At the Archives of Ontario is a letter written by Alexandra MacLean on September 17, 1947, to the Commissioner of Provincial Police. She describes her predicament in neat, cursive script:

“Dear Sirs,” begins the letter. “When the police came to 32 Carrick after Evelyn Dick was arrested, there was a brand-new ladies’ grey suit taken away. I mentioned to Policeman Mattick that the suit belonged to me (Evelyn Dick’s mother). He promised if it were not required, it would be returned in a few days. This suit was kept for 15 months, and returned to me in such a moth eaten condition that it is impossible to wear it.”

She goes on to complain that “… it cost me 40 dollars, and with all my expenses I am not able to buy another one. Two months ago I wrote to Inspector Woods, but it appears he does not think it necessary to write me. Mr. McCulloch advised me to write to you.“

The letter has a return address of 137 Belmont Avenue, Hamilton. A search of the land title records confirms that Alexandra MacLean had purchased the house in her own name, shortly before writing this letter.

When I first saw the address it didn’t ring any bells as being previously noteworthy. In fact, it hadn’t – at least from my memory – been associated with the story before. But the street popped up again in comments under a Facebook post, and I found myself talking to Moreen Ness, a woman who had lived on Belmont Avenue in the nineties.

“We moved in there in 1992 and my sister lived across the street,” Moreen told me. “Some lady walked by when we were sitting on my sister’s porch and told us Alexandra MacLean lived in my old house.”

The address was 137 Belmont Avenue. Moreen also had a feeling there was something eerie in the basement.

“We had a German Shepherd and every time he went downstairs he would bark and bark at one spot in the cement,” she told me. “It would freak us out. We wondered what the hell he would be barking at because it was always just the one spot and all we could think of was a baby.”

The German Shepherd wasn’t alone in disliking the basement. Moreen’s daughter, Kelsey, had an American Eskimo which would also bark at the basement floor. The dog also took the opportunity to relieve itself in that area whenever given the chance.

While Moreen lived in the house for around ten years, Alexandra MacLean up and left quickly. Mrs. MacLean sold the house and moved up the mountain to East 11th, all within a year.

Moreen was told that Alexandra’s swift exit was due to a detective who was living at 133 Belmont, just next door, who may have been keeping an eye on her movements. A review of the Vernon’s Directories for that era confirms that Ernest W. Barrett, ‘detective with the Hamilton Police Department’, and his wife, Lucy, were indeed neighbours.

“We were told that she moved from there when the cops started investigating her,” Moreen explained.

• Vernon’s Directory Breakdown for 137 Belmont
  • The 1945 Vernon’s Directory for the City of Hamilton lists John Woods, RCNVR, as living at 137 Belmont. His wife is Doris. Ernest W. Barrett, detective with the Hamilton Police Department, and his wife, Lucy, live at 133 Belmont Ave.
  • 1946 Vernon’s lists Victoria Stasiuk as resident of 137 Belmont Avenue, ‘widow of John’. Ernest W. Barrett, detective with the Hamilton Police Department, and his wife, Lucy, live at 133 Belmont Ave.
  • 1947 Vernon’s Directory lists Victoria Stasiuk as the resident of 137 Belmont, ‘widow of John’, ‘works at Dale Cleaners’. Ernest W. Barrett, detective sergeant with the Hamilton Police Department, and his wife, Lucy, live at 133 Belmont Ave.
  • 1947 Vernon’s Directory lists Mrs. Alexandra MacLean at 32 Carrick Avenue. Ross Gowers is also listed at this address. Ross is married to Bertha and works at Dofasco. Barbara Harding’s parents, Alex and Barbara McMillan, have now moved into 214 Rosslyn Avenue South.
  • 1948 Vernon’s Directory lists Mrs. Alexandra MacLean at 137 Belmont Avenue (west side). Detective Barrett is still living at 133 Belmont Avenue. (F.W. Koch at 69 East 11th Street)
  • 1949 Vernon’s Directory lists Mrs. Alexandra MacLean as now living at 69 East 11th Street.