BACK ON TRACK.

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THE WILBERT COFFIN CASE.

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Prior to getting back to a regular posting routine of the Wilbert Coffin case, there are a few things that folks have requested of me by e-mail for clarification. As I have been battling health issues, I have been unable to post with the frequency that has been possible in the past. Hopefully, those issues are behind me now for awhile, and I will now address a couple of things.

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Firstly, there have been a few folks asking about the Brossard Inquiry and its significance to the murder conviction of Wilbert Coffin. Apparently, there is a web site with the mandate to pursue the Brossard Inquiry transcripts, and tie them in with the finding of guilt of Wilbert Coffin.

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As readers of this site, you will have learned that Wilbert Coffin was found guilty in Perce', Quebec in 1954 for the murder of Richard Lindsey. I have also alluded to the fact many times that the Brossard Inquiry took place nearly ten years after the trial, and approximately eight years after Wilbert Coffin's execution.

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Based on this knowledge, you may be asking why the Brossard Inquiry was necessary, and if so, what was gained on conclusion? In simple terms, in my opinion, the inquiry was not necessary and nothing was gained on conclusion.

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You must understand the Brossard Inquiry was not an appeal of Wilbert Coffin's conviction, nor was it an appeal of his sentence. In my view the inquiry was nothing more than a selfish move by the government and the judiciary of Quebec in a vain attempt to absolve themselves of the appearance of any wrong doing, when it could be demonstrated that a man was hanged based on a trial that was unfair and in many instances illegal. It is also important to note that many of those charged with the responsibility of a fair and impartial inquiry were the same ones who had headed the steering committee on the original police investigation. I speak specificially of John Vanhoutte and others. In effect, John Vanhoutte was investigating himself.

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The journalist, later to become Senator, the late Jacques Hebert brought much heat on the judiciary of Quebec during those days. The inquiry was portrayed as a means of bringing Mr. Hebert to task for his actions, however there are apparently some who now preach the findings of the Brossard Inquiry as part of the finding of guilt of Mr. Coffin.

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I have had the opportunity to look over the Brossard transcripts in detail, and one does not have to be a genious to quickly discover that questions asked of witnesses at the inquiry were well placed to focus information in a different direction than that made available for scrutiny by the jury at the perce' trial. One must also ponder the very real possibility that after a time lapse of almost ten years, it is reasonable to assume that answers to some questions may vary. Think for a moment, do you remember in the finest of detail the conversation that you may have had with someone nearly ten years ago?

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Another aspect of this inquiry that renders it useless is the fact that information could be taken out of context from the original trial. Questions could be asked of the same witness, but I do notice that the questions could be worded in a slightly different manner, and thus the answer given at trial differs from that of the inquiry.

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I do stress that before you base your thoughts on guilt or innocence from what you are being presented from the Brossard Inquiry you should consider all the variables and draw conclusions only after you see the full story presented from the trial. Afterall, it was the trial at Perce' that convicted Wilbert Coffin, not some travelling dog and pony act.

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It is blatently obvious that the trial of Wilbert Coffin was a very flawed process. It was the result of this flawed process that I believe robbed a man of his life.

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In the next few days we shall be hitting this trial in a heavy handed way. The forensic report will prove that. This is stuff that you will never read about in the Brossard Inquiry transcripts. In addition, I shall expose a couple of letters written by John Vanhoutte and Captain Matte. These I guarantee you will not see in the Brossard Inquiry, because if the information contained in these files had been brought up at trial, there would have been no Brossard Inquiry because the trial could have ended.

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Thanks once again in a big way folks for being patient. I shall be back in a few days. As you know, I am a man of few words but we do our best out here on the west coast of Canada. God Bless You, one and all.

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Lew Stoddard

THE WILBERT COFFIN CASE.

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BACK TO BASICS.

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Hello everyone, it is great to be back. Thanks to all who sent e-mails and words of encouragement, telephone calls, and especially to those who remembered me in their prayers. I am feeling much better now, and will get down to business again very shortly.

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Most of us are able to find something to be thankful for in spite of the crazy mixed up world in which we live. That is what encourages us to trudge onward. Throughout the past few weeks, I have reflected in my thoughts as to what the thoughts of Wilbert Coffin may have been during his last months on this earth. Never faltering, he maintained his innocence until the end, and now, some fifty-two years later, I believe that I can present a very strong case which confirms that he was telling the truth. Very simply expressed, he was the victim of gross manipulation at the hands of a very corrupt regime.

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In the past two years I have had contact with scores of people who support what Wilbert Coffin was saying with reference to his innocence. People are still coming forward at this late date with their unsolicited comments regarding the events of the early 1950's in Quebec. As an example, please read on.

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A few days ago I was in the city of Burnaby. By chance encounter I met an elderly French Canadian lady in a restaurant. This lady's name was Marie. I asked Marie if she had been born in the province of Quebec. Marie stated to me that she had in fact been born there and remained there with her family until she was in her late 20's. She further stated that it was at this time that her Dad said it was time to move. Marie and her family moved from their small home town situated between Trois Rivieres and Quebec City and moved to another province.

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I was curious as to the move made by Marie and her family so I inquired as to why. Having worked and lived there for a time, I suggested to Marie that Quebec is a very beautiful province. Marie was quick to point out that yes it is a very beautiful province. I asked her what she remembered and missed the most about her home village. Very quickly she mentioned the village, it homes and people, and the gleaming white church with the large steeple. In looks Marie said, it was a perfect post card. Unfortunately stated Marie, "the post card harbored many ugly secrets and scars."

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Marie went on to point out that in her opinion, "Quebec was controlled by a very scary regime in those days." Marie continued stating that this regime of which she spoke was headed by none other than Maurice Duplessis. Marie explained that "many during this time feared Maurice Duplessis and his band." Marie further stated that Duplessis and his gang were responsible for the hanging of an innocent man by the name of Wilbert Coffin.

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According to Marie, the majority of French speaking in her area of Quebec never believed in the guilt of Wilbert Coffin. Marie suggested that everyone who has an interest should research and read of the happenings in the province during the tenure of this man. She mentioned the Jehovah Witnesses in Montreal and their treatment, and she mentioned the treatment of twins born in the province. In Marie's words, "if you were French speaking, if you were Catholic, and if you supported the Union Nationalle political party, you would be treated much better than those who did not." These were the reasons that Marie and her family left Quebec.

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I point these things out to you today because it is necessary that you know something of the regime that executed Wilbert Coffin. Suddenly, it is difficult to place much respect on the decisions of a judiciary falling under such a regime that I have just described.

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As I have shown you many times in the past two years, there was so much evidence that was suppressed, evidence that was intended for the court room at Perce' however, never being presented for the jury to ponder and examine. These things could only happen in a crooked and corrupt regime, manned and staffed by a bunch of thugs, and protected and encouraged by a higher level. That higher level being the late premier Maurice Duplessis who doubled as attorney general in congruous fashion.

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I have further stated to you many times to not get caught up in this Brossard Inquiry. This enquiry took place eight years after the execution of Wilbert Coffin. You should also remember that this enquiry was really a trial for Jacques Hebert, because, it was Mr. Hebert who had the nerve to speak out about the injustices of the day, and in doing so, the judiciary of Quebec was painted another color. In other words, the late Mr. Hebert stepped on a few toes, and in doing so, blemished the government. True, by the time that this enquiry was held, Mr. Duplessis had departed, however the new Liberal government under premier Jean Lesage allowed the inquiry to proceed. It could be viewed as a means of distancing his government from that of Duplessis.

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As we know by now, the ones appointed to oversee the inquiry were some of the very ones who were involved. Names such as Captain Sirois, John Vanhoutte and others were prominent. In effect, they were investigating themselves for wrong doing. It is also important to note that evidence presented at this enquiry was the same in most cases as that of the original trial, and suppressed evidence still remained suppressed. Evidence was perhaps spun in a little different direction in some cases, but in the end nothing was really accomplished.

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There is argument going on about the term Jeep and station wagon. Firstly, a jeep covered with plywood on the sides could very easily be labelled as a station wagon, but any intelligent person would agree that a station wagon covered with plywood on the sides in no way resembles a Jeep. For some strange reason there are some who now play with the idea that this denotes guilt. I can understand that an elderly lady such as Jessie Coffin could very easily have said station wagon instead of Jeep, especially when told of the plywood sides. Ladies and gentlemen, there are much bigger fish to fry in this case.

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I get asked periodically about stuff that is being read on another website about this case. This writing apparently is a spinoff from the Brossard Commission transcripts. I do not know what is being written on this website that is referred to, and quite frankly, nor do I care. One thing that I am abundantly clear on however, is the fact that if what some have suggested to me is being said there, then the writers of this site know very little about the Wilbert Coffin case and have done no research whatsoever, other than to read tarnished reports from a corrupt regime as has been proven.

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I have researched this case for two years, interviewed dozens of people, and checked and rechecked many reports. Information and comments has been stolen from this site and I have shown you proof of that. Because of that, I would never compromise the hard work of Lani Mitchell and myself in order to dignify some of the questions that I get asked with reference to the site in question.

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In a few days I shall be presenting to you a few more disturbing facts of the Wilbert Coffin case. I do believe now more than ever before, that we have a good chance of having this case overturned and a new determination being established. This ladies and gentlemen comes from hard work, not from sitting back and taking at face value the minutes and and transcripts that were assembled by a corrupt regime.

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Once again folks, you are a great audience. I love you one and all and I want to hear from you. Thank you for bearing with me and God Bless you one and all.

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Lew Stoddard