1914-03-19a

“Though the crown authorities refused to admit the press to report the preliminary hearing of J. N. Gow and A. B. Mackay this morning, the reporters got considerable information about the affair, probably all they would have used had the authorities permitted them to attend.”

          Hamilton Herald.   March 19, 1914.

          It was a major struggle.

On one side, the officials in charge of court proceedings as the preliminary trial of Mackay and Gow was set to take place on March 19, 1914. The Crown Attorney and the Police Magistrate were determined that the public and press  be excluded from court proceedings, and the Hamilton Police Chief and his Deputy Chief were fully prepared to enforce that decision.

          On the other side was an intensely curious Hamilton public wishing to learn every detail about the sensational matter of the men charged and the young girls involved with alleged immorality which had taken place in the house at the corner of Hughson Street South and Charlton Avenue.  Hamilton’s three extremely competitive daily newspapers, the Spectator, the Times and the Herald, were prepared to fight each other and the decision of the court officials to provide their readers with everything possible that could be learned of the case.

          The police station was watched closely from an early hour, and the following was observed :

          “About forty maids, some young and some of doubtful years, tripped gaily into the main entrance of the police station this morning, between the hours of 8 and 9 o’clock. All made for the deputy chief’s office without casting an ete in either direction.

          “The deputy chief was on the job early and everyone had a little chat, the corridors were cleared, reporters were chased out and the damsels wended their way to the court room corridor where they were detained, and as each was called she entered, gave her story and made her exit.” ¹

          ¹ “Many Callers : Deputy Chief Whatley Had Busy Time With Young Women.”

          Hamilton Herald. March 19, 1914

The Herald had a brief summary of the morning’s rather brief proceedings at the preliminary trial (how this information was learned was not disclosed) :

          “The two prisoners, standing in front of the throne, not in the prisoners’ dock, stood up as the Court Crier read out the three charges which they were to answer. George S. Kerr announced that he was appearing for the men. Election to a higher court was made and the preliminary hearing was started.

          “The deputy chief first recounted how the two men had been watched for some time past. Thereafter, the girl witnesses, one at a time, were brought in. Three men witnesses were called, though, it is said their evidence only had bearing on minor points, such as ownership of the Gow home, etc.”²

               ²“What Happened in Police Court : Reporters Got Information in Spite of Efforts to Suppress It : Men Declined To Be tried by Magistrate – Police Testimony”

          Hamilton Herald.    March 19, 1914.

That was about all the transpired in the morning session. The major item was that the accused used their right to be tried by jury, rather than be tried by the police magistrate only – that trial would have to be scheduled for a much later date.

          During the morning’s preliminary hearing, it was seen from the court room that two newspaper men were determined to eavesdrop despite the court order to exclude them :

          “Two reporters who observed proceedings from a coign of vantage had rather a strenuous time of it, as they were seen by a tipstaff inside the courtroom, and one escaped after being chased up King William street for two blocks, while the other unfortunate scribe was found at the top of a ladder.

          “Without a chance of explaining why he was so lofty, the reporter was ignominiously dragged into the tribunal before Magistrate Jelfs. A conference took place, and for a time, the crown did not know whether to behead the young man in question or burn him at the stake.

          “In view of the fact that he is married and the father of seven children, it was decided to let him go, but if he ever does such a thing again, well ---“³

               ³ “In Great Danger : Reporters Had a Hard Time Trying to Get News of the Case.”

          Hamilton Herald. March 19, 1914

          Court was then recessed until the afternoon when the police magistrate would render his decision as regards bail for the defendants.

 

(To Be Continued)