Patrick Brode

This well written volume was a pleasure to read although the attitudes of some of the characters involved irritated me. On November 6, 1920, J.O.L. Spracklin, known a the Fighting Parson shot and killed inn keeper Beverly "Babe" Trumble. Spracklin had been appointed provincial liquor inspector with the sole task of cutting back on the liquor smuggling taking place between Windsor and Detroit. After hiring a group of thugs, some of whom had criminal records, he started a campaign of harassing rum runners, inn keepers, bar owners and anyone he thought might have been drinking or buying a drink. Breaking in to homes, boats, vehicles and businesses without warrants angered the residents of the area and proved counter productive to making the area a dry municipality.

Trumble was a real thorn in Spracklin's side and led to a confrontation in which Trumble died. The trial led to Spracklin being found not guilty of manslaughter but made many wonder how a man of God could have committed this act and shown no remorse since his act had left a widow with two small children to be raised. While he was a hero for the moment, his preaching career in Ontario was over and he moved to Michigan where is beliefs were better accepted.

This is early Ontario history that is full of hypocrites and again illustrates why religion and politics do not make a healthy mix.… (mere)