Children of Philip John Henry L. and Esther Francis Lalon(d)e 

TOOK $450 FROM WOMAN, 71 AND 'LIVED LIKE A PRINCE'

Youth, 17, Got Cash She Had Hidden in Family Album

POLICE COURT CASES

(No. 1 Police Court at City Hall, Magistrate Prentice.)

The story of how Frank Lalonde, 17, gave large sums of money to friends and lived like a prince, after stealing the money a 71-year-old woman had hiddin in a family album, was revealed in No. 1 Police Court today by Detective-Sergeant Joseph Ewing.

Lalonde pleaded guilty to the charge of theft of about $450, property of Mrs. Jane Mitchell, Sumach St.

"The accused lived upstairs in Mrs. Mitchell's house, boarding with another lady," testified Detective Ewing. "He disappeared the day Mrs Mitchell missed the money from the album, kept in the kitchen.

"We arrested accused when he returned to the house on Jan. 4 to see the lady upstairs. He said that when he first discovered the money he took $20. The next day he took the balance. He says there was $750, not $450.

Gave Money to Friends

Detective Ewing saw accused meet two young friends in the east end, giving each of them $200. With two other youths he hired a car and chauffeur and drove to Niagara Fall, N.Y., where there was a round of shows, together with "a little liquor." To one travelling companion accused gave $70, to the other $20. A trip north was followed by a job on an eastern farm. He sought the job because his funds were exhausted.

"None of the money has been recovered," the detective added.

Mr. Callaghan stated that in October the boy's father went to the police because he couldn't understand how his son could afford new clothes. The boy vanished.

After hearing the evidence, Magistrate Prentice remanded accused until Jan. 16 for sentence.

Others Charged

Raymond Caderett, Harold Black, Charles Peel, Jack McGillivary and Thomas Griffiths were charged jointly with receiving about $400, property of Mrs. Mitchell, knowing it to have been stolen. Caderett pleaded guilty. All were remanded until Jan. 16.

Assistant Crown Attorney Walter Martin stated that in view of the four please of not guilty he would call Lalonde to the stand. First, however, he said, Lalonde would have to be sentenced.

Year For $450 Theft

Frank Lalonde, 17, was committed to the reformatory for one year when he appeared before Magistrate Prentice in No. 1 police court for sentence on a charge of theft of about $450 from Mrs. Jane Mitchell, 17, of Sumach St.

The money was taken from the woman's family album, kept in the kitchen of her home. Lalonde lived upstairs with another woman, who was "more than a mother to him," it was testified.

Assistant Crown-Attorney Matthews termed the theft "most contemptible".

Lalonde was called as a witness, following sentence, in the case of Raymond Caderett, 17; Harold Black, 16; Charles Peel, 16; Jack McGillivray, 22, and Thomas Griffiths, 21, charged jointly with receiving about $400, property of Mrs. Mitchell.

"I spent some myself and divided the rest with some boys," testified Lalonde. "I gave Caderett $190, Black $190 and McGillivray and Griffiths $150 between them. Peel did not get any money from me.

"I took McGillivray and Griffiths to Niagara Falls in a rented car with a driver. When they got back they asked if I had any more money. I gave them the names and addresses of Caderett and Black."

Detective-Sergeant Joseph Ewing testified he and Detective Keys took statements from Black and Peel. The boys admitted getting $100 each and spending a total of $15. Alarmed at having $185 in their possession, they hid it in their "fort" under Caderett's back porch.

Registering a conviction against all five youths on the receiving charge, Magistrate Prentice remanded them until Jan. 23 for sentence.

Lalonde—Lees. — At Waverley Park Methodist Church, Miss Edna J.A. Lees, younger daughter of Mrs. Lees, 67, Athenlay-rd., Peckham, and the later Mr. A.G. Lees, was married to Mr. Louis F. Lalonde, younger son of Mr. J.P. Lalonde, of Toronto, and the late Mrs. Lalonde. Given away by her mother, Miss Lees wore white lace and carried pink roses. She was attended by Miss P. Townson, wearing shell pink taffeta and carrying seet peas, and Mrs. W.J. Vernham, wearing cerise crepe and carrying sweet peas.

  HAPPY TOGETHER AGAIN

Mr. & Mrs. Lalonde

CROSSES OCEAN TO REJOIN WIFE

EX-CANADIAN soldier, Mr. Louis Lalonde (23), who likes living in England better than in Canada, has just crossed the Atlantic Ocean from West to East to rejoin his bride, the former Miss Edna Lees, at 67, Athenlay-rd., Nunhead.

But he could not tell an OBSERVER reporter what it was about England, with its many war time restrictions still in existence, that made him prefer Nunhead to his native Toronto. "I just like it, that's all," he commented.

Mr. Lalonde was in the Canadian Ordnance Corps when he met his wife, in 1943, at Torquay, where they both happened to be spending a holiday. They were married on 7th July at Waveney Park Methodist Church, Peckham, a month before Mr. Lalonde returned to Canada to be "demobbed." Asked whether he experienced any difficulty in returning to England, Mr. Lalonde said that although the Canadian authorities do not encourage returned men to leave the country, no obstacles were placed in his way. "I was one of 200 Canadians who returned to wives and sweethearts on the Queen Elizabeth which reached Southampton on Tuesday week," he stated. "The following day was Edna's birthday," he went on, "so we were able to have a real celebration." Mr. Lalonde has a father and brother in Canada, who will miss him, but his wife was anxious not to leave England, so he decided to return. "We are making our home with Edna's mother in Athenlay-rd. here," he said.

Mr. Lalonde spent six years in the Army. He came to England as a despatch rider in January 1940, went over to the Continent shortly after D-day, and saw action right through Germany.

I don't think you have any other half brothers or sisters. Frank did not know of any. We did have light hearted conversations but he knew of none.

"Frank was a very good photographer and I have piles of photographs to go through" . . .

Bought an electronic typewriter for Madeleine – "was very good with it and did some very nice work on it."

"F. always had a display diary showing a month at a time and he recorded birthdays of friends and animals (!) and wedding anniversaries etc." In his last year he had recorded "DFML 28".

Yes the estate agents are related. Frank told me that originally the family were pirates and one of them was captured and put in Newcastle jail. He eventually got on friendly terms with the Governor and used to play chess with him—eventually he married the governor's daughter and started the protestant English line. Now when great friends of ours came to see me just after Frank's death, Chris, Frank's particular friend said he was a "viscous" practical joker. I was startled as Frank had never played a practical joke on me and had never lied to me—his own decision—not mine but I am quite sure of this and I don't think he was making up about the relatives.