Const. William Caul, one of four members of the Cornwall Police Department working the day shift on Aug. 31, 1927, cheated death in a wild shoot-out with two suspected car thieves.
While questioning two men sitting in the suspected stolen car parked on Sydney between First and Second, one of the men pulled out a revolver and shot Caul in the face. A second shot, as Caul fell back, missed.
As the men sped off, Caul, wounded and lying on the road, managed to get off several shots, with the men returning fire.
One of the passers-by who found the wounded Caul raced to the nearby station to alert the duty sergeant.
Caul was taken to Hotel Dieu Hospital in a police vehicle where he was treated for his wound.
It was his lucky day.
The bullet passed through his cheek and became embedded in flesh near his ear.
However, X-rays showed that a fragment from the bullet was lodged an inch from the officer’s brain. He carried the fragment for the rest of his life. Caul was back on the job a few weeks later.
A pronounced scar on his cheek and diminished hearing were the only signs of his near-death experience.
Soon after police responded, local and district cops, along with a posse of deputized citizens, scoured the area for the suspects.
The vehicle, with Quebec plates, was found the next day four miles east of the city. Despite Caul’s good description of the men, they were never found.
Caul worked his way through the ranks and served as deputy chief until the city and township forces amalgamated in 1957. Allan Clarke remained chief, while township chief Hormidas Poirier was named deputy chief of the new combined force.
Caul was still a member of the force – now working as the court liaison officer – when he died of a heart attack in June 1962. He was 71.
On Dec. 25, 1962, another young city police officer cheated death. Const. Ford McGillis survived a shot-gun blast to the chest.
On Sept. 6, 1892, Special Constable John Davey was shot and killed by a drifter. Married with three children, it was his first day on the job.
In June 1962, it was announced that the 21-karat gold cup awarded at the Ontario Legion track and field meet held at the Athletic Grounds from 1929-1933, would be offered to the Ontario Command. The Cornwall legion branch had played host to the meet which attracted some of the best track and field athletes in Canada and the United States. Trophy trustees said they asked the Ontario Command to award it to the province’s top track and field athlete. The trophy was donated by the McMartin family, one of the town’s wealthiest families. Patriarch John McMartin had made a fortune in the gold mining business before returning to his home town. The name of the meet’s top athlete went on the trophy with the winner awarded a miniature gold replica. Legendary U.S. track and field star Jesse Owens was a winner. So was 1932 Olympic gold medal high jumper Duncan McNaughton, who was born in Cornwall. In 1962, the gold trophy was valued at $5,000.
ALSO IN JUNE 1962: The Massena and Cornwall Rotary Clubs unveiled a Peace Plaque honouring decades of peaceful co-existence between Canada and the United States. The plaque was placed at the Cornwall-New York State border crossing. … St. Francis de Sales and Nativity parishioners celebrated anniversaries. For St. Francis, it was 25 years, while Nativity celebrated its 75th anniversary. With 6,000 members, it was the largest parish in the diocese. … The 40-hour work week, negotiated as part of a new contract with the city, went into effect for members of Local 234 Canadian Union of Public Employees. … Rene Levesque, Quebec Liberal natural resources minister, was guest speaker at La Semaine Francaise banquet. … La Semaine Francaise celebrations also included street dances attended by thousands, a 40-float parade with nine marching bands, a children’s field day at the Athletic Grounds with 1,400 taking part, a turkey supper with 700 served and a mass at Nativity. … An eight-lane bowling alley complete with a lounge and nursery was being built in Ingleside. Owner/builder was Lou Bray. … City pediatrician Dr. Ian Gourley was honoured by the Children’s Aid Society for 25 years service to the organization. … Cornwall Collegiate grad Claude Shaver became a member of the Royal CanadianMounted Police. He would finish his long policing career as Cornwall police chief. … Vulgar, foul-mouthed but highly popular comic Doc Circe was packing them in at the Highland Hotel in Massena. … City students Richard Bough and Lynne Larose were winners of the Optimist Club bike roadeo. … Local footballers attending the Ottawa Rough Riders camp were Chuck Harrison, Harvey Provost, Gilles Leger and Dave Still. A pre-camp injury kept St. Lawrence High School star Ray’Bouncer’ Payette from attending. … The Mitchell boys – Richard (four goals) and Mike (three goals) – led Cornwall Island to a 13-3 win over Long Sault Shamrocks in a senior lacrosse game.
TRIVIA: This fire was the deadliest in Cornwall’s history: 1) The 1933 fire that destroyed 31 downtown businesses and left 15 families homeless, 2) The Rossmore Hotel fire on April 29, 1909, 3) The King George Hotel fire on Feb. 14, 1997, 4) The explosion that levelled a Montreal Road tenement in the 1950s, 5) A Sydney Street house fire on Jan. 20, 1951.
TRIVIA ANSWER: During his political career, Leslie O’Saughnessy served as Charlottenburgh Township reeve, United Counties warden, Cornwall city councillor and Cornwall mayor.
QUOTED: You can’t fool all of the people all of the time. But it isn’t necessary.
–Will Rogers
