Victims of Crime - Who Helps Them?
In the fall of 1974 I sat in the Superintendent Frank’s Office at the Walkerton Jail. Frank was the boss at the jail. I had come to know him better over the past four months.
I was a pastor of a church that was just two blocks away from the jail. One day I had walked to the jail and asked what I could do as a volunteer to help the fellows inside the cells. The “how that all happened” is a subject for another posting later.
As I sat in the chair across from Frank’s desk he tossed a stapled bundle of legal papers across the desk to me. Then he said, “Take a look at these. One of our men was in our jail’s crawl space up stairs and found this. I would like to know your reaction when you read this.”
As I looked down at the paper in my hands I could see that it was very official – with the Chopped Wax Seal with the ribbons hanging from that. The papers were well handled and a bit dusty. It was a legal document issued from the court where it had been processed years earlier. Clearly in the highest legal language that could be composed in the 1950s it read something to the effect,
“Steven Murray Truscott, ... upon that day and date you be taken to the place of execution, and you there be hanged by the neck until you are dead….”
There was more written but that is all that I remember in the shocking feeling that I had as I read the paper. I knew the Steven Truscott story from my boyhood days and into young adult. I had a copy of the book printed in 1966 – 12 years earlier and the story had gripped my mind – over and over again. “Could he be innocent?” was a question that rang in all our discussions.
There in front of me was the lethal document that had clearly laid the final judgment of the court upon a boy. Steven Truscott and I were almost the same age. I knew the story well.
I asked Frank why these papers were in the Walkerton Jail. His answer was simple, “Just outside that window you are sitting in front of… is the place where the gallows was positioned. That is where they would have hanged Mr. Truscott.”
I went home that day and retrieved the book again – “The Trial of Steven Truscott” by Isabel Lebourdais. That was many years ago… 33 years to be exact.
This week I pulled it out again and re-read the book. There on page 208 is the chilling paragraph the reads…
In the case of Regina v. Truscott, the boy in the dock stood, and Mr. Justice Ferguson made his final statement:
“Steven Murray Truscott, I have no alternative but to pass the following sentence upon you. The jury have found you guilty after a fair trial. The sentence of this court upon you is that you be taken from here to the place from hence you came and be kept in close confinement until Tuesday, the 8th day of December, 1959, and upon that day and date you be taken to the place of execution, and that you be hanged by the neck until you are dead, may the Lord have mercy on your soul. Remove the prisoner.”
This past week, 48 years later, Steven Murray Truscott, was cleared of the charges – “acquitted” was the term that the courts and justice department used in the 300 pages or so. What a relief that Mr. Truscott must feel now. From boyhood to grandfather-hood he has lived with the words that the judge said that day… “after a fair trial…” “that you be hanged by the neck until you are dead, may the Lord have mercy on your soul.”
On Thursday, August 30, 2007, I read another article in the Globe and Mail concerning the further ramification of the recent events. The reporters were now following up the announcements by the court and did a story on Leslie Harper. There on page A8 was a photo of a 90 year old silver haired senior citizen looking down at some family photos. Leslie Harper is Lynn Harper’s dad. Lynne is the young girl that was raped and murdered by someone in 1959.
Steven Murray Truscott was convicted in 1959 for this crime and now he was declared “acquitted” with apologies extended.
Now Mr. Harper and his family were dealing with this new carriage of justice. No apologies extended their way however. Like - if he is innocent - "We are sorry that we didn't catch the real criminal."
Victims of Crime – who helps them?
Clearly after so much time society has forgotten what happened to Lynne. They certainly forgot what happened to Leslie and Shirley Harper - her parents. We have all concentrated our attention on Mr. Steven Murray Truscott’s case with little thought of Lynne.
The Judge’s last words to Steven Truscott were – “may the Lord have mercy on your soul..” The Lord has done that from what we see… in this lifetime.
But, what about Lynne’s soul? What about Lynne’s family’s soul? I am sure that the Lord is and has helped them – but what bothers me the most when we say that phrase – we are also stating as human beings that we will have mercy – IF GOD HAS MERCY.
That is not so likely with the Victims of Crime. Few people have mercy on them once the trial is over. Few people take time to even contact them once they are no longer news.
Every June 9th for 48 years the Harpers have remembered and wondered what happened. Every December 8th they likely wonder at what might have happened if Steven Truscott would have been hanged – it wouldn’t have brought their daughter back – but it might have been over…
If Steven Truscott is acquitted and the justice department have all but completely declared his innocence – Lynne Harper still was murdered. There is or was a murderer out there somewhere. If he is dead now it may be over. If he is a very old senior citizen somewhere – then he still is there. That should send a shiver down everyone’s spine.
As a pastor today in 2007, I am reminded again that Victims are never free. They are surrounded with deep and horrific memories that never leave. The issues of the disasters that they faced after the loss of their loved one is never over.
How could you help?
I wish the Harper family God’s very best and may the Lord have mercy on your souls as well – as you face the rest of your lives – wondering what really happened. I certainly understand – and will never forget you in my prayers.
And Finally… to Mr. Justice Ferguson, all the lawyers and police officers – the justice system - may the Lord have mercy on your souls as well. I certainly know what you folks must go through when you are forced into the bright media lights – to do a thankless job and then live with the results.
God help us all. When and wherever there are Victims – we all suffer deeply – for a long, long time.
~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~
Source and Resource
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070830.wHarper30/BNStory/National/home
http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/truscott/
http://www.statementanalysis.com/truscott/
http://www.mapleleafweb.com/old/education/spotlight/issue_59/background.html?q=education/spotlight/issue_59/background.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Truscott
http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=cd2890ae-c46d-465c-a7e6-414a376bed1a
I was a pastor of a church that was just two blocks away from the jail. One day I had walked to the jail and asked what I could do as a volunteer to help the fellows inside the cells. The “how that all happened” is a subject for another posting later.
As I sat in the chair across from Frank’s desk he tossed a stapled bundle of legal papers across the desk to me. Then he said, “Take a look at these. One of our men was in our jail’s crawl space up stairs and found this. I would like to know your reaction when you read this.”
As I looked down at the paper in my hands I could see that it was very official – with the Chopped Wax Seal with the ribbons hanging from that. The papers were well handled and a bit dusty. It was a legal document issued from the court where it had been processed years earlier. Clearly in the highest legal language that could be composed in the 1950s it read something to the effect,
“Steven Murray Truscott, ... upon that day and date you be taken to the place of execution, and you there be hanged by the neck until you are dead….”
There was more written but that is all that I remember in the shocking feeling that I had as I read the paper. I knew the Steven Truscott story from my boyhood days and into young adult. I had a copy of the book printed in 1966 – 12 years earlier and the story had gripped my mind – over and over again. “Could he be innocent?” was a question that rang in all our discussions.
There in front of me was the lethal document that had clearly laid the final judgment of the court upon a boy. Steven Truscott and I were almost the same age. I knew the story well.
I asked Frank why these papers were in the Walkerton Jail. His answer was simple, “Just outside that window you are sitting in front of… is the place where the gallows was positioned. That is where they would have hanged Mr. Truscott.”
I went home that day and retrieved the book again – “The Trial of Steven Truscott” by Isabel Lebourdais. That was many years ago… 33 years to be exact.
This week I pulled it out again and re-read the book. There on page 208 is the chilling paragraph the reads…
In the case of Regina v. Truscott, the boy in the dock stood, and Mr. Justice Ferguson made his final statement:
“Steven Murray Truscott, I have no alternative but to pass the following sentence upon you. The jury have found you guilty after a fair trial. The sentence of this court upon you is that you be taken from here to the place from hence you came and be kept in close confinement until Tuesday, the 8th day of December, 1959, and upon that day and date you be taken to the place of execution, and that you be hanged by the neck until you are dead, may the Lord have mercy on your soul. Remove the prisoner.”
This past week, 48 years later, Steven Murray Truscott, was cleared of the charges – “acquitted” was the term that the courts and justice department used in the 300 pages or so. What a relief that Mr. Truscott must feel now. From boyhood to grandfather-hood he has lived with the words that the judge said that day… “after a fair trial…” “that you be hanged by the neck until you are dead, may the Lord have mercy on your soul.”
On Thursday, August 30, 2007, I read another article in the Globe and Mail concerning the further ramification of the recent events. The reporters were now following up the announcements by the court and did a story on Leslie Harper. There on page A8 was a photo of a 90 year old silver haired senior citizen looking down at some family photos. Leslie Harper is Lynn Harper’s dad. Lynne is the young girl that was raped and murdered by someone in 1959.
Steven Murray Truscott was convicted in 1959 for this crime and now he was declared “acquitted” with apologies extended.
Now Mr. Harper and his family were dealing with this new carriage of justice. No apologies extended their way however. Like - if he is innocent - "We are sorry that we didn't catch the real criminal."
Victims of Crime – who helps them?
Clearly after so much time society has forgotten what happened to Lynne. They certainly forgot what happened to Leslie and Shirley Harper - her parents. We have all concentrated our attention on Mr. Steven Murray Truscott’s case with little thought of Lynne.
The Judge’s last words to Steven Truscott were – “may the Lord have mercy on your soul..” The Lord has done that from what we see… in this lifetime.
But, what about Lynne’s soul? What about Lynne’s family’s soul? I am sure that the Lord is and has helped them – but what bothers me the most when we say that phrase – we are also stating as human beings that we will have mercy – IF GOD HAS MERCY.
That is not so likely with the Victims of Crime. Few people have mercy on them once the trial is over. Few people take time to even contact them once they are no longer news.
Every June 9th for 48 years the Harpers have remembered and wondered what happened. Every December 8th they likely wonder at what might have happened if Steven Truscott would have been hanged – it wouldn’t have brought their daughter back – but it might have been over…
If Steven Truscott is acquitted and the justice department have all but completely declared his innocence – Lynne Harper still was murdered. There is or was a murderer out there somewhere. If he is dead now it may be over. If he is a very old senior citizen somewhere – then he still is there. That should send a shiver down everyone’s spine.
As a pastor today in 2007, I am reminded again that Victims are never free. They are surrounded with deep and horrific memories that never leave. The issues of the disasters that they faced after the loss of their loved one is never over.
How could you help?
- Don’t be caught up in the media frenzy and the story. Think of the family and family members that will live with this forever – on both sides. Then pray for them.
- If you are close to someone that has become a victim – offer your love and a shoulder to cry on. Then an ear that will just listen… and listen some more. Maybe even listen for a lifetime.
- Then – finally – do something locally to help victims of crime. Know, Understand and Act – the “KUA Factor” that could make a difference.
I wish the Harper family God’s very best and may the Lord have mercy on your souls as well – as you face the rest of your lives – wondering what really happened. I certainly understand – and will never forget you in my prayers.
And Finally… to Mr. Justice Ferguson, all the lawyers and police officers – the justice system - may the Lord have mercy on your souls as well. I certainly know what you folks must go through when you are forced into the bright media lights – to do a thankless job and then live with the results.
God help us all. When and wherever there are Victims – we all suffer deeply – for a long, long time.
~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~
Source and Resource
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070830.wHarper30/BNStory/National/home
http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/truscott/
http://www.statementanalysis.com/truscott/
http://www.mapleleafweb.com/old/education/spotlight/issue_59/background.html?q=education/spotlight/issue_59/background.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Truscott
http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=cd2890ae-c46d-465c-a7e6-414a376bed1a
posted by Murray Lincoln at
Saturday, September 01, 2007
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