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Record #3938
Name :
: Charles Sidney HORNFECK (1883 - 1945)
  aka : Charles Hornfield


Father
:
Mother
:
BMD and other details
Date of Birth
: 1883

Marriage (1)
:
Marriage (2)
:

Date of Death
: 1945
Abode (1) : Place of BirthEngland, London, Kensington
Abode (2) : Place of Death / BurialEngland, Middlesex, Edmonton
Sailing Information
Date of Arrival
: 6 Oct 1900
Country
: Canada

Ship
: Tunisian

Placement Family
:
Homes / Agencys
Institution (GB)
:

Agency
: Barnardos
NotesA birth registraton was found for Charles Sidney Hornfeck: Year of Registration: 1883; Quarter of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep; District: Kensington; County: Greater London, London, Middlesex; Volume: 1a; Page: 112.

In 1900, Charles Hornfield, 16, arrived at Quebec, Canada, in a group of 15 Barnardo boys en route to Russell, Manitoba, Canada. [EDITORS NOTE: This is the correct boy as the 1900 Ups & Downs identified Charles Sidney Hornfeck as being one of the 15 boys arriving on this ship.]

In 1906, Charles Hornfeck was shown as a hired man for Thomas and Liza Jane Brown of Marquette, Manitoba, Canada. His immigration year was shown as 1905.

Charles Hornfeck was undoubtedly an emotionally troubled man. Various news articles testified to this:

Lethbridge Herald, The
June 15 1909

A Farm Laborer Will Face Charge of Murder

Winnipeg, Man., June 14.--Charles F. Hornfeck, of Oak Bluff, is under arrest charged with the murder of Mrs. Louis Epeal James on afternoon of April 22 last at her home on Dominion street, Winnipeg. The prisoner was brought to the city last evening by the provincial police and is being held at the jail pending his examination which will be opened this evening at 3:30 o'clock before the magistrate. It is understood that the crown has a strong case against him. The suspect is a farm laborer. This arrest follows a long term of uphill work by the city and provincial police, who have been found in innumerable blind trails. A month ago it was first learned that Hornfeck might know more of the murder than he was given credit for, and he was questioned but his answers were such that no charge was laid against him.

The Manitoba Free Press
June 16, 1909:

HORNFECK'S ARREST

Told Employer He Killed Mrs. James--Believed to Be Insane.

Charles S. Hornfeck, a farm laborer and Barnardo boy, who was employed by C. P. Wastle, near Oak Bluff, has confessed to having murdered Mrs. Louis James at her home, Dominion street, on the afternoon of April 22 last. He was placed under arrest by the provincial police Monday afternoon.

There is every reason to believe that the confession has been prompted by a disordered imagination and that on investigation it will be proved that Hornfrec knows absolutely nothing about the murder, further than what he has read.

Hornfeck first made the confession on Sunday, May 30, stating baldly that he had murdered Mrs. James. At that time he was in the employ of Mr. Wastle. Mr. Wastle though the confession of sufficient importance to be brought to the attention of the police, and in company with his son brought Hornfeck to the city, where they saw Chief McRae and H. W. Whitla, crown prosecutor. What occurred at this interview those interested refuse to make public.

After the interview Chief McRae stated to a Free Press reporter that the man had confessed to the crime, but as Hornfeck was evidently demented or suffering from a delusion, and the alleged confession was so manifestly incorrect, it was not considered worth while to hold him, and Hornfeck was called to go back to Oak Bluff with Mr. Wastle.

Hornfeck Insane.

Mr. Wastle was called up yesterday by a Free Press reporter, and stated that the provincial constable called at his place Monday evening at 8 o'clock and took Hornfeck away. The action of the police had only anticipated Mr. Wastle by one day, for it was his intention to have taken Hornfeck to the Selkirk asylum to-day.

For the last two weeks Hornfect has been showing signs of insanity of sufficient violence to make it advisable to have him placed in charge of the asylum authorities. Monday he developed a suicidal mania, and threatened to kill himself with Paris green. The poison was placed out of his reach, and later when he recovered somewhat from the violence of his paroxysm he himself asked to be taken to Selkirk, where he could be properly looked after, and where his mental condition would not be a menace to others.

When Hornfeck made his confession Mr. Wastle says that he did not give any details of how the crime was committed, further than that he had used a stick of wood. He said that the house was on Dominion street, where the woman lived, but he did not give any reason for his action.

Evidently Effort to Reopen Case.

The arrest of Hornfeck and the details as given in the Free Press yesterday have created a great deal of excitement. Those who know of Hornfeck's mental condition are surprised at the action of the crown and provincial authorities. The only explanation they can suggest is that it was done in order to reopen the case so that evidence which was not presented at the inquest can be brought out.

THE ARREST

Prisoner was Greatly Excited and Inclined to Resist Detective.

The warrant for the arrest of Hornfeck was made out at the instigation of the city police, but it was given to the provincial police for execution. Detective John Parr drove out 16 miles to Oak Bluff Monday and arrived at C. P. Wastle's house shortly before 8 o'clock. Hornfeck was looking out the window at the time. The detective said to him, "Are you Hornfeck?" He replied in teh affirmative, and Parr then said, "I arrest you for the murder of Mrs. James." Hornfeck was greatly excited and angry and finally the man agreed to come quietly to the city on the charge of murder. He was placed in the provincial jail shortly before midnight.

Hornfeck is a Barnardo boy who came out to Canada four years ago, and last summer he worked two miles out of the city farmers. He was known as a good worker and very upright and honest in all his dealings. His employers saw no harm in him and they have been much surprised that the charge of murder has been laid against him. The prisoner is about 19 years of age, fair haired and is considerably under the average size. He is smooth faced and there is a sort of dreamy or foolish look on his face which leads people to by sympathetic towards him.


Winnipeg Free Press
June 16, 1909

HORNFECK'S CONFESSION

Last Sunday Charles S. Hornfeck, the young man who is charged with the murder of Mrs. James, and who was arraigned for preliminary hearing yesterday, wrote a confession and addressed it to the Free Press. The communication was delivered through the post office last night. It is as follows:

June 13th 1909.
Chas. S. Hornfeck
Care of G. P. Wastle
Oak Bluff

Sir

I write this letter to you in regards of Mrs. James death it was I who so cruelly murdered that woman. This is my confession I being out of work on April 15th was in Winnipeg without money and near starving for food I walked down Dominion street I thought I would call to some food the first house I was refused the next was James I went round the back way I got into the house withe [sic] a stick of wood of which I done the job Yours truly

CHAS. S. HORNFECK

According to the confession, the murder which Hornfeck committed took place on April 15, while the killing of Mrs. James occurred on April 22.


Winnipeg Free Press
June 29 1909

HORNFECK NOT HELD FOR MURDER

Confession as Written Was Induced by Reading Stories in Papers.

HIS MIND NOT STRONG

James Escapes Giving Evidence at Hearing on Another Technicality.

Charles S. Hornfeck, charged with the murder of Louis James on the afternoon of May 22, was released by Magistrate McMicken yesterday afternoon. After hearing all the evidence which had been secured by the crown the magistrate decided that there ws nothing outside of the confession which would in any way implicate Hornfeck in the murder, and it had been shown that the confession was written while the prisoner was suffering from a delusion. However, it was though advisable to examine Hornfeck as to his mental condition and he was formally committed. The examination wil probably be held today.

Lewis James, husband of the murdered woman, was called, but did not appear to give evidence, it being stated that the subpoena issued for him did not call for his appearance from day to day, but only on the day named. The crown brought forward several witnesses who gave evidence at the inquest, the only new testimony introduced being for the defence. These latter witnesses were positive in their statements that Hornfeck had not been off the farm on the day of the murder and that he was weak mentally. The prisoner stated that he had written the confession while suffering from a delusion, prompted by the accounts of the murder which he had read in the papers.

Dr. Gordon Bell was called by Mr. Whitla and gave testimony as to his examination of the body of the murdered woman. It was the same as given at the inquest.

John H. Riddle, manager of the Jublice greenhouses, told of his first hearing of the murder having been committed and of telephoning the police. He had not known Mrs. James very well. He did not recall seeing any strangers around that afternoon, and the only one at the greenhouse was an employee of Ashdown's.

Cross-examined by Mr. Fullerton, witness said that if he had seen James around his premises that afternoon it would have attracted his attention. He did not recollect seeing the prisoner there, or elsewhere, before seeing him in court. Constable Shaw was also examined.

Gilbert Wastle, a farmer living five miles from Oak Bluff, was then called to the stand by C. P. Fullerton and gave evidence for the defence. He first saw the prisoner, Hornfeck, about a year ago. He had employed Hornfeck since February 1, 1909, up to the time of his arrest, two weeks ago. So far as the witness knew, the prisoner had not been to Winnipeg during that time. On April 22 the prison er was on the farm when witness left to drive to Winnipeg at a quarter to eight in the morning, and he was there when witness returned at 6:20 o'clock. He had been milking and came to put the team away. He was a fairly good farm hand ad pretty faithful.

Cross-examined by Mr. Witla, witness said he first notice, three or four weeks ago, about the last Sunday in May, signs of the prisoner being a little off. He acted a little strange when two calves that he ws tending got into a manger and he couldn't get them out. He seemed much agitated and a good deal put out. Witness was sure he could never have come to Winnipeg on any other date. Witness was very much surprised when he saw the confession signed by Hornfeck dated June 11. He accounted for the writing of the letter by the fact that the prisoner was just a little bit off.

To the magistrate Mr. Wastle said that the prisoner didn't seem agitated on April 22. He did not speak of the murder at all until after writing the letter. Witness asked him what he had put in the letter and he said he didn't know.

Prisoner Gives Evidence.

Mr. Fullerton then called the prisoner Hornfeck, who said he was 25 years of age and had been four years in this country. He was in Winnipeg some time in December, 1908, again from December 24 to 29. He had stayed at the Brunswick hotel and left Winnipeg on Monday, December 30. He was walking out to try to get some work and at Cambridge avenue met a covered sleigh. The man in the rig asked him to take a ride. He told him he was looking for work and had no money. The man replied he had nothing to keep a man for, but had some hay to haul and would give him that work for board. The man was Tom McGraff. He lived half a mile beyond Mr. Wastle. Witness stayed with McGraff until the first of February, when he went to work for Mr. Wastle. He was with the latter until June 14, when he was arrested. He was at not time in Winnipeg between these two dates. He used to go to church and visited his former employer twice.

He first learned of the James murder from the papers. He had nothing to do with the killing of Mrs. James. He did not know where Mrs. James lived, and could not go out and find Dominion street. He wrote the letter purporting to be a confession, at the time he was under a delusion and got it into his head that he had something to do with it.

Cross examined by Mr. Whitla, the prisoner said he knew where Portage avenue was and had been west to Sherbrooke street, but never went farther. He did not know where Happyland was and had never been there. No one induced him to write that confession; no one wrote to him or spoke to him about the James murder. No one endeavored in any way to get him to write such a letter. He did it of his own free will. He was afterwards sorry in a way that he had written it. He did not realize what it was he was doing under after the letter was away. His only idea then was that it would cause him a lot of trouble. He did not complain to Mr. Wastle. He was expecting the police to come, but not on the night he was arrested. He didn't write to tell them the confession was false. He never told anybody that what he had written was false. The delusion lasted from May 30 until he was arrested. He was not right really until he realized that he was in trouble. The confession he wrote was not true, for he got it from reading the newspapers only. He did not remember anything particular about April 22. He never had such a delusion since he began to work for Mr. Wastle until that time, in face this was the first time in his history.

Mr. Wastle, son of Gilber Wastle, sworn, said he knew the prisoner Hornfeck, who was working for his father since February. Hornfeck was never away from the farm except on Sunday, and if he had been witness would have known it. The prisoner acted a little strange and the witness noticed it before he came to work for his father, while he was working with one of the neighbors. Witness through Hornfeck was a little weak minded. He had never done anything dangerous, but he made a couple of fires in the bush behind the house in the latter part of May. He told some of the rest in the house that he had written a confession and wished he hadn't done it. Sometimes wintess though he realized the seriousness of the step, at other times he didn't seem to care. They all came to the conclusion that he had not been to Winnipeg. No one had the slightest doubt of that. He never got a rig off the farm, and he didn't have any money to take a train.

Mr. Fullerton--"I think it is pretty well established that the prisoner at the bar could not have committed this offence."

Prisoner Dismissed.

Magistrate McMicken--"It is an unfortunate thing, prisoner, that you wrote that letter. It was very near causing you very serious trouble. I don't know why you did it; but I can understand somewhat what induced you to write it. You must try to guard anything of that sort. In future you must not be reading about murders and that sort of thing. It is not a subject for you to read about. It is apt to cause you to have notions you had better be free from. I cannot find nay evidence strong enough to connect you with this murder case at all, therefore you will go free from here. I am glad the evidence has been such as has cleared you. I hope you will go back and pay attention to the work you have to do. When you come across anything of that kind in the papers throw it aside and take something more cheerful and agreeable that will draw your attention. I am glad there is nothing against you. You can go."

Mr. Whitla suggested that Hornfeck be formally examined as to his sanity. He had had a medical examination made and the report was that the prisoner was perfectly sound physically, and the was not insane but a little weak minded. Perhaps he should be thoroughly examined, so that if he should have any delusions in future he might be properly looked after.

The magistrate approved of the suggestion. An information was laid by Mr. Wastle, and the papers of committal were issued by the police magistrate.

Winnipeg Free Press
July 3, 1909

Charles S. Hornfeck who was arrested on his own confession for the murder of Mrs. Lewis James and who has figured in the recent proceedings, where he was considered to be mentally unbalanced, was sent to Selkirk asylum on Wednesday, where investigation of his condition will be made. Hornfeck was sent to the asylum on the information sworn in by his late employer, Gilber Tastle, of Oak Bluff, at which place he was arrested.

Winnipeg Free Press
April 22, 1913

Jailed for Trying to Kill Himself

Portage la Prairie, Man., April 21--Charles S. Hornfeck, a farm laborer employed by W. J. Kudd of High Bluff, tried to commit suicide this morning at six o'clock by hanging hin the loft of the barn on the Kudd place. He had tied the end of a rope around his neck and secured the other end to the rafters when Mr. Kudd found him and asked him what he was doing. He stated that he was going to hang himself.

Mr. Kudd prevented him from committing the act and brought him to Portage where he was committed to jail for examination as to his sanity. Hornfeck is 29 years of age, and has been in this country about eight years and was an inmate of the Selkirk asylum about four years ago.

In 1928, Charles S. Hornfeck, 44, laborer, visited England, returning to Canada on December 28, 1928 on the SS Duchess of Bedford. He declared that he resided at 59 Vauxhall Bridge Road, St. John, New Brunswick, Canada.

A death registration was found for Charles Hornfeck: Date of Registration: Mar 1945; Age: 61; District: Edmonton; County: Middlesex; Volume: 3a; Page: 1099 
ContributorsCreated : 2008-07-28 13:51:15 / From original database

Last Updated : 2012-01-24 17:13:21 /

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IDNameDOBPlace of birthArrivals & ShipsDest.AgencyFamily links
3938 HORNFECK, Charles Sidney1883ENG, LND, Kensington Oct 1900 : Tunisian CAN Barnardos