little attacked his 69-year-old gardener, Jan Neilson.
In Neilson's words: "First thing I knew I was getting beaten up. I was lying down and getting beaten. I thought if he keeps on he'll kill me."
Not only was the Colonel the commanding officer of the 96th Lake Superior Regiment from 1909-1921, he was also a very influential businessman. J. P. Mooney called him "the hero of a hundred payrolls." He had interests in railway tie and lumber production, exclusive fishing rights on Lake Nipigon, and owned the Thunder Bay Harbor Improvement Company and the Empire Hotel which he bought "dirt cheap" when Prohibition came to Ontario in 1916.
As well, Little had powerful political connections. He was "in tight" with J. J. Carrick, former Port Arthur mayor and Conservative M.P. and M.P.P and "go-getting" real estate promoter. Little was also very close to Donald Hogarth, local mining magnate (with interests in Steep Rock and several other mines) who took over Carrick's position after he left for federal politics. J. P. Bertrand in his book Timberwolves tells us Little was a member of the "Old Tory Timber Ring," which controlled all pulp leases and appointments to the Department of Lands and Forests in the province.
In March 1913 the Colonel purchased Hillcrest, a house which still stands at the southwest corner of High Street and Red River Road, from John Meikle, who had a fancy goods (i.e. department) store at the corner of Park and Cumberland St. (unoccupied today).
Neilson was a Danish immigrant who had lived in the U.S. for 36 years and for the past eighteen months in Canada. At the Bank of Montreal a clerk had referred him to the Colonel and the two had taken the train to Loon Lake on Sunday, May 18. They did not establish a rate of pay. Neilson: "He asked me how much I wanted and I told him we'd better wait and see what I could do." They never did reach an agreement on this matter. Later Neilson said he wanted $100 per month but the Colonel insisted he would only pay half that amount. Neilson: "When I found out he could pay only fifty dollars a month I got kind of hot and said he'd better pay me in full. I went back but only worked half a day." He then went to work for Dr. Spence but refused to give up the key to Little's cottage where had been boarding.
On Sept. 25 Neilson and Little came face to face.
Little: I said Neilson, where are the keys.
He said, “They're right here and I'm not going to give them to you.”
I said, “Neilson, do you mean to tell me on my own property you won't give me my keys?” I told him if he didn't he'd get into trouble mighty quick. I struck him with the back of my open hand. That unbalanced him. He got up and handed me the keys."
The Colonel insisted he never kicked him or struck him when he was down.
Neilson had a different version of these events. "I saw Col. Little, all red in the face and looking drunk. First thing I knew I was lying on my belly; his knees on my back and he was pounding my head. I thought if I don't give him the keys he will kill me. I got the keys out and he took them and left me."
(to be continued)
On September 25, 1921 at his summer camp at Loon Lake, Col. Little attacked his 69-year-old gardener, Jan Neilson.
In Neilson's words: "First thing I knew I was getting beaten up. I was lying down and getting beaten. I thought if he keeps on he'll kill me."
Not only was the Colonel the commanding officer of the 96th Lake Superior Regiment from 1909-1921, he was also a very influential businessman. J. P. Mooney called him "the hero of a hundred payrolls." He had interests in railway tie and lumber production, exclusive fishing rights on Lake Nipigon, and owned the Thunder Bay Harbor Improvement Company and the Empire Hotel which he bought "dirt cheap" when Prohibition came to Ontario in 1916.
As well, Little had powerful political connections. He was "in tight" with J. J. Carrick, former Port Arthur mayor and Conservative M.P. and M.P.P and "go-getting" real estate promoter. Little was also very close to Donald Hogarth, local mining magnate (with interests in Steep Rock and several other mines) who took over Carrick's position after he left for federal politics. J. P. Bertrand in his book Timberwolves tells us Little was a member of the "Old Tory Timber Ring," which controlled all pulp leases and appointments to the Department of Lands and Forests in the province.
In March 1913 the Colonel purchased Hillcrest, a house which still stands at the southwest corner of High Street and Red River Road, from John Meikle, who had a fancy goods (i.e. department) store at the corner of Park and Cumberland St. (unoccupied today).
Neilson was a Danish immigrant who had lived in the U.S. for 36 years and for the past eighteen months in Canada. At the Bank of Montreal a clerk had referred him to the Colonel and the two had taken the train to Loon Lake on Sunday, May 18. They did not establish a rate of pay. Neilson: "He asked me how much I wanted and I told him we'd better wait and see what I could do." They never did reach an agreement on this matter. Later Neilson said he wanted $100 per month but the Colonel insisted he would only pay half that amount. Neilson: "When I found out he could pay only fifty dollars a month I got kind of hot and said he'd better pay me in full. I went back but only worked half a day." He then went to work for Dr. Spence but refused to give up the key to Little's cottage where had been boarding.
On Sept. 25 Neilson and Little came face to face.
Little: I said Neilson, where are the keys.
He said, “They're right here and I'm not going to give them to you.”
I said, “Neilson, do you mean to tell me on my own property you won't give me my keys?” I told him if he didn't he'd get into trouble mighty quick. I struck him with the back of my open hand. That unbalanced him. He got up and handed me the keys."
The Colonel insisted he never kicked him or struck him when he was down.
Neilson had a different version of these events. "I saw Col. Little, all red in the face and looking drunk. First thing I knew I was lying on my belly; his knees on my back and he was pounding my head. I thought if I don't give him the keys he will kill me. I got the keys out and he took them and left me."
(to be continued)
Saturday, June 28, 2008
807 A Northwestern Ontario Literary Review
Calling all Thunder Bay readers. Pick up the magazine 807: A Northwestern Ontario Literary Review and read the works of the 2008 writing contest winners. Included are the winning poetry, memoir, children's fiction, flash fiction and short stories. A good looking publication too. Big congrats to editors Rosalind Make and Deborah deBakker and the prodcution team.
The application forms for the Sleeping Giant Writers' Festival are now at the public library. Circle August 22, 23, 24 on your Blackberry (OK, your calender). Many congrats to the seventeen local sponsors and to the organizing committee who brought us such a great line up. I definitely plan to attend Alistair McLeod's workshop on the Novel and the Short Story. However, I cannot make up my mind which of the other workshops to take in - Flash Characterization by Steven Heighton looks interesting.
Congratulations to Alan Wade, who won the 2008 Chronicle-Journal Arts and Heritage Award. Alan's columns on the history of Thunder Bay are always unusual and interesting.
Watch here for the date of the launch of a new book of poetry by Elizabeth Kouhi. Title is Waiting for the Greening.
The application forms for the Sleeping Giant Writers' Festival are now at the public library. Circle August 22, 23, 24 on your Blackberry (OK, your calender). Many congrats to the seventeen local sponsors and to the organizing committee who brought us such a great line up. I definitely plan to attend Alistair McLeod's workshop on the Novel and the Short Story. However, I cannot make up my mind which of the other workshops to take in - Flash Characterization by Steven Heighton looks interesting.
Congratulations to Alan Wade, who won the 2008 Chronicle-Journal Arts and Heritage Award. Alan's columns on the history of Thunder Bay are always unusual and interesting.
Watch here for the date of the launch of a new book of poetry by Elizabeth Kouhi. Title is Waiting for the Greening.
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