“M’Cormack Is Sentenced For Two Year Term,” Edmonton Bulletin. June 7, 1919. Page 01. ---- Mountain Park Mill Owner Is Found Guilty of Shooting with Intent to Kill --- Clarence H. McCormack, a mill owner and lumberman near Mountain Park, was sentenced to two years imprisonment with hard labor in the penitentiary at Edmonton, by Mr. Justice Ives in the supreme criminal court Friday afternoon when he found him guilty of shooting with intent to kill one George Ritter.
At the close of the case the judge told the accused that he had come to the conclusion that he had lost his temper with Mr. Ritter and commenting on his unlawful action said it was a serious matter to ‘pull a gun’ on any person, and he would have to suffer for his criminal act.
Crown Prosecutor E. B. Cogswell, K. C., handled the case and H. H. Robertson, K. C., defended the accused. The evidence of Dr. Malcolmson was taken at the morning session and showed that he had removed a piece of metal from the complaint’s leg about four inches above the nee. The medial man produced an x-ray plate photograph of the injured leg to verify his statements. He gave it as his opinion that the metal removed from the bone of the man’s leg was a smashed bullet.
Ritter Gives Evidence George Ritter himself, under oath, stated that he owned a farm adjoining the accused’s sawmill and that the accused teams had crossed his fields on their way out with limber. He continued this practice after the crops began to come up and considerable damage was done which annoyed him. He warned the accused to discontinue the practice but he persisted and Ritter then blocked the roadway with stones. This enraged the accused, according to the witness’ testimony, and that day he came with his gun demanding right of passage. Believing to be within his rights, Ritter says he defended his property and the accused shot at him twice, one shot going over his head and the other entering his leg.
Had Trouble Several Times. This witness stated that he had had trouble with the accused on several occasions and for some time has been coming under his threat to shoot and hurt. Under cross-examination by H. H. Robertson, the witness asserted with considerable enthusiasm that he was of Alsace-Lorraine parentage and emphatically repudiated the assertion by the one that he was of German descent and denounced as a lie the claim that he had called the accused ‘a dirty American pig.’
Told of Trespassing. Neil Winter, a teamster, formerly in the employment of the accused gave evidence as to the practice of trespassing on the complainant’s property limber was being hauled from the mill to the railway siding. He said that he went to the main road the day after the shooting.