Loss of Influence

The Vancouver of the 1920's was building row after row of small, undistinguished houses through the areas of Fairview, Kitsilano, the East End and South Vancouver. These houses were constructed on 33-foot and 50-foot lots.

This Vancouver was overflowing into North Vancouver and West Vancouver. Every morning and evening,  people crowded the ferries and gasoline rail-cars that ran toward Howe Sound on a detached fragment of the PGE Railway. The latter service was augmented by the West Vancouver ferries, which ran from the dock at the foot of Columbia Street out through the Narrows to Ambleside, Hollyburn, and Dundarave.

This was the Vancouver of labouring men, artisans, clerks and small business owners. Many were newcomers from Eastern Canada and the British Isles. They radically changed the character of the city as it grew.

The attitude of Vancouverites, pre-war, was one of reckless daring. But these newcomers changed that since they were more sober and cautious. Politically, these newcomers were opposed to the factious "plunderbund" which had dominated provincial politics, a Liberalism, which contained the seeds of a welfare-state philosophy; economically they resented and fought the concentration of power in the hands of the few.

The early 1920's contained a cynical licentiousness in Canada and the United States. The battle lines were soon drawn and often the main issues were overshadowed by a moralistic fervour.  Racism, speculation and moralist views came bursting forth in 1924 with the death of Janet Smith. I wrote about this in 2013, and here are the links if you want to learn more. Death of a Nanny and Justice Denied?

This was a murder case - or was it? - and the social and political repercussions were profound. The prestige of the police and the legal authorities in Vancouver were never great but this case lessened it even more! The influence of the "old families" in politics was reduced to the point where they were no longer able to openly tell people who to vote for.

That was a good thing because then mayors like W.H. Malkin and Gerry McGeer were elected on their own merits, not because of whom they knew. The city's politics became divided into east and west. Those candidates who were radical carried the polls east of Ontario and Carrall Streets while the more conservative officer seekers succeeded only in they carried the large majorities in the western division.

Finally, the "high society", which had developed in the pre-war and post-war booms lost the respect of the community and fell an easy victim to the economic turmoil of the 1930's. They never again achieved their former brilliant extravagance.

Thanks to the book, Vancouver, From Milltown to Metropolis by Alan Morley for the above information.

I hope you find the beauty around you.

Karen Magill

Justice Denied?

Here is another photo of the home of James A. Benzies at 1488 West 32nd. It was taken by Leonard Frank in 1923. He also took the following photos of the home's interior at the same time.

The Scottish Societies were quite irate with the now murder of Janet Smith. They lobbied Vancouver MLA Mary Ellen Smith to introduce legislation that would prohibit employers from hiring white women and Orientals as servants in the same household. Smith actually introduced the so-called Janet Smith bill in November of that year. (This bill was actually an amendment to the Women's and Girls' Protection Act of 1923.)

Provincial Attorney General Alexander Manson concluded that the bill was likely to be found ultra vires - invalid - and it died on the floor.

As what happens in cases such like this, things died down. For a while at least until a shocking incident made the case newsworthy once again.

On March 20, 1925,  a group of men dressed in the robes of the Klu Klux Klan - KKK - came to the Baker residence and kidnapped Wong Foon Sing. They took Wong to a house where for six weeks he was tortured him to confess and give more information on Smith's death.

It was later revealed that these men were actually operatives hired by the Scottish Societies as well as a couple of off duty constables. In addition, it also became known that Manson knew where Wong was. He didn't say anything because he hoped that the mystery would soon be solved. Needless to say, this had a negative impact on the politician's promising career.

This series of photographs are of the gardens at the Hycroft, taken in 1927 by Leonard Frank. I have written on this mansion before.

The kidnappers released Wong on May 1 and he was promptly arrested by the Point Grey police for the murder of Janet Smith. The Chinese Benevolent Society hired a prominent lawyer, John Harold Senkler, to defend Sing. The case was thrown out in October due to lack of evidence and Wong later returned to China.

Three of his kidnappers were imprisoned for their role in the abduction and torture. However, two police commissioners, M.B. Jackson and reeve James Alexander Paton were acquitted.

Theories have emerged about what happened to the nanny. One was that there was a wild party at the Baker house and that bachelor playboys had raped and murdered the young woman. Another explanation, posed by Edward Starkins, author of the 1984 book Who Killed Janet Smith, is that F.L. Baker was a drug smuggler and his activities led to Smith's death.

So was Janet murdered? Or did she commit suicide? I doubt we will ever know and this a murder that will tantalize sofa detectives for years to come.

 This is a photo I took of the headstone purchased by the United Council of Scottish Societies for Janet Smith. It is at Mountain View Cemetery.

Leonard Frank took this photo on October 28, 1928 of the Pacific Meat Co at 8950 Shaughnessy Street. You can see the Fraser River in the background.

This 1922 photo of 3690 Selkirk Street was taken by Leonard Frank.

Shaughnessy Golf Club in September 1926. Photo was taken by Stuart Thomson.

The Dominion Photo Co is responsible for this September 21, 1921 photo of the Shaughnessy Substation.

I promised to let you know how my free promotion went and here are the stats:

Missing Flowers: US—2528, UK—121, DE—12, FR—1, ES—2, IT—2, CA—17

The Bond: US-1014, UK-166, DE-15, FR-2, ES-1, IT-2, CA-18

Mystique Rising: US-387, UK-25, DE-4, ES-1, CA-2

Thanks to everyone who helped.

All the photos are from the Vancouver Public Library Collection and the information is from The Directory of Canadian Biography Online. 

I hope you find the beauty around you.

November 13, 1923 was when the Dominion Photo Co took this picture of the interior of the See House Chapel.

Northeast Corner of Homer and Hastings Streets as seen through the lens of the Dominion Photo Co pre 1920.

Philip Timms took this photo of the Peace Arch at the Canada - United States border. It was dedicated in 1921 so this photo is from the 20s or 30s.

Daytime shot of the Peace Arch taken around the same time.

Karen Magill, Vancouver, 1920, history, Janet Smith, Vancouver Public Library British Columbia, Canada, Scotland,Shaughnessy,Wong Foon Sing

It's Murder!

Leonard Frank took this photo in 1920 of telephone poles at the Capilano Timber Company Limited.

Leonard Frank took this 1920 photo of visiting C.P.R. agents on a logging train at the Capilano Timber Company. 

A 1925 shot of Jericho Beach, taken by Leonard Frank.

In 1922, Leonard Frank was on hand to catch this photo of a plane crash in the water off Point Grey. 

Today I am going to continue with my narration of the death of Janet Smith.

When we last left this tale, Janet's death had been ruled a suicide. Several of Smith's friends didn't believe that conclusion and started a movement. They contacted Vancouver's United Council of Scottish Societies and Presbyterian church leaders concerned with the moral perils facing immigrant girls and those organizations sent telegrams to provincial attorney general Alexander Malcolm Manson, demanding the case be reopened.

Another photo taken by Leonard Frank of the 1922 plane crash.

This was taken by Philip Timms, sometime in the 1920s, of the S.S. Capilano.

A 1921 photo of Magee High School (formerly Point Grey High School) taken by Leonard Frank.

Frank Leonard took this photo of homes in Point Grey in 1921.

Vancouver Star editor, Victor Wentworth Odlum, began publishing stories about this now suspicious death and he wasn't shy about his views that the police bungled the investigation. Intense interest was aroused among the citizens and many had a culprit fingered for the nanny's death - Wong Foon Sing.

Smith's friends were quick to relate that Janet was afraid of Sing and feared that he would one day kill her. Her diary however told a different story. Janet was well aware of the effect that she had on the young houseboy and she clearly enjoyed the attention and the lavish gifts bestowed on her like the silk nightdress Sing gave her.

Leonard Frank took this 1927 photo of the Vancouver Daily Star building at 303 West Pender.

Another photo taken of the Vancouver Daily Star. This was taken in 1929 by Stuart Thomson. (this photo is from the City of Vancouver archives)

A photo of some wood frame houses in Point Grey. Taken in 1921 by Leonard Frank.

On July 12, 1928, Frank Leonard took this photo of a house at 4641 Bellevu in Point Grey.

Public pressure was mounting and the body of Janet Smith was exhumed and a second autopsy was performed. The result? Smith had been murdered.

The Scottish Societies continued to apply pressure to the government in order to find the person responsible for this horrendous crime, for the murder of this innocent Scottish girl. Manson hired a special prosecutor, Malcolm Bruce Jackson, to solve this mystery and find out what happened to this 'young Scotswoman of blameless character'.

The press was all over this story, depicting Janet as a sweet, innocent girl from the old country and the stories were full of speculation. The Janet Smith murder - and suspected police cover up - outraged many citizens. Someone had to pay.

These men and women were at 2890 Point Grey Road when Leonard Frank took this photo on August 15, 1929.

On March 28, 1923 Leonard Frank took this photo of the Point Grey golf and country club.

This photo dates back to July 23, 1923 when Leonard Frank took a picture of the clubhouse and course at the Jericho Golf Links.

Leonard Frank took this photo from the rooftop of Pool Elevator 1 on June 19, 1929.

Wednesday I will tell you more about Janet Smith and her much publicized murder. I will also tell you the results of my free promotion.

All these photos except the one mentioned are from the Vancouver Public Library collection.

The information on the Janet Smith murder came from The Directory of Canadian Biography Online.

Philip Timms took this photo in the 1930s from the top of Grouse Mountain.

I hope you find the beauty around you.

Karen Magill, Vancouver, 1920, history, Janet Smith, Vancouver Public Library British Columbia, Canada, Scotland,Shaughnessy,Vancouver Daily Star