Police Chief McKinnon's Absence (Part 7) - January 1895


“Chief McKinnon will probably appear before the commissioners this afternoon. He is improved in health.”

Hamilton Spectator.   January 17, 1895.

He could not avoid it any longer. As Thursday January 17, 1895 arrived, Hamilton Police Chief knew that he would be facing the police commissioners that afternoon.

There was rampant speculation as to how the chief would try to explain himself:

“What his course of action will be, it is hard to say. It is said he will resign, and again it is stated he will make a brave fight to free himself of the charge of immorality.”1

1 “The Chief Is Better : He Will Probably Appear Before the Board This Afternoon.”

Hamilton Spectator.  January 17, 1895.

Tommy Gould, husband of one of the sisters with whom the chief had spent some time in Toronto, had prepared stringently in case the chief tried to get out of the predicament he found himself in :

“Thomas Gould yesterday afternoon telegraphed Detective Hodgins, of Toronto, to secure statements from the Grand Union hotel people in the matter.

“Gould is also keeping his erring wife’s sister in hiding to prevent her being tampered with by persons interested in the defense. He says that she has already received two decoy letters from unknown persons, asking her to meet them at certain times and places on important business, but has taken no notice of them.”1

The police commissioners had also done some preparation for the upcoming meeting:

“In connection with the affair, the commissioners are said to have in their possession some of the checks signed by the chief during his trip abroad.”1

The final news item of the case made public on the day of the big meeting concerned the potential divorce action to be initiated by Thomas Gould against his wife, naming Police Chief McKinnon as party to his wife’s infidelity:

“Speaking of his divorce case, Gould now says he will not make application in Canada, the Canadian course being too expensive.”1

Such was the state of affairs in the McKinnon scandal as the morning edition of the daily newspapers hit the streets on Thursday January 17, 1895.

 Whether or not the chief had kept up with the public news as he prepared to face the commissioners, he certainly spent an uneasy, dread filled time waiting for the 3 p.m. scheduled start of the meeting

 

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