Joined: Feb 2007
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November 12th 1938 Brandon’s new Police Offices receive first convicted resident
11/12/2010 at 8:39 AM
The city Constabulary became much busier causing Police Station accommodation to became often overcrowded causing Civic Fathers to consider once again a search for more adequate quarters than those so long offered beneath the roof of City Hall.
Finally a vacant property, which was once a factory at Seventh Street, and Princess Avenue, was chosen for the new Lockup. For some reason it was deemed necessary to remove some stately old boulevard trees, while the lengthy process of securing title began.
As this procedure was underway civic leaders learned that unknown parties had broken into a residence while the family slept on Louise Avenue, and Eleventh Street belonging to Widowed Mrs. W. J. Burchill.
Removed were a heavy safe containing valuable, Deeds, Bonds, a Wedding Band, and several other Rings. Of the latter two diamond rings, had once figured in an earlier jewellery store robbery from which the convicted thief was given a fourteen-year penitentiary term.
Later to fulfill an amnesty plea bargain, the thief had dug up the cached gems from which assortment the late Mr. Burchill had selected a couple of rings as gifts for his wife.
This case was never solved, but police witnesses did surprise two companions named Yendzyec and Beleski, who charged with theft from a parked car, were told their cases would be the last heard at the old City Court rooms.
They pleaded “not guilty” and so were remanded to Monday November 12th and became the first prisoners to be convicted in the new Police Offices.
Source: Brandon a City by G. F. Barker