52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Week 19 Prompt - Crime and Punnishment Part Two

2 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 

Week 19

Prompt – Crime and Punishment PART TWO 

The murder of Mr. Arnold, the Plum Coulee Bank of Montreal manager took place at about 12:30 P.M. on December 3, 1913.  Jack Krafchenko knew that every day the Bank of Montreal manager was alone over the lunch hour when his staff left for lunch at a local restaurant.  Thus he chose this time to commit the robbery.  Apparently he went in and robbed the bank at gunpoint.  Kraf stole some money and left by a back door.  He was quickly followed by the manager who was yelling “robber, robber”. And at that point Kraf who was running away turned around and shot the manager.   Kraf ran to the car driven by William Dyck that was running and ready to go.  They headed out of town.  Wm Dyck returned home alone around 8 pm that same night.  The police were waiting for his return and collected him and he was questioned for hours in Winnipeg, The Winnipeg Tribune. of December 5th, 1913 printed his story as he told the police.

 

 

 

Mr. Dyck goes on to explain that they kept driving and he let the first one out and then about 6 miles later he let out the other one.   He said it was only about a mile from the train to Winnipeg.  He tells the police he did not know who they were because they both wore masks.  The last guy told him to not tell anybody or he would kill him.  

At the end of this article is the description of Wm Dyck. “ Dyck is a thick-set powerful man, 5 feet 8 inches in height, weighing 175 pounds.  He is of sandy complexion with a reddish moustache and his face is tanned from exposure.” 

The police are not totally on board with Dyck's story because of so many contradictory statements and changing story lines. Also the police found 2 bags of silver worth $400.00 in his car under the seat cushion and frame.  Dyck says he does not know how they got there or how the $19.50 ended up in his coat pocket.  At this point suspect Krafchenko was still on the lamb, but the police assumed he was hiding out in Winnipeg because of all of his friends in that city. 

Wm Dyck was not held at the police station in Winnipeg however he did not go home either.  The police were discrediting his story about a 2nd man involved in the robbery / murder.  In the meantime the inquest into the murder of the bank manager was started and on Dec 8.  William Dyck was to be called as the principle witness 

On Dec 10th John Krafchenko was found in a rooming house in Winnipeg.  He was arrested, handcuffed and taken to the city cells without incidence.  He was arraigned on charges related to another trial totally unrelated to this one.  They were laid so that the police could keep him in jail until he could be charged with the more serious charges.  The Crown prosecutor asked for and received a 1 week delay to consult with the provincial police.  Kraf remained in the city jail for the time being.  Wm Dyck had apparently stayed in a Winnipeg hotel. Police believe that Mr. Dyck knew more than he is telling.  None the less the police deny having incarcerated him.

 On December 23, 1913 The Winnipeg Tribune Headline read “Where is Dyck Who Drove Bank Robber Out of Plum Coulee?” 

It was alleged that Wm Dyck was being held in prison without a charge being laid.  A lawyer, Mr N. F. Hagel was asking about Wm Dyck and his illegal incarceration for 3 weeks in Winnipeg.  During that time Mr Dyck had requested a lawyer to advise him, but this was denied.  Lawyer Hagel went to Plum Coulee to interview Mrs Dyck and Wm Dyck's brother in law, George Lecoute.  Both declared that they had no idea he was in jail.  Mrs. Dyck did know he was in Winnipeg, because her husband had sent her a letter stating he was there, but he never mentioned being in jail.  Lawyer Hagel suggested that both of them come back with him to Winnipeg for the purpose of instituting a “Habeas Corpus proceeding”. 

noun: habeas corpus; a writ requiring a person under arrest to be brought before a judge or into court, especially to secure the person's release unless lawful grounds are shown for their detention.  

The lawyer drove the two of them back to Winnipeg in his car.  They registered at a local hotel and made an appointment for the proceedings for 9 Am the next morning, Monday, Dec 22. where she would sign the writ to start the proceedings.  However in a plot twist not expected, Mr Lecoute and Mrs Dyck disappeared over night.  A witness said he saw them board a train to Morris and then took an automobile to Plum Coulee.  William Dyck was apparently with them.  They were discovered missing in Winnipeg and Plum Coulee police went to the Dyck home to inquire about it.  The police found that Mrs. Dyck and Mr Lecoute disappeared again apparently to visit family in the country at an unknown address.  And that Wm Dyck apparently took the train back to Winnipeg.  Strangely, when questioned, the crown authorities denied knowing anything about Wm Dyck and where he was. No one knew where Dyck was or whether he had ever been jailed.  

Jack Krafchenko is in the city jail awaiting the preliminary trial. Wm Dyck may or may not be gone. This story has more plot twists and bizarre turn of events.  In my next blog I will continue this story as laid out in The Winnipeg Tribune. 

Wendy