Stoddard Online

MORE INTERFERENCE FROM THE TOP.

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You will recall a few days ago in my last posting that I alluded to certain things that were being stated on another blog site with reference to the Wilbert Coffin case. Much of what was being discussed concerned material that I have covered in the past. I find no cause for quarrel at being used as the centerpiece for the table. As a matter of fact, it is gratifying to discover that other writers choose my site when they are in need of factual and informative information. The disturbing fact here of course is the taking of certain things out of context, rendering the appearance of an altogether different meaning.

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I have been accused by this person as one who is always blaming Maurice Duplessis for the misfortunes of Wilbert Coffin. That is partly correct. I blame Duplessis where it can be proven that he was responsible. I can assure you, there are many instances where Duplessis can be blamed.

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I make no excuses for statements that I have made, and given the same set of circumstances, I would do it again. The problem is that someone should have said something back in the 1950's, but chose to set back and say nothing. That is precisely why the Wilbert Coffin case was allowed to end up as it did. People were afraid to voice their concerns to a premier turned dictator.

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Interference is one thing in all walks of life, but when it has to be fought at the top level, it takes on new meaning. Such was the case in Quebec in the 1950's. The stumbling block there of course was the leader himself, none other than premier Maurice Duplessis. From the days of his first being elected, Duplessis, assumed a dictatorial role. He would maintain this stance, surrounded by his handful of henchmen throughout his party's tenure in office. Without doubt, Union Nationale spelled Duplessis, and Duplessis spelled Union Nationale. He was the Lord and ruler, and woe unto anyone who got in his way.

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I wish to point something out. On this other web site the author criticizes me for blaming the government of the day for the illegal application of rules with reference to the inquest verdict which was changed to reflect responsibility and guilt on the part of Wilbert Coffin. The author points out that it was not Maurice Duplessis, the premier, who made the decision to do this. I am in receipt of documentation which clearly states, "the attorney general of Quebec has stated that Wilbert Coffin will be charged with murder, no matter which way the verdict reads". I would suggest that the author of this blog refresh himself on the history of Quebec during this period.

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I do agree, yes it was the attorney general of Quebec who made that statement, but the damaging aspect is the fact that the attorney general was none other than Maurice Duplessis. You see, in order to exercise complete control , it was necessary to appoint himself to all the big cabinet posts, as well as wear the hat of the premier. There are those who do not like for me to make reference to these facts, but the bottom line is, these are the markings of a dictator. If that person has his sights set on you, your chances are slim to none of escaping his grasp and wrath when he comes calling. Wilbert Coffin is an excellent example.

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Much emphasis is now being placed by a few on the importance of the Brossard Inquiry. I have stated it before, and I'll state it again, the Brossard Inquiry was nothing more than "window dressing" subsequent to the execution of Wilbert Coffin to shut up those who were asking questions with reference to the judiciary of Quebec during the Coffin affair. This inquiry was not about Wilbert Coffin's dilemma. Not at all. Wilbert's case merely cleared the path and provided an avenue for the government and police to get at Jacques Hebert, because it was none other than Mr. Hebert who put all the pressure on the government. You must remember, by the time that the decision to hold the Royal Commission into this affair was decided upon, Wilbert Coffin had been in his grave for nine years, and the guy at the top, Maurice Duplessis, had occupied his for six years.

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Even though Duplessis had departed, the rumours and anxiety continued to mount to the point of affecting the day to day operations of the new government. With the death of Duplessis, came the death of the Union Nationale Party. It was important that any new government distance itself immediately from the political fallout associated with the Union Nationale Party and Maurice Duplessis.

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The new Liberal government under Jean Lesage did just that. Lesage knew that the Brossard Inquiry would accomplish nothing. However, it might quiet down the people who were still up in arms over the Coffin affair. It would be a cheap price to pay if it could accomplish this goal, and it may instill some public confidence in the Liberal party once again in Quebec. Now you can perhaps see, with the intervention of government the affair started to turn bad at the tainted inquest, and by now we are studying the affairs of the second government during their best to mop up the slop left by Duplessis and the boys.

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To reiterate, the Brossard Inquiry was not an inquiry extension dealing with the guilt or innocence of Wilbert Coffin. Pure and simple, it was nothing short of a group of good old boys doing an inquiry on themselves, and headed up by one of their own by the name of John Charles Vanhoutte. The agenda was simple, make the judiciary of Quebec look honest, trustworthy, and transparent in the eyes of the public.

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A few days ago I told you of an interview that I had just conducted with a long time Gaspe peninsula resident. His name was Gilles Bastien. He was the former Quebec Provincial Police officer whose job it was, to prevent Wilbert Coffin talking with his legal team during his trial. You will recall, on the day of that posting I alluded to another Gaspe' businessman whom I discovered on the coast and was willing to talk to me about the Wilbert Coffin affair. This gentleman, like Gilles Bastien, is still very much alive and pleased to talk to me. I shall now introduce him to you. His name is Michel Pouliet.

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Mr. Pouliet is a pilot. During the early 1950's Mr. Pouliet owned a firm called Air Gaspe'. He had his runway, office, and service centre at Haldimand on the peninsula coast. Being the first and only air service in the peninsula region, Mr. Pouliet came into contact with many people from many walks of life.

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I found Mr.Pouliet's story to be most interesting. For the most part it displays congruency with what Gilles Bastien had told me earlier in the week. You will recall that Mr. Bastien had explained his role in causing Wilbert Coffin to be unable to meet up with his legal counsel during the trial at Perce'. Mr. Pouliet was now ready to relate to me his role in preventing Wilbert Coffin from speaking with his counsel prior to the trial, when he was being transported between Quebec City and Gaspe'.

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Mr. Pouliet owned four aircraft. Prior to transporting Mr. Coffin, Captain Alphonse Matte, or John Charles Vanhoutte would contact Mr. Pouliet by telephone. Their instructions were simple. They had a passenger going to Quebec. He would not be boarding the aircraft at the hangar. Mr. Pouliet was advised to taxi an aircraft to the end of the runway prepared for flight. The passenger would emerge from the bushes in the accompaniment of the police officers. They would then board the aircraft and receive flight instructions from the officers. Mr. Pouliet recognized the passenger as Wilbert Coffin. This arrangement was never to be discussed with his lawyer, Mr. Alphonse Garneau.

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On the day of the wrap-up of the trial, and after the verdict was announced, Mr. Pouliet experienced a very unusual happening with his small aircraft company. Earlier in the day, he received an unusual request from a gentleman. The gentleman had a question. How many planes do you own? Mr. Pouliet informed him that he owned four airplanes. The next question was, "how much to rent a plane for all day?" The answer was $500.00 per aircraft. The gentleman said he wanted all four of them but would only be using one of them. The remaining three would remain at Haldimand, and the fourth plane would fly a reporter from Haldimand to Dalhousie, New Brunswick. They must get there in time to be able to transmit a picture of Wilbert Coffin to New York as he emerged from the court house at Perce. The same rules would apply whether Wilbert was found to be innocent or guilty. This reporter was from "The New York Times" newspaper, and they wanted to be the first across North America to publish the Wilbert Coffin story.

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I am told that all things in life eventually work out to a common good. You may recall that since I have been writing and investigating this story, I am constantly on the lookout for this person or that person and eventually they come forward. It is usually after several people have informed me that the person I am looking for has entered eternity.

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This week has been no different. I received information on a gentleman that I have been looking for. He is a former police officer from the 1950's and he worked on the Wilbert Coffin case. The best part is, he is willing to talk to me. Indeed, I am looking forward to later in the week when I will have the opportunity to ask my questions of this person. It does pay to be persistent.

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The next posting will cover the forensic and ballistics portion. This will be a most important part, as it is this section that actually controlled the whole affair. You will see and understand, that had saner heads prevaled from the onset, the Wilbert Coffin case would have been a routine murder case, the perpetrators could have been brought to justice, and I believe that Wilbert Coffin could have lived out his life to old age.

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Lew Stoddard

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