#yamaska

"Police Arrest Two in Attack," Montreal Star. August 3, 1943. Page 3. --- Elder of Two Victims Dies of Injuries ---- Working on vague clues given by a 12-year-old boy, provincial police have arrested two men on charges of having attacked Romeo Hamel and his nephew, Jean Guy Hamel, 12, in St. Elphege de Yamaska, Nicolet district, early Saturday morning. Mr. Hamel died in Christ Roi Hospital, Nicolet, late yesterday afternoon.

The two men gave their names as Georges Jacob and Charles Turcotte, Louis Jargaille, assistant di rector of the provincial police, announced today. Their age and ad- dresses are being withheld until the inquest, which will take place in St. Elphege de Yamaska at 3 p.m. tomorrow.

In announcing the completion of their inquiry, Deputy Director Jargaille said that his department had been notified of the assault late Saturday morning. Two men were reported to have entered the home of Mr. Hamel, secretary-treasurer of the municipality, during the night and to have beaten him and his nephew. Whether they stole any money during their brief visit to the Hamel home was not revealed.

Rushed To Hospital Mr. Hamel and his nephew were rushed to the Christ Roi Hospital in Nicolet Saturday morning. The uncle never regained consciousness and was unable to supply the police with any information. The boy recovered on Sunday and it was from information given by him that provincial police were able to piece together the clues that led to the arrest of the two men.

Officers discovered that the practice of keeping substantial sums of money in the Hamel safe over the week-end had been discontinued two or three weeks ago. The conclusion was that residents of the district were aware of the change which eliminated that group. This left former St. Elphedge de Yamaska "esidents who were now living in Montreal, Quebec or another city.

"Our first real clue was obtained Sunday afternoon," Deputy Director Jargaille pointed out. "We proceeded to a Sherbrooke street home which we've surrounded. We entered a room but the occupant had just left. We were told he was to return later in the afternoon. Searching the room. We discovered a suit covered with blood, which matched the description of the suit observed by young Hamel. The man returned in the evening and we took him to provincial police headquarters."

Suit Found in Quebec Last night, officers obtained the address of a rooming house in Quebec. Mr. Jargaille wired police officials there, who discovered second suit covered with blood.

"In the meantime," Mr. Jargaille said, "we proceeded to a war plant in the Griffintown early this morning, and cornered a section of the plant. There we arrested our second man whom we took to police headquarters."

"Les gens de St-Elphège attendent l'arrivée des 2 présumés meurtriers," La Patrie. August 4, 1943. Page 17. --- Toute la population du petit village de St-Elpnège et même celle de la région, des villes de Yamaska, de Pierreville ou de Sorel, attend avec anxiété l'arrivée du chef Louis Jargaille et des deux prisonniers qu'il veut présenter au jury du coroner Ernest Veilleux. Le chef Jargaille et ses hotames, le lieutenant R. Danis et le détective Roland Jargaille, ont quitté Montréal vera midi en compagnie de Georges Jacob et de Charles Turcotte, les deux jeunes gens qui auraient "confessé le crime" après avoir été appréhendés à Montréal.

Inutile de dire que l'affaire a suscité un intérêt énorme dans le comté de Yamaska et comme les deux inculpés sont bien connus, les parents et les amis de M. Roméo Hamel ont hâte de voir l'attitude des prisonniers.

"Montrealers Held On Murder Charge," Montreal Star. August 20, 1943. Page 3. --- Joseph Jacob, 24, and Charles Auguste Turcotte, 18, both of Montreal, charged with the murder of 68-year-old Romeo Hemel, secretary-treasurer of St. Elphege de Yamaska, were ordered by Magistrate Adolphe Allard, of Sorel, to stand trial for murder on January 14.

Hamel died after being assaulted near his home a few weeks ago. His nephew. Jean Valois, 12, was also seriously injured but he is recovering in hospital.