#shot while escaping

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“Burwash Shooting Was Accidental,” Sudbury Star. November 10, 1917. Page 01. ---

‘I find that J. Paquette died in St. Joseph’s Hospital, Sudbury, on the 20th of October, 1917, as the result of being accidentally shot by Guard Crowder while attempting to escape from Sudbury Industrial Farm at Burwash on the 19th of October.’

The above verdict was reached today by Coroner W. R. Patterson after hearing the last of the evidence. The facts of the shooting case referred to were fully recorded in the Star a few weeks ago. Notwithstanding the fact that a local newspaper two weeks ago printed a statement that Coroner Patterson had returned a verdict that the shooting was accidental and that the guard went beyond his powers, the verdict in the case was not returned until today.

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“Prisoner Of War Shot At Capreol,” Sudbury Star. January 4, 1919. Page 01. --- Was Attempting to Escape From Work Gang When Shot by Guard - Inquiry by Military Com. --- A military commission, comprising Major Young, Major Rorke and Captain Walker, from the headquarters of Military District No. 2 Toronto, held an inquiry on Thursday at Capreol concerning the shooting of a prisoner of war at that town on Tuesday. The commission returned to Toronto Friday evening, where a report will be made to the military authorities. Attempting to Escape. The facts as far as can be learned are that a German man named Rebus Karl, member of a gang of war prisoners engaged in the Canadian Northern Railway yards, with six others of the gang, attempted to escape. The guard in charge of them blew a whistle and shouted to them to come back. Six answered the summons to halt, but Karl continued on the run and shots were fired by the guard, a bullet entering the back of the fugitive and piercing his heart. Death was instantaneous. It was stated that for some time there was dissatisfaction among the aliens at work in the yards, the attempt to escape being apparently deliberately planned.

The body of the prisoner was brought to Sudbury by Guard Corporal J. L. Farrell, and it is now at Henry’s undertaking parlors. A post mortem and inquest may be held in a few days by Coroners Patterson and Torrington, when the result of the commission’s finding is made known.

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"James White Shot Again," Border Cities Star. May 7, 1934. Page 3. --- Second Annual Event; Police Bullet This Time --- Gets Two Months ---- Theft of Garden Hose Brings Jail Term In Police Court ---- By William F. Duggan The second annual shooting of James White, 35-year-old colored resident of 861 McDougal street, was accomplished yesterday morning. This year Mr. White was nicked on the hip by a police revolver bullet whereas last year, early in the morning of April 3, he was sprayed on the face, chest and arms by shotgun slugs.

ADDING TO MISERY Adding somewhat to Mr. White's misery, he was sentenced to two months' imprisonment by Magistrate Brodie when he appeared in Windsor court, charged with the theft of garden hose, today. It was while he was bearing off the garden hose that he attracted the attention of Constable Renaud. The garden hose, it developed, was the property of Mrs. Eleanor Owen, of 812 Windsor avenue, and it was she who preferred the charge against White.

Constable Renaud thought he saw two men acting in a peculiar manner. He started trailing them, but they ducked behind some houses on Windsor avenue. Just then Constables Carter and Couse drove up in a scout car and the three set out on the man hunt.

White was spotted again in the alley between McDougal street and Windsor avenue. As soon as he saw the police car, the officers reported, he dashed through a vacant lot and dropped the coil of hose. Constables Renaud and Couse took up the chase afoot, shouting at him to halt, and firing the occasional bullet in the air. They drew close to their quarry on Mercer street, north of Giles boulevard, after running several blocks.

NIPPED IN HIP Constable Renaud was unable to say whether it was a bullet from his or Constable Couse's revolver that nipped the fugitive in the left hip. The shot proved sufficient to bring him to bay, but did not sweeten his temper. In- stead of submitting to arrest he hauled a huge flashlight out of his coat pocket and lashed out a blow aimed at Constable Couse's head, the officer breaking its force with an upflung arm.

In order to subdue the man they were forced to handcuff his wrists behind his back.

Last year White attempted to intercede in a dispute between a man and his wife. The husband resented the interference, rushed to his home, secured a shotgun and fired at White at point-blank range.

White pleaded guilty to the theft charge this morning. People should be protected from such light-fingered gentry, Magistrate Brodie observed, and should be able to leave such articles as garden hose about the premises without incurring the risk of losing it.

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"Convict Shot Dead In Break Attempt," Winnipeg Tribune. October 27, 1943. Page 1 & 4. --- JOHN Ashton "Pat" Barnett, serving a 20-year term at Stony Mountain penitentiary, was killed Tuesday night in an exchange of shots with a guard named Ferguson after he had got out of his cell and was trying to make his escape through the cell-yard.

Prison authorities today would make no comment on the shooting. Warden Alex H. Campbell said he was making a report to Ottawa and whatever statement was made would have to come from the department.

Barnett was sentenced to 20 years on Oct. 15, 1940, after a trial in Winnipeg in connection with the death of Const. John McDonald, of the city police force. Const. McDonald was shot while Barnett and two others were attempting to rob the Radio building.

Barnett made his breakout attempt about 6 p.m., Tuesday. In some way he had got out of his cell and was in possession of a gun. There is no information on how he got it. As soon as he got out he encountered Ferguson in the prison corridor, pulled the gun on him, and demanded that he hand over the keys to unlock the door to the cell yard.

From Information obtained outside of the prison authorities, it is claimed Ferguson handed over the key. Barnett is said to have fired the gun, and Ferguson returned the fire. The convict was killed almost instantly.

Dr. T. Evelin, provincial coroner, will hold an inquest at Stony Mountain tonight.

The crime for which Barnett was sentenced occurred in Winnipeg on Feb. 10, 1940, He and John Andrusiak and "Mike the Horse" Attamanchuk broke into the Radio building and made their escape while police were attempting to arrest them in the building. In the melee Constable McDonald was shot and killed.

The principal suspect in connection with the killing was Attamanchuk. Barnett and Andrusiak were picked up and held on coroner's warrants shortly after, but police continued the search for Attaman- chuk, believing he was the key man in the shooting.

Three days after, Attamanchuk was located in a hide-out in the Brant block on Logan ave. While police were attempting to force open the door of the suite where he was hiding he put a bullet through his heart and died almost instantly.

Murder charges were laid against both Barnett and Andrusiak.

A jury verdict for acquittal was directed by Mr. Justice Robson, the trial judge. The Crown laid new charges against both men as being accessories after the fact to Const. McDonald's murder. Both pleaded guilty and each was sentenced to 20 years.

Andrusiak is serving his term in Stony Mountain.

Caption: "PAT" BARNETT Shot to death in Stony Mountain escape attempt.

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"Find Guard Shot In Self-Defense," Winnipeg Tribune. October 28, 1943. Page 13. ---- The shooting of John Ashton Barnett by a guard named Ferguson, during an attempted breakout by the prisoner who was serving a 20-year term, was done in self-defense a coroner's jury at Stony Mountain penitentiary ruled Wednesday night.

The jury returned the following verdict:

"We, the jury, find that John Ashton Barnett came to his death in the southeast corner of the prison dome in Stony Mountain penitentiary in the province of Manitoba at or about 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 26, as a result of being shot by a .32 calbre pistol in the hands of Guard Ferguson, while attempting to make an armed escape from the penitentiary, Guard Ferguson shooting in self-defense.

"We, the jury, further find that Guard Ferguson and Guard Scott acted justly in the performance of their duties and are hereby exonerated from all blame in the death of John Ashton Barnett.

"We, the jury, recommend that an armed guard be stationed continuously on the main floor of the prison dome."

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“DEAD PRISONER HAD ORGANIZED DELIVERY,” Daily British Whig (Kingston). May 10, 1922. Page 17. ---- Will Not Probe Shooting of William Mitchell at Burwash Prison. ---- Toronto, May 11. - No official investigation is contemplated by the provincial secretary's department into the circumstances surrounding the death of William Mitchell, a young man from Woodstock, who was shot while attempting to escape from Burwash prison on April 29th.

Hon. H. C. Nixon, provincial treasurer, said that so far no request had reached the department for an investigation.

"I do not see what good an investigation would be," said the minister. "This man was over twenty-seven years old, an escaped prisoner from Guelph, and evidence shows he was expecting to lead a general jail delivery. He disregarded orders to stop, warning shots failed to halt him, and only when he was into the bush did the guards shoot to stop him."

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“SUSPECT SHOT ON N, SHORE,” Vancouver Sun. December 20, 1930. Page 1. --- NORTH VANCOUVER, Dec. 20., - Wounded in the leg and shoulder when he allegedly broke away from custody of a police officer and fled, a man, giving the name of H. Gardiner, about 27, no fixed address, is in North Vancouver Genera! Hospital, sufficing from bullet wounds. He is under arrest. 

Police reports state Gardiner was stopped by the constable on duty at the ferry wharf, Friday. at 8 p.m., suspected of being a "cheque artist," and was escorted to the police station, outside of which he broke loose and ran. The reports add that Gardiner succeeded in running toward thick brush before being wounded by the constable. 

The suspect was booked on a charge of false pretences then admitted to hospital. It is alleged that. Gardiner has issued a number of worthless cheques in the city. One of the bullets fired by the constable entered the fleshy parts of one of the suspect legs and the other bullet grazed his shoulder, the report states. 

Fred Cunlife was approached by the suspect in the Cunliffe drugstore and was presented with a cheque for $35, Mr. Cunliffe stated. 

His suspicions aroused by the difference in the color of the cheque to the customary ones issued by Fordyce Motors. Mr. Cunliffe phoned to local police.

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“Killed Prisoner Guard Is Upheld,” Toronto Star. March 16, 1932. Page 21. ---- Acted in Defence of Other Inmates and Self ---- Dorchester, N.B., March 16 (CP) - Shot in the leg after he had struck down three fellow-prisoners with a crowbar and was running in a mad frenzy toward the guard in charge of the gang, George Synco, 40-year-old inmate of Dorchester penitentiary, died in the prison hospital Monday of what was officially term ‘shock.’

In their verdict, the coroner’s jury exonerated N. P. Ward, the keeper, who felled Synco with a revolver bullet in the leg. He used no more force than was absolutely necessary to give the necessary protection to himself and the other prisoners in his charge, the verdict said, adding ‘we exonerate the keeper from all blame and from any intent to kill.’

Synco, who was born in Poland, had worked as a laborer at Sydney, N.S., until he was sentenced last December on a charge of assault and causing grievous bodily harm. He had no relatives, so far as is known.