100 YEARS AGO Thursday, October 24, 1907

• Fall Assizes opened in Orangeville Monday before Mr. Justice Magee. G. M. Vance, K.C., of Shelburne, had been appointed Crown Counsel, but there were no prisoners awaiting trial, a fact upon which his Lordship warmly congratulated the County. In view of there being no criminal cases, the Grand Jury had been notified not to attend.

The first civil case was one of slander. The parties are from Melancthon Township. John A. White and Christina, his wife, who is an infant under the legal age of 21, and sued for by her husband as next friend, were plaintiffs. John Lusty, the defendant, is a prosperous farmer, and the female plaintiff was his housekeeper. Last winter some three quilts disappeared, and it is alleged by the plaintiff that the defendant connected their disappearance with Mrs. White. A jury was quickly secured, and W. H. Wright, of Owen Sound, opened the case for the plaintiff, calling Mrs. White a rather prepossessing young matron, who said she was 19 and was married last January. She told the jury of the reflections made on her character and reputation by the defendant, who accused her of throwing three quilts out of an upper window, which were carried off by her husband. G. H. Watson, K.C., instructed by Mr. Vance, appeared for the defence and subjected the plaintiff to a very searching cross-examination. She admitted having not suffered in money damages or in reputation, which was still good.

William McKenzie told of the publication of the alleged slander by the defendant to him. Peter Bell, John Spanhouse, James Baxter and Mrs. Walwork gave similar evidence.

The defendant Lusty stated his wife was an invalid and detailed the hiring of Mrs. White and the loss of the quilts. He admitted charging his housekeeper with responsibility for his loss. Mr. Wright, plaintiff's counsel, elicited from the defendant the admission that he (Lusty) had refused to pay the plaintiff her wages until sued.

Ethelbert Lusty, the young son of the defendant, first missed the quilts as they had been taken off his bed.

Counsel briefly addressed the jury and in an impartial charge of 40 minutes the judge gave the case to the jury, who after an hour's deliberation returned a verdict for the defendant, with costs.

• Chief of Police Randall, of Guelph, accompanied by William Hind, manager of Miss Dawson's farm in Guelph Township, arrived in Orangeville on Saturday.

Hind identified the prisoner William Hanlon as the man who last February worked for him under the name of John Bell. Hanlon denied identity but Hind was positive. John Gillies, whose name was forged at Guelph banks, has a farm opposite the Dawson place. At the request of Crown Attorney Peterson, the Guelph case was adjourned for one week. There is little doubt that Hanlon is the man so badly wanted at Guelph.

75 YEARS AGO Thursday, October 26, 1932

• The McGregor Construction Co. are now making good progress in the work of paving No. 10 Highway from Melancthon to Corbetton and expect to have it completed to the Corbetton corner by the middle of next week. Satisfactory progress is also being made at fixing up the shoulders of the completed paving from Corbetton to near Dundalk and it is expected this work will be completed by the end of the week.

• Two barns on the property of Miss C. Sloane, at the Melancthon Station corner, were destroyed by fire Monday night. Incendiarism is suspected. A number from Shelburne were among those who responded to the call sent out by telephone for help to keep the fire from spreading. There was a quantity of first-class timber in the material used in the buildings. Miss Sloane, we understand, had no insurance on the structures.

50 YEARS AGO Wednesday, October 23, 1957

• An agricultural precedent has been set in Dufferin County with the first bulk-loaded shipments of potatoes out of the highland area in Melancthon, west of Conover. This is a major step in a pioneer all-out move to establish growers' quality plus shipping economy in supplying premium consumers, particularly chippers and other speciality processors.

• Following a brief illness, Sam Merlina, popular owner of Orangeville's theatres, died in Toronto General Hospital last week.

25 YEARS AGO Wednesday, October 27, 1982

• A census report presented to Shelburne Council last Tuesday gives the town's population as 2,972. Orangeville holds almost half Dufferin's population.

• The best indicator of the success of the Mono Mills Creative Playground was the number of children swarming over the newly completed structure at the official opening Sunday afternoon.