Discussions

In the year 1906 Police Chief Boyd was overwhelmed with a list of charges against a District Schoolteacher named Leander McDonald Ford. It started when he received a letter from Mr. Ford’s wife in Mattapan Massachusetts New England concerning her husbands whereabouts. The local authorities were prompted to look for him and soon learned that a lately acquired Brandon area Consort was missing him. The Abecedarian, (teacher of the Alphabet) had forged a School Trustee’s cheque for fifty dollars. Detective J. R. Foster contacted the New England Law Officers, and was told that Mr. Ford had been charged with Bigamy and arrested. His first wife was understandably shaken at the news, but was determined to fight the extradition to Canada. A designated Emissary was dispatched across the line to bring the fugitive back to Brandon. Mr. Ford had given a promise of good behaviour and was allowed to travel without wearing the restricting and attention attracting handcuffs. He kept his promise until he reached somewhere in Ontario where he managed to vanish via a C.P.R. smoking room ruse. The Ontario Railroad Police were alerted and they recognised the hatless wanderer from the description hastily provided by his late guardian. When Mr. Ford reappeared in a Brandon Court his Manitoba wife explained to the court the details of their marriage contract. He explained to the Court that the fifty-dollar cheque he forged represented only the money due him in his profession as moulder of youthful minds. He admitted escaping Lawful Custody, and received a four-year sentence in Stony Mountain Penitentiary.  
 
Source: Brandon, a City by G. F. Barker.