“YEAR GIVEN AUTO THIEF OF CORBEIL,” North Bay Nugget. June 23, 1939. Page 8. ---- Leo Leclair Is Sentenced to Burwash, Longer Term for His Companion --- SUDBURY COURT ---- Sudbury, June 23 — (Special to The Nugget)— A penitentiary term of two and a half year Thursday morning was imposed on Walter Poole, of Brantford, for the theft of a car owned by Gamble-Robinson Limited of Sudbury on June 16 last.
Ended In Ditch A companion Leo Leclair of Corbell was given on year in Burwash Industrial Farm on the same charge, which was the sequel to a wild, drunken ride along Elm, Borgia, Louis, and Peter streets about 4.30 o'clock in the afternoon during which a Hydro pole was broken off by the careening car. It ended up in the ditch.
Witnessing a minor sideswiping accident at the corner of Borgia and Louis streets, Sergeant Eli Lamontaigne of the International Nickel Company police of Frood Mine gave chase in his own car and overhauled them as they scrambled from the auto after taking the ditch.
'Poole told Leclair to ‘scram' as I came up, testified Sergeant Lamontaigne. ‘He ran away but Constable Adams overtook him. Poole was very intoxicated.’
Four other charges were preferred against Poole to all of which he pleaded guilty. He was fined $25 and costs or one month for failing to remain at the scene of an accident; $10 and costs or 15 days for reckless driving; $10 and costs or 10 days for having no driver’s license and 15 days for driving a car while intoxicated. Leclair had previously pleaded not guilty to the theft charge but Thursday morning was convicted by Magistrate J. S. Kessock.
Just Released The car was stolen from in front an Elm street department store about 4:30 o'clock in the afternoon and was recovered by city police police before the theft was reported by the owner, Pools had been released from jail only the same day where he had been sentenced for assault in Sudbury.
The car was driven down Elm street to Borgia and while attempting to turn onto Louis, sideswiped a truck driven by George Dughay, 256 St George street. Without stopping the pair continued around the corner and headed toward Primeauville. They dashed along Harvey stieet and on Peter street crashed the Hydro pole. It was broken by the impact but the car continued for some distance before ending up in the ditch.
'There were three men In the car but one got away," testified Sergeant Lamontaigne. "I arrested Poole and Constable Adams who had arrived in the city police cruiser, overtook Leclair before he got very far.’
Poole was convicted previously of the same crime at Brantford and sentenced to two years in Kingston.
