LORNE
HELMER IS IN NORFOLK JAIL
Young
Walsingham Farmer
Charged With Causing the
Death of James A. Learn
of the Same Township
The daily newspapers of
last Saturday and Monday featured the arrest of Lorne Helmer of
North Walsingham on a charge of murder. The news created quite a
little talk in the western portion of the county, where the
parties are well known.
The victim of the tragedy,
James A. Learn, came into Norfolk a few years ago from Elgin [County].
He is thus described by the St. Thomas Times-Journal.
James Learn was perhaps
one of the best-known characters in Yarmouth Township, and almost
a life-long resident. He was born on the old
Learn farm near the cheese factory at Mapleton, residing there for
nearly 50 years.
About 10 years ago he
disposed of the farm shortly after the death of his first wife,
and purchased a farm near Langton in Walsingham Township, near the
farm on which his body was found.
He remained there about
two years, then he returned to this district, purchasing a farm
near Dexter.
He moved again a few
months later, buying a farm in South Yarmouth, where he resided
until the death of his second wife, about two years ago, when he
returned to Walsingham, buying a farm near Silver Hill.
His farm in Yarmouth he
sold to Mrs. Mary Helmers, who resides there at the present time
and who is said to be the mother of Lorne Helmer, the young man
accused of the crime.
The victim of the
tragedy was noted for his many eccentricities. He is described by
those who knew him intimately as having been a peacefully natured
man, never at any time quarrelsome.
He had a weakness for
buying and selling property, purchasing the old hotel at New Sarum shortly after prohibition was introduced. He is still
assessed as owner of the land.
Another of his
eccentricities was his annual announce-ment that he was a candidate
for the reeveship of Yarmouth. He never carried out this threat.
He came into prominence
about three years ago when he brought an action against a
young women for alleged breach of promise. The unique case was
dismissed after being heard in local courts. Learn had married
before the case was heard.
Learn had no children.
Two sisters are said to survive him, a Mrs. Zavitz and Mrs. Leitch
of Sault Ste. Marie.
He worked for some time
on the Michigan Central Railway as a section laborer.
Learn, the dead man, and
Lorne Helmer, the latter a returned soldier, had been living on
the same farm, and it is alleged that disputes over the occupancy
and other matters were the prime factors in the tragedy.
It is believed Mr. Learn's death
occurred about July 12th or 13th. T. R. Slaght, K.C., stated that
a few days ago it was reported to him that neighbors felt much
unease regarding the aged man.
On Wednesday morning, July
29th, Mr. Slaght says, information indicating foul play was
brought to him, and he immediately ordered a thorough search and
communicated with the Ontario Police Department.
Early Thursday morning the
searchers found the body of Mr. Learn in a small woods on Lot 19,
Concession 7, North Walsingham, which adjoins Lot 20, where he
lived. The find was made on a lot controlled by the Helmers.
Mr. Slaght states that he
directed constabes to keep Lorne Helmer under surveillance. In the
mean time Detective Miller proceeded with the result that Helmer
was arrested on Friday on a warrant issued by Squire John Abel of
Silver Hill. It was Constable Roy Marshall who brought Helmer to
Simcoe jail.
Learn's body was found in
a narrow trench some 20 feet lon and two feet wide. A large tree
had fallen at right angles across the trench. The murderer or
murderers rolled the tree to one side, and after placing the body
in the hollow of the ground, they covered it with leaves, then
replaced the tree.
So accurate was the
information as to the whereabouts of the body that it was less
than three hours after the hunt commenced that the remains were
found.
On the finding of the body
Coroner McGilvery of Simcoe was notified and he at once proceeded
to the scene. A jury was empanelled and an inquest opened.
The following gentlemen
constitute the jury: --
Wm. McIntosh (foreman), J. W. Kreiss, R. Murphy,
W. Mayo, Henry Brayley, Thos. Marshall,
Edward Marshall, Pat Chambers,
Norman Brown
and Wm. Roney.
After complying with the
law as to viewing the remains, an adjournment was taken until
tomorrow (Friday) when the hearing will be continued at the Silver
Hill Hall.
Dr. Meek was ordered to the authorities to make a post-mortem
examination.
The opinion prevails
throughout the community that the success of the authorities in
discovering the remains was due to a confession in their hands
made either by Lorne Helmer himself, or by a younger brother of
his, a lad of fifteen. Also that it was on facts disclosed by this
confession that Helmer was placed under arrest.
Learn lived on the Helmer
farm, Lot 20, Concession 7, Walsingham, in the same house as did the
accused and his bride of nine months.
Just what cause there was
for an ill-feeling between the two men has not yet been ascertained
by the Crown.
Learn formerly lived near
Aylmer, but several years ago he sold his farm there to Helmer's
mother and made an agreement with her to work on her farm on which
he was living at the time of his death.
It is said in some quarters
that he sold the farm at a very low price in expectation of marrying
Mrs. Helmer, who became a widow four years ago, about which time
Learn lost his wife.
Upon searching the house the
officers discovered a diary kept by Learn and which was entered up
until July 11th. This is taken as an indication that the crime was
committed some time on the 12th.
According to stories told by
neighbors of the parties, Learn had made some agreement with the
accused as to living together but he tired of it and ordered Helmer
and his wife to leave.
Helmer refused and finally
the dead man obtained an order from the courts instructing Helmer to
leave. This was served on July 12th by Constable Marshall but Helmer
was not at home at the time and it was given to young Mrs. Helmer.
While the constable was at
the farm he saw Chas. Helmer, the 15-year-old brother of the accused
in his bare feet coming from the back of the farm.
Learn, who was a man of his
word, had promised to assist a neighbor, George Alexander, on the
13th, but his failure to appear caused some speculation. After a few
days the anxiety over his absence died away for a week, but was then
revived stronger than before.
----------
The accused, Lorne Lorenzo
Everald Helmer, is a young man, between 20 and 21 years of age, with
no previous bad mark upon his character. When recruits were called
for the 133rd Norfolk Battalion, he was considerably under 18, and
applied for his mother's consent to enlist. This he obtained and he
went in 1917 to the fighting line.
He brought home with him a
clean record, when the fighting was over. He was married less than a
year ago. He is the eldest of the five sons of the late
Lorenzo Helmer of Walsingham. He has two sisters, both married.
--
also see Helmer vs. Learn:
Part 2
