Helen Hewitt

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/196637269
• Interesting: murder, crime, story
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-43212
• Misfortune: 1937, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; murdered by person(s) unknown
• Occupation: 1937, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; taxi driver
• Residence: 1937, 215 King St. E., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

1937 murder of Kitchener cab driver has never been solved

KITCHENER - Lawrence "Dick" Hewitt was at home, listening to the Saturday night radio broadcast of the Maple Leafs game against Chicago when a ringing telephone cut through the play-by-play.

It was late, after 10 p.m., and he didn't say who the caller was. Hewitt, fighting off a nagging cold, fetched his jacket, fired up his taxi and headed out into the dark.

Four hours after he left his King Street East apartment, the 29-year-old cabbie was found dead lying on his back in a frozen ditch off the Kitchener-Preston highway, on the southern outskirts of town. A bullet had pierced his heart....

Waterloo Region Record -Greg Mercer - 14 Mar 2015

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MYSTERY TAXI MURDER BAFFLES POLICE "DICK" HEWITT FOUND SLAIN AT CENTREVILE

Taxi Owner's Body Found Sunday Morning

Cold Blooded Killing of Popular Young Sportsman Arouses Twin City.Left Wife and Children Saturday While Listening to Hockey Broadcast, to Answer Call, and Never Returned.

NO MOTIVE, CLUES

The most brutal and cold-blooded murder ever perpretated in Waterloo County shocked the citizens of the Twin City Sunday morning when Lawrence B. "Dick" Hewitt, 30, Kitchener taxi operator, was found shot to death, his body lying frozen to the ice in the ditch almost directly in front of the Waterloo Township hall in Centreville.

Hewitt, who was popular in sporting circles in Kitchener, having starred on former lacrosse teams. left his "drive yourself" garage on King street east, a few minutes before 10 p.m., 'Saturday night to answer a call, and rer returned. He was listening with his wife and two children and a friend to the Toronto- Chicago hockey broadcast when the call came. Driving through Centreville at two o'clock Sunday morning, R. Copeland. of Brantford, Bank Clerk, noticed a car abandoned on the roadside, and on walking towards it found the body lying stretched out in the ditch.

He proceeded to Preston where he notified the local police who in turn called the Provincial police office at Kitchener. R. Petzig,
garage employee, identified the body.

Said to have had no enemies, being popular wherever he went, police have so far been able to find no clues to the murderer, or murderers. Since the discovery of the body.. they have been working steadily, tracing down angles of the case, practically every angle coming to a dead end.

The last persons to see Hewitt alive were his family and a close friend. "Barney" McGinnis. McGinnis told the Chronicle that they had been listening to the game, and that Hewitt had just remarked that "Toronto doesn't seem to be opening up much". when the phone rang. The group were npstairs in the Hewitt residence above the garage, and the murder victim took the phone call in an adjoining room. When he came back McGinnis said "Apps just scored". Hewitt put on his cap and went out on the call. McGinnis told the Chronicle that the taxi owner was not in the habit of saying where he was going and Saturday night seemed to expect to be back in ten minutes. the usual time needed to take a call in the city. McGinnis said he waited until 11 p.m.. when Mrs. Hewitt and her elder daughter lay down on the couch in the room to rest. When Hewitt's driver. Norman Amges, came in from a call, McGinnis left for home and did not hear of the murder until about 4.30 a.m.

32 Calibre Gun Used

The murder weapon used, police say. was a 32 calibre revolver. The lead slug was found imbedded in Hewitt's coat. It had entered on an angle from the left, passed straight through the heart, both lungs, and came out under the right armpit. The autopsy was performed by Dr. Fisher Twin City pathologist, who was called by Coroner Dr. J. F. Honsberger. Dr. Honsberger was at the scene of the crime with provincial police. Inspector Albert Boyd of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Provincial Police arrived in the city Sunday afternoon and took full charge of the investigation han-

Mystery Taxi Murder

(Continued from Page 1) died up to his arrival by Inspector Jordon of the local detachment. More Than One Friends of Hewit: believe that there must have been more than one person implicated in the killing Hewitt was in the prime of life and *ould have resisted an attack of a one person, they say No signs of external violence were found on the body, nor were there any signs of a scuffle. The position of the body seemed to indicate that it had been id in the ditch rather than fallen there The body was stretched out on the back, the face twisted to the left the skin on the face and the clothing under the body being frozen to the ice. The body was also partly trozen when police arrived shortly jarter 2 a.m. Sunday morning Mc- Ginnis states that Hewitt was clean ving, never drinking or smoking......

EXPECT BREAK SOON

At press time provincial police were closeted in the office of Inspector Jordon, and with them was Police Chief Wm. Hodgson of Kitchener. Although nothing was definite, activity in the police offices pointed towards the apprehension of suspects shortly. Police, however, refused to make any statements.

The time of Hewitt's death was established by Dr. Fisher, Twin City pathologist, and Chief County Coroner Dr. Ward Woolner of Ayr as about midnight Saturday. The autopsy showed that Hewitt had been dead for at least two hours when found.

A Waterloo citizen called at the provincial police office Monday afternoon and told of seeing three suspicious characters standing behind their car just above the Freeport hill about 10.30 o'clock Saturday night. As he passed, the three men came around the car and watched him proceed down the road. Although not attaching any importance to the occurrence, police are checking it along with other angles.

Provincial police confirmed the report that two Waterloo county youths were picked up and held for questioning on Sunday but were! later released. The youths in question had a previous police record.

Lawrence — Idella May "Della" Gabel. Idella (daughter of John Spurgeon "Spurgeon" Gabel and Louise Elizabeth Niebergall) was born 2 Aug 1911, North Easthope Twp., Perth Co., Ontario, Canada; died 13 Feb 2001, Kincardine, Kincardine Twp., Bruce Co., Ontario, Canada; was buried , Woodland Cem., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/196637540
• Name: Idella May "Della" Hewitt
• Name: Idella May "Della" Nahrgang
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-43213
• Residence: 1921, 79 Simeon St., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1921, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Evangelical
• Residence: 1937, 215 King St. E., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

NAHRGANG, Della M. (Hewitt) Passed away, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2001, at Trillium Court, Kincardine, in her 90th year.

Beloved mother of Janet and her husband Darryl Hilliard of Kincardine and Helen and her husband Kenneth Smiley of Kitchener; cherished grand-mother of Richard (Caren) Norman, Brian Norman, John (Andrea) Craig and Donna (Michael) Diebel. Also survived by seven great-grandchildren.

Predeceased by her husbands, Lawrence (Dick) Hewitt in 1937; Harry H. Nahrgang in 1988 and her sister, Beatrice Seegmiller. Daughter of the late John S. Gabel and Louisa Niebergall.

There will be visitation at the Ratz- Bechtel Funeral Home, 621 King St. W., Kitchener on Friday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. The funeral service will be held in the chapel on Saturday at 1 p.m., with Rev. Kyle Benger officiating. Interment Woodland Cemetery.

Reception to follow in the Ratz- Bechtel Family Centre.

Memorial donations to South Bruce- Grey Health Centre, 43 Queen St., Kincardine, N2Z 1G6 or Olivet United Church, 49 Onward Ave., Kitchener, N2H 3J8 would be gratefully acknowledged.

The Record Kitchener, Ontario, Canada Wed, Feb 14, 2001 Page 19

Other Events:

• Name: Spurgeon Gabel
• Eby ID Number: 00024-1954.16
• Occupation: 1921, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Laborer, Odd Jobs
• Residence: 1921, 79 Simeon St., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1921, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Evangelical

John — Louise Elizabeth Niebergall. Louise was born 24 Mar 1878, North Easthope Twp., Perth Co., Ontario, Canada; died 9 Feb 1959, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Woodland Cem., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-322615
• Residence: 1921, 79 Simeon St., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1921, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Evangelical

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00024-1954.11
• Residence: 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Other Methodist

Notes:

John Gabel, "was born in 1836. He resides on his father's old homestead at Nithburg, Ontario, where he is engaged as a farmer, miller and sawyer. He is married to Lydia Feick. To them is born a family of eight children".


Eby, Ezra E. (1895). A biographical history of Waterloo township and other townships of the county: being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character. Berlin [Kitchener, Ont.]: [s.n.].

John married Lydia Feick 24 Dec 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Lydia (daughter of Adam Feick and Margaret Roos) was born 1840, Wilmot Centre, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 29 Dec 1919, New Hamburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Lisbon United Cemetery, Lisbon, North Easthope Twp., Perth Co., Ontario. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Lydia Gabel
• Eby ID Number: 00024-1954.12
• Residence: 1861, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

The death took place in New Hamburg on Monday of Mrs. John Gabel, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Levi Ostettler, in her 78^th year. The deceased had been ill for several weeks. She is survived by five sons and three daughters. Mrs. Daniel Christner, of this city, is a sister of the deceased. The funeral will take place on Thursday afternoon from the residence of Mrs. Ostettler to the Lisbon cemetery.

Kitchener Daily Record 30 Dec 1919

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Death of Mrs. John Gabel

On Monday, December 29th, Lydia Gabel, relict of the late John Gabel, peacefully passed away at the home of her eldest daughter, Mrs. Levi Hostetler, at the age of 77 years, 9 months and 24 days. Deceased was born in Wilmot Centre and was highly respected by all who were acquainted with her. Mrs. Gabel was a member of the Lisbon Evangelical church and was highly esteemed by the members of the congregation and was well thought of by all her neighbors. She had been a resident of Nithburg since her marriage. Her husband predeceased her six years ago. She is survived by eight children: Eli and Adam, of Nithburg; Spurgeon, Edwin and William and Mrs. Thaler, of Kitchener; Mrs. Ed. Smith, of Wellesley, and Mrs. Levi Hostetler, of New Hamburg. The funeral was held on Thursday afternoon from Mr. Hostetler's residence to the Lisbon Church and Cemetery

New Hamburg Independent, January 2, 1920

________________

MRS. JOHN GABEL

The death took place in New Hamburg on Monday of Mrs. John Gabel, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Levi Ostettler, in her 78 year, The deceased had been ill for several weeks. She is survived by five sons and three daughters Mrs. Daniel Christner, of this city, is a sister of the deceased. The funeral will take place on Thursday afternoon from the residence of Mrs. Ostettler to the Lisbon cemetery.

The Chronicle Telegraph (190101), 1 Jan 1920, p. 4