Extracts from the Hamilton Spectator – 28 June 1929
“Acting Detective William R. Clark was instantly killed last night about 6:30, when Charles B. Long, a gardener, living on the Lakeshore highway between Aldershot and Burlington who had previously held up the Ottawa Street branch of the Province of Ontario Savings Bank and escaped with about $1300, opened fire with a sawed-off shotgun in the cellar of 242 Rosslyn Avenue North, where he had been cornered. In a fullisade of shots from a squad of plain clothes men, who entered the cellar after an attempt had been made to overcome the bandit with tear gas bombs, Detective James Bleakley dropped the bandit.
For many hours following the tragic affair, the police were unable to identify the bandit, labouring under the impression that he was a foreigner, his sunburned appearance giving the impression of swarthiness which was misleading. Finally identification came about by the finding of a one-ton Ford truck on Campbell Avenue, a short distance off Ottawa Street late at night. The truck which had been parked conveniently a short distance from the bank aroused the suspicions of residents of the neighbourhood, who called the attention of the police to it.
Constable Burton investigated and found a stamp bearing the name of Charles B. Long, Aldershot, lying on the seat, together with a large butcher knife, razor-like in sharpness and pointed at the end, several empty cartridge shells, a Dominion Cartridge Company box marked 12 gauge and an order book.
When Constable Burton’s information was communicated to detective headquarters, Detective Duffy was sent to look over the truck. This was about 1 a.m. Proceeding to Long’s home on the Toronto-Hamilton highway, a short distance east of Campbell’s Corners, he interviewed Mrs. Long and asked her if her husband was home. Learning that he had not been seen or heard of since early in the afternoon when he left for Hamilton, the detective proceeded to the home of Harry Long, a brother of the deceased, and informed him of the finding of his brother’s truck and the shooting of the unidentified man. Harry Long came to Hamilton at once, and arriving at the morgue in the General Hospital identified his brother. It was not until he returned home after 3 a.m. that the wife learned of her husband’s fate. Mrs. Long and two other brothers of the dead man went to the hospital this morning to view the remains. The latter could not be convinced it was really their brother Charles who had figured in the sensational affair until they had seen the body.
It was with consternation that the news was received in the Aldershot-Burlington district, where Charles (Chuck) Long was regarded as a respected resident and a good citizen. His family has long lived in the neighbourhood and is numbered among the well-established market gardeners of the district. Enquiry this morning brought out the fact that the dead man was in financial straits and that he had recently put up his twenty-acre farm on the north side of the highway, just a short distance from the Burlington golf links for sale. Bank officials expressed the opinion that debts pressing, Long became desperate and lost his mental balance.”
From the Burlington Gazette – 3 July 1929
“On Friday morning last, the town and district was more than shocked when it learned that Charles B. Long, a well-known and popular fruit grower, who lives on the Toronto-Hamilton highway, near Easterbrook’s Corner had been identified as the lone bandit who had attempted to hold up the Provincial Bank at the corner of Ottawa and Barton streets, Hamilton, on Thursday evening.
‘Chuck’ Long as he was familiarly known among his friends was 38 years of age, and had lived here practically all his life. He was a market gardener, and had worked up to noon on the day he planned the hold-up of the bank. The owner of a nice home and truck farm, married well-connected and hither to highly respected, this man of the soil suddenly turned criminal, and within a period of three hours, committed a shocking deed.
What happened to this man? What mad impulse seized and mastered him? What part of his brain suddenly went askew and upset his mental balance? His friends don’t know, no one knows. It is a sad circumstance, which has cast a gloom over the community. He is survived by his wife, aged parents, and brothers and sisters who have the sympathy of all in their hour of sadness and trouble. The funeral took place quietly on Saturday afternoon to Greenwood Cemetery.”
© The Waterdown-East Flamborough Heritage Society 1999, 2023.
