On March 27th 1946 …

The Ontario Provincial Police released their March 27^th 1946 report: Re: Torso found on Mountain Brow, Barton Twp., (Identified as one, John Dick) Third Report Hamilton D. H. Q.

1. With reference to the marginally-noted and my previous reports on same, please be advised further.

1. On Friday, March 22^nd, 1946, during the course of a further search at 32 Carrick Ave., Hamilton, by Sgt. Carl Farrow, Detective Freeborn, and the writer, a lady’s beige-coloured suitcase was found in the attic. After forcing the lock of the suitcase, it revealed a wicker basket which contained a cardboard box. Inside the box was cement with clothing showing through. The suitcase and contents were seized and taken to Central Police Station. After chipping away the cement, a small duffle bag was revealed, inside of which a corpse of an infant baby. Subsequently the corpse was turned over to Dr. W. J. Deadman, Pathologist, for the purpose of an autopsy.
2. A search was conducted on Friday afternoon at the home of Donald MacLean, 214 Rosslyn Ave. S. Hamilton. He is the father of Mrs. Evelyn Dick, and is employed by the Hamilton Street Railway. On this search, a pair of black oxfords, on which appeared to be a blood stain, were seized from a wooden box in the basement. A large quantity of Hamilton Street Railway tickets were found in paper bags on the beams in the basement and in the attic of the house, also in numerous dresser drawers throughout the house. In a cupboard located in the attic, which was locked, and opened by Donald MacLean after we had threatened to break in the door, we found a hunting knife with what appeared to be blood stains on the blade. This was seized along with a hunting bag which contained $4,440.00 all in ten dollar bills except for five twenty dollar bills. A 32 calibre revolver, which MacLean has registered in his name, was also taken for examination. MacLean was then taken to Central Police Station for interrogation. This resulted in a charge of theft from employer being laid against MacLean by the Hamilton City Police. The value of the tickets seized from his home have now been valued at over $1700.00. This theft from the Street Railway Company, which has apparently been going on for many years, may have been found out by John Dick, and therefore may have been the motive for his murder.
3. Inspector Charles Wood and Det. Sgt. Preston recovered a number of bones and what appeared to be human teeth from the furnace ashes at 32 Carrick Ave., home of Evelyn Dick. These bones and teeth were viewed by Dr. W. Deadman. He stated that from his knowledge they appeared to be parts of bones from the limbs and head of a human being. However the bones are to be turned over to a bone expert for proper analysis.
4. A blue sweater, covered with blood stains, and with what appeared to be a bullet hole on the right front side, was turned over to the wrier by William Landeg, owner of the Packard Sedan auto, on Saturday, March 23^rd. He stated that he had thrown it out of the car a few days after March 6^th, and had forgotten about it until this time. This sweater has been identified as one which John Dick was wearing on March 6^th, the day of his missing. This sweater, along with all other blood-stated articles seized from the various places formerly mentioned are to be turned over to Dr. W. Deadman for examination.
5. As a result of investigation and statements taken from Mrs. Evelyn Dick to the effect that she had borrowed the Packard Sedan from William Landeg on the day of March 6^th, 1946, and had returned it the same day at about 7 p.m. with the seat cushions covered with blood, along with the fact that she had burned the head and limbs of Dick in the furnace, a charge of Murder, Section 263 of the Criminal Code, was laid against Evelyn Dick on March 26^th by Inspector Charles Wood. Evelyn Dick appeared before Magistrate H. A. Burbidge this date, and remanded to April 10^th, 1946, at the request of Crown Attorney Harvey McCulloch and with the consent of Defense Counsel Walter Tuchtie.
6. Further investigation is now being carried on to ascertain the truth of statements made by Evelyn Dick in which she implicated one, William Bohozuk, and one, Tony Romanelli, were involved in the murder of John Dick.
7. Further investigation on March 26^th at the home of Donald MacLean, 214 Rosslyn Ave. S. with a strong search light, revealed two bullet holes in the basement. One bullet had passed through a large furnace pipe, the other through a wood-box. This pellet was taken for further examination, as it may have some connection with the murder of John Dick. Further inquiries are also being made with this thought in mind.
8. As this case continues, further reports will be submitted.

(Sgd) L. F. Mattick

Provincial Constable #766.

This is a follow up report touching the margined, and it gives some detail as to the inquiry. I believe Donald MacLean knows a lot about the murder. He and John Dick had a row about two months ago. John Dick knew what his father-in-law Donald MacLean was doing. MacLean threatened him. Dick’s wife, MacLean’s daughter, has been trying to get on the good side of her husband since this squabble, enticing him out with liquor in her borrowed car, getting the man to drink. John Dick was trying to get a divorce, she has been trying to prevent it. I believe this money matter which Donald MacLean is mixed up in my be the motive. Then, in paragraph 8 of this report, with a very powerful electric light, Sgt. Farrow, Const. Mattick and Det. Freeborn searched MacLean’s cellar very throughly and on the 26^th one bullet hole was noticed through a stove-pipe, another through a wood-box. This pellet was recovered and it looks to be a (sgd) A. R. Knight 32 calibre. I believe McLean did own a 32 cal. revolver. This angle I believe will be investigated.

Source: RG 4-32 – Attorney General Central Registry Files, File 1946 Archives of Ontario.