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THE NEWS April 7, 1966 THIS WEEK AND NEXT A Chae Vae hs) SEX EDUCATION (Continued from page 11) to the amateur - or shy away from it altogether. We are cheating our sons and daughters if we leave them a legacy of ignorance; we are also cheating them if we lead them to expect that a manual on sex methods. is a guarantee of a richly satisfy ing family life." Hanging The Innocent AIR CANADA INCREASES PROFITS IN 1965 MONTREAL - Air Canada recorded a profit of $3,989,960 in 1965 as it greatly increased capacity and services on domestic and international routes it was revealed in the company's annual report tabled in the House of Commons by the Hon.J.W. Pickersgill, Minister of Tr ansport. The profit, almost three times that recorded in 1964, was the twelfth in the past fifteen years for the airline. Comimitments for new jetliners, the addition of new southern destinations, increased optimism for future growth and profits highlighted the report by President G.R.McGregor. PASSING COMMENT A recent 'news' release programs--opportunities and amenities. Wonder who they're kidding in that first paragraph? ROSSPORT NEWS Visiting at the home of Mr.and Mrs.J.Spillett are her pa rents, Mr.and Mrs.Henry Watchorn of Miami, Manitoba also her brother and his wife, Mr.and Mrs.Norman Watchorn of Deerwood, Man. Welcome to Mr.and Mrs.E.Page and family who have moved here from Sudbury. Mr.Page is em- ployed by the C.P.R. Mrs.C .W.Todesco was a Lakehead visitor last week. Mr.and Mrs.Herb Legault were in Fort William last week, driving home in a new car. The Altar Society of St.Berchman's Church met Friday evening in Mrs.P.Testori's home. Final plans were made for a Spring Tea on April 23rd in the community hall. There will be tables of home baking, sewing and novelties. Take-out orders for' cabbage rolls and spaghetti will be a specialty. Names will be drawn for the winner of received in our office from Vancouver starts out by saying that.... com- pany is setting out to break the industry habit of "raiding" other mills for trained personnel . For several more paragraphs it gives details on how many men they are looking for--wages--training The debate on capital punish- ment scheduled for Parliament this week came, by an ironic twist of fate, just as- serious doubt was cast on the murder conviction of a boy who may be innocent of the crime of which he was accused. Steven Truscott, who is now the centre of a controversy over whether he received a: fair trial and was justly convicted, was 14 years old when he was sen- tenced to hang for the sex kill- ing of 12-year-old Lynne Har- per. The boy's death sentence was mercifully commuted to life im- prisonment and now, at the age of 21, he has spent one-third of his life behind bars. Officials at the Collin's Bay Penitentiary at Kingston, Ont., describe him as a "model prisoner" and in the normal course of events he would probably be paroled in another few years. But Steven Truscott doesn't want parole. He wants to be cleared of the crime of which he has always maintained he was innocent. Demands for an official in- quiry into the case arose after Toronto writer Isabel LeBour- dais published a book, The Trial of Steven Truscott, which in- dicted the whole course of po- lice investigation and jury trial in the case. Mrs. LeBourdais' book has convinced many people, inelud- ing several members of Parlia- ment, that Truscott is innocent and was railroaded to the death cell in an atmosphere of emo- tion and revenge which resulted from the terrible crime done to Lynne Harper. The crime of which Steven Truscott was convicted -- and originally sentenced to hang -- occurred near Clinton, Ont., RCAF base on the hot evening of June 9, 1959. Steven and Lynne were children of airmen stationed at the base. In her 240-page book, Mis. LeBourdais contended that the trial which followed was a travesty of justice. She con- cluded that police evidence against young Truscott wes flimsy, that the jury "knew" he was guilty and convicted him because he couldn't "preve"' his innocence, and that the judge was biased in his charge to the jury. ; Lynne, rode down a highway with her astride the handle bars of his bicycle, and returned alone, 25 minutes later. On such circumstantial evi- dence, Steven Truscott was sen- tenced to be hanged. The burden of proof must normally rest on the prosecu- tion. The basis of Canadian jus- tice is that one must go inno- cent as long as there is a rea- sonable doubt of his guilt. There must surely have been many doubts in this case, and as Op- position leader John Diefen- baker said in asking the House of Commons for an inquiry into the trial last week, "justice must not only be done, it must appear to have been done." Justice does not at this point appear to have been done to Steven Truscott. An inquiry is in order in this case, because it illustrates again the possibility of sending innocent people to the gallows. Because of Steven's age, even barbaric Canada could not stom- ach hanging a boy of 14. But what about adults who have been convicted on equally flim sy evidence? Equally important, if Steven was innocent, then the killer of Lynne Harper is still at large. There were many facts ad- vanced in Truscott's defense which at this distance appear to have put more than a reasona- ble doubt on his guilt. The au- topsy which put the time of death within the span when Steven was with the girl result- ed, according to Mrs. LeBour- dais, in "ga tragic and very seri- ous medical error." The nature of the crime, which I will not describe here, involved strenu- ous physical behavior by the killer. Yet witnesses testified that Steven was completely calm and not even sweating when seen a few moments later. Mrs. LeBourdais' book has not _convinced me that Steven is in- nocent -- I will leave that to an official inquiry. But it has convinced me anew that capital punishment serves no useful purpose in our society. As long as people tend to view others as guilty until pro- ven innocent -- and there is no doubt this was the attitude in the Truscott case -- the hang- man will from time to time fit. the noose on the necks of inno- the current draw. Refreshments were served by the The burden of police evidence cent people. hostess . was that Steven picked up Toronto Telegram News Service The season's last 500 game was played at the ART CLUB NEWS home of Mrs.O .Foreman last Tuesday. Winners : were Mrs.Rouble, Mrs.Ibey and Mrs.Testori. A There will be a business meeting Thursday at 8.30 p.m. sharp in the Adult Lounge of the Recreation wind-up social is planned for after Easter. The : ; ; hostess served refreshments to conclude the event. Centre. Plans will be made for April and a possible Spring Work Shop. Following the meeting work will continue on the back drop.