Port Hope Simpson Mysteries, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada Oral History Evidence and Interpretation

Port Hope Simpson Mysteries,
Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Oral History Evidence and Interpretation
Series Title: Port Hope Simpson Mysteries Vol 2
by
Llewelyn Pritchard
Smashwords Edition
Copyright 2010 Llewelyn Pritchard

Read about the original Oral History interview with Mrs. Kathleen Squire (formerly James) known as “Bunty” or “Bunty James” who was the lifelong friend of Katie Doreen Illsley (Williams), daughter of J. O. Williams, owner of The Labrador Development Company Ltd which conducted logging operations in Port Hope Simpson 1934 – 1945.

Bunty stayed with Katie Doreen in Port Hope Simpson, Labrador, Newfoundland, Canada for one year, 1935-36 and returned to stay for another year 1936-37.

The aim of the interview was to find out as much as possible about the Labrador Development Company Ltd. in connection with the history of Port Hope Simpson and in particular any relevant information in connection with the two unexplained deaths of Arthur Eric Williams, the owner’s eldest son and his infant daughter Erica D’Anitoff Williams, the granddaughter of a Russian Count D’Anitoff.
John Edward Illesley, the grandson of J.O. Williams and his wife Sheila were also present and took a very active part in the interview. John had brought along the family archives (consisting of albums of photographs with documents and letters written at the time) to show Llewelyn and gave him an original Labrador Development Company Ltd. brochure undated, printed in Cardiff most likely in 1934 or 1935 that included two maps showing its timber concessions in Labrador and a Labrador Mining Company concession area.

John then started to take Llewelyn through his collection of photographs and other documents with Mrs. Squire and Sheila contributing as we went along…
I was particularly interested to hear from Bunty that John Hope Simpson purchased timber rights after the First World War although it was not clear whether or not they were for his own personal benefit. If they were it meant that he could have actually been the employer of J. O. Williams whilst also Commissioner for Natural Resources and acting - Commissioner for Justice in Newfoundland. It would explain an awful lot…

Dedication
This book is dedicated to obtaining justice for Erica D’Anitoff Williams, three and a half years and her young father Arthur Eric Williams, 27 years who died in their Labrador Development Company home, Port Hope Simpson, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada in acrimonious, suspicious circumstances in the early hours of 3 February 1940. The R.C.M.P (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) Serious Crimes Unit, Gander, Newfoundland in 2002, opened up their own investigation about the deaths. If you know anything at all about what happened please do not hesitate in contacting your local RCMP detachment or the police force of jurisdiction in your area. If you live outside Canada, please contact your local police service and ask them to make a request for assistance from the appropriate Canadian law enforcement agency. The main RCMP website address is http:// www.rcmp.ca or Email me!