Stoddard Online: Continued from part five. . .
The discovery of Eugene Lindsey's remains on July 15, 1953 confirmed murder had taken place in the Gaspe' woods. Nothing, that would even come close to this magnitude had ever taken place on the peninsula. The rumour mills were going full speed. Whispers and hushed tones were the order of the day. Theories were rampant. Who would do such an evil deed, and why? Was the perpetrator or perpetrators from the local area, or was it the work of someone from the United States Of America? Was it a random strike, or was it a planned calculated murder? These are all avenues that warranted investigation immediately. Were they pursued? Very definitely not, as you will soon discover in the story.
Three days later on July 18, 1953, Doctor Lionel Rioux, the local doctor who doubled as area coroner would convene and hold a private inquest with reference to the discovery of the human remains, which had now been transferred from the woods to the town of Gaspe'. Dr. Rioux learned at the inquest of the findings of the provincial pathologist, Dr. Jean Marie Roussell who had attended the crime scene in the woods. Dr. Roussell would confirm that he had established the identity of the human remains as that of a Mr. Eugene Lindsey, an American citizen from the state of Pennsylvania. When questioned as to criteria in establishing identity, again, the long finger nail theory played a paramount role, with no further elaboration or identification of possible scientific elements. Interestingly, he would later testify that scientific means of identification was the primary means, with the long finger nails being secondary, but again, never isolating as to what this scientific data consisted of. Indeed, much doubt is created as to the existence of any scientific data used by Dr. Roussell in this identification.
At the conclusion of the private inquest on July 18, 1953, Coroner Dr. Lionel Rioux's oifficial declaration was as follows. On July 15, 1953, a human remains had been discovered in the woods some thirty five miles distant from the town of Gaspe', in the province of Quebec. This remains had been identified as that of Eugene Lindsey from Pennsylvania, in the United States Of America. The official cause of death was uncertain based on the condition of the remains, although, the inquest concluded death did not occur as a result of natural causes, thus, causing Dr. Rioux to declare that death was caused by the action or actions, by a person or persons unknown. Dr. Rioux further concluded that Mr. Lindsey probably met death in an aggressive and barbaric fashion.
It was now obvious that the probability of finding Richard Lindsey and Fred Claar alive was non existent. They were, afterall, still missing in the forest. They must be found immediately. The American administration was jumping all over Maurice Duplessis. His directive to his crack team of investigators in the Gaspe' region was swift and absolute. They must find the other two American hunters, and they must do it now.
Captain Alphonse Matte, the lead investigator was now in a quandry. He had successfully seized control of the investigation for the American hunters, so all attention was now focused on this expert to do his stuff. Down deep, he knew that neither he, nor the other members of his team were capable of effecting a successful conclusion to the search for the hunters. They were, afterall, largely made up of city slicker cops, who when faced with the harsh realities of the real world, would not be able to find their way out of a room with the door wide open. He would be forced to enlist the aid of local people, who knew the terrain, and the area in depth. Were all the local people leaning in his direction? Indeed, they were not, and never would be. The local people were very much in favor of aiding and assisting to bring the matter to closure, they simply were not in favor with the heavy handed methods and approach by Captain Matte and crew. He had a very big problem, that in reality, was his own doing.
Captain Matte was forced to confer with Sgt. Doyon as to recommendations for the search for the remaining two hunters. This was a forced about turn on the part of Matte, as Sgt. Doyon was the officer from whom Matte had wrenched control of the investigation.
Sgt. Doyon explained to Matte there was a gentleman connected with the discovery of Eugene Lindsey's remains, who should be kept on the search, because it was felt that if there was a single person in the Gaspe' area who would be the most likely to negotiatite the woods and nature, this person might be the man. His name was Barney Donahue, and he knew the surrounding area like the palm of his hand. This would be like a breath of freah air to Matte, and as well, if Donahue and a search party were successful, then Matte would look good to the boss, that being Maurice Duplessis.
As reported earlier in the story, Wilbert Coffin had returned from Montreal on July 20, and Sgt. Doyon mentioned that he also knew the area, and should be approached to assist with the search. Captain Matte readily agreed, as he had been told that Wilbert Coffin had been the last known person to have been seen with any of the Lindsey party. Captain Matte insisted that Wilbert Coffin go into the forest by car in the accompaniment of two police officers so that they could study his movements and expressions. Captain Matte was now silently plotting a case against Wilbert Coffin.
It was at this time that Captain Matte would declare that from then on, he, and he alone, would answer questions and make comments regarding the case. He would report to, and take orders directly from Antoine Rivard, the Solicitor General of Quebec, who was in constant touch with Duplessis. Little did Wilbert Coffin know, he was in a very precarious situation indeed. The date was July 21, 1953.
The foot search progressed, and two days later on July 23, 1953, a grim discovery was made near the River St. John, approximately two and a half miles upstream on the opposite side of the river from where the remains of Eugene Lindsey was found. The skeletal remains, which would later be identified as those of Richard Lindsey and Fred Claar were found approximately 200 feet apart. It was suggestive by the grisly scene they had met death in a tragic and most unnatural way.
At this point of the story, I urge you to sit back and quickly review the facts thus far. You will recall the whole affair was an international incident with unprecedented proportions. Three American citizens are missing on Canadian soil. One is now confirmed brutally killed from human intervention. Two other human remains have now been located in the area, though not yet identified, it is a safe assumption that identity will confirm the worst.
As from the beginning, this case bore all the marks of government control of a criminal investigation. This case must be treated with the utmost care. This was echoed from Duplessis, to the solicitor general, Antoine Rivard, who would gain the assurance from Captain Matte that the investigation would be thorough and complete. It must and will be investigated to the letter of the law, leaving no stone unturned was the way it was portrayed to the citizenry of the area. Was this done? Read the next few paragraphs and you be the judge.
First of all, let me qualify myself. Over the years, I have witnessed a number of crime scenes, some violent, some otherwise. I have studied crime scenes. I have interviewed top investigators working on major crimes. I have seen great police investigations, and I have seen what I would class as nothing more than mediocre police work. I have even seen some that were sloppy and embarassing, but I have to be honest in what I am about to tell you.
Without doubt, the handling and managing of the crime scene depicted in this story, exhibits the qualities and characteristics, consistent with an event being approved for entry into "Ripley's Believe It Or Not." In short form, here is what they were dealing with.
The remains of two individuals have been located. They are little more than bones, however, by comparison to Eugene Lindsey's remains they are both relatively intact. Bears obviously feasted on both bodies. The remains are located approximately 200 feet apart. Personal items are located in proximity to the remains. The search party now all tramps in to take a look, with no regard for the crime scene area. This would be the major find in the puzzle with reference to the missing men. Barney Donahue and his party of searchers may have excelled in search procedures, however, based on statements that he would later make about the obvious crime , suggests that his skills would be better utilized as a searcher and game warden, than that of investigator.
In any major crime scene such as this, it is paramount that the government pathologist and his team attend quickly to observe the remains, conduct tests, and thoroughly search the surrounding area. These events are elementary procedures. This is where any investigation has it's beginning, right? Wrong, not in this case. Captain Alphonse Matte was at the controls. The police merely packed up the human bones in two cardboard boxes and tossed them in the back of a pickup truck bound for Gaspe'. They were deposited into a back room at the police station to await the arrival of the provincial pathologist in a couple of days.
Lew Stoddard
Posted to site July 02, 2006
The next posting will be posted on July 07, 2006 and will detail the post mortem, Wilbert Coffin's movements while the search was on, and the very important two inquests that are about to take place, which will lead to Wilbert Coffin being arrested as a material witness, and finally being charged with murder. At the conclusion of the Wilbert Coffin story, I shall be outlining the evidence of the crown, how it was presented through manipulation, because in the absense of manipulation, you will soon discover they really had no case.
As well, at the conclusion of the story, I will outline my theory as to what I believe really happened in the woods during that fateful time at Gaspe'. Please be patient, the twists and turns are about to pick up in intensity.
The discovery of Eugene Lindsey's remains on July 15, 1953 confirmed murder had taken place in the Gaspe' woods. Nothing, that would even come close to this magnitude had ever taken place on the peninsula. The rumour mills were going full speed. Whispers and hushed tones were the order of the day. Theories were rampant. Who would do such an evil deed, and why? Was the perpetrator or perpetrators from the local area, or was it the work of someone from the United States Of America? Was it a random strike, or was it a planned calculated murder? These are all avenues that warranted investigation immediately. Were they pursued? Very definitely not, as you will soon discover in the story.
Three days later on July 18, 1953, Doctor Lionel Rioux, the local doctor who doubled as area coroner would convene and hold a private inquest with reference to the discovery of the human remains, which had now been transferred from the woods to the town of Gaspe'. Dr. Rioux learned at the inquest of the findings of the provincial pathologist, Dr. Jean Marie Roussell who had attended the crime scene in the woods. Dr. Roussell would confirm that he had established the identity of the human remains as that of a Mr. Eugene Lindsey, an American citizen from the state of Pennsylvania. When questioned as to criteria in establishing identity, again, the long finger nail theory played a paramount role, with no further elaboration or identification of possible scientific elements. Interestingly, he would later testify that scientific means of identification was the primary means, with the long finger nails being secondary, but again, never isolating as to what this scientific data consisted of. Indeed, much doubt is created as to the existence of any scientific data used by Dr. Roussell in this identification.
At the conclusion of the private inquest on July 18, 1953, Coroner Dr. Lionel Rioux's oifficial declaration was as follows. On July 15, 1953, a human remains had been discovered in the woods some thirty five miles distant from the town of Gaspe', in the province of Quebec. This remains had been identified as that of Eugene Lindsey from Pennsylvania, in the United States Of America. The official cause of death was uncertain based on the condition of the remains, although, the inquest concluded death did not occur as a result of natural causes, thus, causing Dr. Rioux to declare that death was caused by the action or actions, by a person or persons unknown. Dr. Rioux further concluded that Mr. Lindsey probably met death in an aggressive and barbaric fashion.
It was now obvious that the probability of finding Richard Lindsey and Fred Claar alive was non existent. They were, afterall, still missing in the forest. They must be found immediately. The American administration was jumping all over Maurice Duplessis. His directive to his crack team of investigators in the Gaspe' region was swift and absolute. They must find the other two American hunters, and they must do it now.
Captain Alphonse Matte, the lead investigator was now in a quandry. He had successfully seized control of the investigation for the American hunters, so all attention was now focused on this expert to do his stuff. Down deep, he knew that neither he, nor the other members of his team were capable of effecting a successful conclusion to the search for the hunters. They were, afterall, largely made up of city slicker cops, who when faced with the harsh realities of the real world, would not be able to find their way out of a room with the door wide open. He would be forced to enlist the aid of local people, who knew the terrain, and the area in depth. Were all the local people leaning in his direction? Indeed, they were not, and never would be. The local people were very much in favor of aiding and assisting to bring the matter to closure, they simply were not in favor with the heavy handed methods and approach by Captain Matte and crew. He had a very big problem, that in reality, was his own doing.
Captain Matte was forced to confer with Sgt. Doyon as to recommendations for the search for the remaining two hunters. This was a forced about turn on the part of Matte, as Sgt. Doyon was the officer from whom Matte had wrenched control of the investigation.
Sgt. Doyon explained to Matte there was a gentleman connected with the discovery of Eugene Lindsey's remains, who should be kept on the search, because it was felt that if there was a single person in the Gaspe' area who would be the most likely to negotiatite the woods and nature, this person might be the man. His name was Barney Donahue, and he knew the surrounding area like the palm of his hand. This would be like a breath of freah air to Matte, and as well, if Donahue and a search party were successful, then Matte would look good to the boss, that being Maurice Duplessis.
As reported earlier in the story, Wilbert Coffin had returned from Montreal on July 20, and Sgt. Doyon mentioned that he also knew the area, and should be approached to assist with the search. Captain Matte readily agreed, as he had been told that Wilbert Coffin had been the last known person to have been seen with any of the Lindsey party. Captain Matte insisted that Wilbert Coffin go into the forest by car in the accompaniment of two police officers so that they could study his movements and expressions. Captain Matte was now silently plotting a case against Wilbert Coffin.
It was at this time that Captain Matte would declare that from then on, he, and he alone, would answer questions and make comments regarding the case. He would report to, and take orders directly from Antoine Rivard, the Solicitor General of Quebec, who was in constant touch with Duplessis. Little did Wilbert Coffin know, he was in a very precarious situation indeed. The date was July 21, 1953.
The foot search progressed, and two days later on July 23, 1953, a grim discovery was made near the River St. John, approximately two and a half miles upstream on the opposite side of the river from where the remains of Eugene Lindsey was found. The skeletal remains, which would later be identified as those of Richard Lindsey and Fred Claar were found approximately 200 feet apart. It was suggestive by the grisly scene they had met death in a tragic and most unnatural way.
At this point of the story, I urge you to sit back and quickly review the facts thus far. You will recall the whole affair was an international incident with unprecedented proportions. Three American citizens are missing on Canadian soil. One is now confirmed brutally killed from human intervention. Two other human remains have now been located in the area, though not yet identified, it is a safe assumption that identity will confirm the worst.
As from the beginning, this case bore all the marks of government control of a criminal investigation. This case must be treated with the utmost care. This was echoed from Duplessis, to the solicitor general, Antoine Rivard, who would gain the assurance from Captain Matte that the investigation would be thorough and complete. It must and will be investigated to the letter of the law, leaving no stone unturned was the way it was portrayed to the citizenry of the area. Was this done? Read the next few paragraphs and you be the judge.
First of all, let me qualify myself. Over the years, I have witnessed a number of crime scenes, some violent, some otherwise. I have studied crime scenes. I have interviewed top investigators working on major crimes. I have seen great police investigations, and I have seen what I would class as nothing more than mediocre police work. I have even seen some that were sloppy and embarassing, but I have to be honest in what I am about to tell you.
Without doubt, the handling and managing of the crime scene depicted in this story, exhibits the qualities and characteristics, consistent with an event being approved for entry into "Ripley's Believe It Or Not." In short form, here is what they were dealing with.
The remains of two individuals have been located. They are little more than bones, however, by comparison to Eugene Lindsey's remains they are both relatively intact. Bears obviously feasted on both bodies. The remains are located approximately 200 feet apart. Personal items are located in proximity to the remains. The search party now all tramps in to take a look, with no regard for the crime scene area. This would be the major find in the puzzle with reference to the missing men. Barney Donahue and his party of searchers may have excelled in search procedures, however, based on statements that he would later make about the obvious crime , suggests that his skills would be better utilized as a searcher and game warden, than that of investigator.
In any major crime scene such as this, it is paramount that the government pathologist and his team attend quickly to observe the remains, conduct tests, and thoroughly search the surrounding area. These events are elementary procedures. This is where any investigation has it's beginning, right? Wrong, not in this case. Captain Alphonse Matte was at the controls. The police merely packed up the human bones in two cardboard boxes and tossed them in the back of a pickup truck bound for Gaspe'. They were deposited into a back room at the police station to await the arrival of the provincial pathologist in a couple of days.
Lew Stoddard
Posted to site July 02, 2006
The next posting will be posted on July 07, 2006 and will detail the post mortem, Wilbert Coffin's movements while the search was on, and the very important two inquests that are about to take place, which will lead to Wilbert Coffin being arrested as a material witness, and finally being charged with murder. At the conclusion of the Wilbert Coffin story, I shall be outlining the evidence of the crown, how it was presented through manipulation, because in the absense of manipulation, you will soon discover they really had no case.
As well, at the conclusion of the story, I will outline my theory as to what I believe really happened in the woods during that fateful time at Gaspe'. Please be patient, the twists and turns are about to pick up in intensity.
