cata THE RATTENBURY story refuses to go away. Since doing a column on it a couple of weeks ago I have found books about it and come across people who knew 2 great deal about the man. One lady who was related by marriage to his wife, Alma, called me to talk about ter. You may remember my astonishment at learning that Francis Rattenbury, the designer of the B.C. parliament buildings and the Empress Hotel (and also of the old Vancouver courthouse in Vancouver, and much else in these parts) retired 10 my home town of Bournemouth, England, and that I knew the house in which he lived, Rattenbury was killed by his chauffeur, George Stoner, and Alma and he stood trial together in 1935 at the Old Bailey. Stoner was condemned to death, but she was acquitted. The dramatic trial was big news here and in the U.K. The story was a true tragedy, too, as is clear from the 1980 book The Rattenbury Murder, written by The Right Hon. Sir Michael Havers, Q.C., Anthony Barrett of UBC, and Peter Shankland. Alma was hopelessly in love with Stoner, who was only 18 years of age when Rattenbury employed him, and shortly after the boy was condemned she killed herself at Three Arches Bend, a beauty spot on the River Avon, another spot with which I am familiar. But Stoner was not hanged, even though his appeal was brusquely rejected, He was granted a reprieve and served seven years in prison. He joined the army in 1942, took part in the D-Day landings and survived the war. Alma Victoria Rattenbury was born in B.C. and was a remarkable her into marriage. He was brilliant, rich and famous, (and . sometimes infamous, according to the Victoria society of that day). But the marriage was foredoomed, he being over 30 years older than she. Later, in Bournemouth, he took to the bottle, was impotent, and told her to ‘make her own life.”’ Which she did, With Stoner. The bare facts of the story can- Not convey its passion, of which Stoner killed Rattenbury with a mallet, apparently while under the influence of cocaine. He certainly must have been under the influence of something. For even though he was ‘backward.at school’ he could not have expected to get away with such a crude kiiling.’’ woman. She was beautiful, tal- ented and brave. A nurse on the Western Front during the First World War, she had courage enough, for instance, to grip a wounded man’s leg to her shoulder while a surgeon amputated. She was also a gifted musician and became a highly successful com- poser of popular music under the name ‘Lozanne.’’ Top dance or- chestras in Britain played her songs. Rattenbury may have dazzled we geta graphic picture in The Rattenbury Murder. Stoner killed Rattenbury with a mallet, apparently while under the influence of cocaine, He certainly must have been under the influence of something. For even though he «was ‘‘backward at school’’ he could not have expected to get away with such a crude killing. Alma put herself in the dock by telling the police when they arrived at the murder scene that she had done it. But she was drunk, and ARE YOU THE “I WE NEED PART-TIME SOLDIERS FOR THE NORTH ONLY MILITARY UNIT DO YOU ENJOY OUTDOOR WORK? ARE YOU MECHANICALLY AND TECHNICALLY ORIENTED, INNOVATIVE AND SELF-RELIANT? was trying to protect her lover. All the same, she could easily have been convicted, for the trial judge was typical of that time and in- formed the jury that: “Wt is not a pleasant thing to have to say anything about that woman’s moral character....if in- deed she has any moral! understan- ding at all,..."" Stoner was in the dock, he said ‘‘purely because of this woman’s domination over him."’ And again: “Ht is a case for the prosecution, as 1 understand it, that this woman is a woman so lost to all sense of decency, so entirely without morals, that she would stop at nothing to gain her ends, par- ticularly her sexual gratification.”’ And so on. One can imagine the headlines. But, quietly, Alma Rattenbury made mincemeat of the prosecu- tion. Where the Crown expected her to lie or dissemble, she simply told the truth. Yes, of course she went to bed with Stoner. And yes, of course she had lied to her hus- band on many occasions. The jury took less than two hours to reach its verdict. While in prison, she had written a song for Stoner, the second verse of which read: By some mistake you filled my empty days, But now If wake to face the par- ting of the ways. i see your smile, I hear the words you say, With no reply | hush your voice away ®@ 9- Friday, September 9, 1988 ~ Norih Shore News Dog rules clarified TAKING YOUR pooch for a walk isn’t as simple as you think. There are a number of rules imposed by North Shore municipalities on where dogs are allowed to roam. All dogs are allowed on city and district streets, roads and certain parks, provided they are on a leash and are not vicious. [In some areas, dogs off leashes are permitted if under their owners’ control. But dogs on leashes are pro- hibited in designated parks in all three North Shore municipalities. They include 25 parks in North Vancouver City, 33 in North Van- couver District, and 18 in the District of West Vancouver. See Leash Page 11 SHINODA An exhibition of works by Japans’ 75 year old “National Living Treasure” August 31 - September 28 Opening Celebrations with Taiko drummers. Thursday, September 8 1445 West Geargia St. Vancouver, BC Tod (604) 682-1244 Man Tues! Wed Fre Sat 0-6 Thurs 10-9 Sun 4 WE OFFER PART-TIME SERVICE WITH PAY! We parade regularly between 7:15 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. each Thursday evening; with one Friday evening to Sunday even- ing Military Exercise each rnonth. If you can meet the challenge and if you are between 17 and 45 years of age, why ! t lf you are experienced (ex-Regular or Reserve) or ready for r training, we need Field Engineers (for bridge-building, demoli- tions, mine wariare, etc.); heavy duty vehicle mechanics (diesel not call? § and gas); weapons technicians; heavy-equipmeni operators > f (dumps, front-end loader); clerks and combat cooks. ; SIX FIELD ENGINEER SQUADRON 5 (CANADIAN MILITARY ENGINEERS) f 6LT-COL J.P. FELL ARMOURY f 1513 FORBES AVENUE NORTH VANCOUVER V7M 2Y4 (near Mahon Park) CALL: 666-4052 i : ogee Call between 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Tuesday to Friday, or between 7:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Thursday evening. CADET SERVICE If you are 12 to 17 years, we have Challenging positions in our Army Cadet Corps. Cail between 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Monday or Tuesday evenings (better still, come down and visit).