Rev Joseph Albert Armstrong

Other Events:

• Interesting: crime murder
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-101905
• Misfortune: 1964; murdered

Notes:

Popular Ex-Minister Found Shot To Death


KITCHENER (CP) Police said today they have no leads and no suspects in their inquiry into the shooting death of an Anglican clergyman who had given up his post to sell insurance.

Rev. Joseph A. Armstrong, 45, of neighboring Waterloo was found shot to death early Wednesday in his car, parked on a highway on the outskirts of Kitchener. There were at least two bullet wounds in the neck.

Police Chief James Lautenslager said that until an autopsy was completed, police could not rule out any possibility in the death.

So far no weapon has been found. And police said they have not been able to find Mr. Armstrong's wallet and driver's licence, adding weight to speculation that he was robbed and slain by a hitchhiker.

Due to various aspects of the case, the Kitchener police did not release information on the likelihood of foul play until late yesterday. A full investigation is now underway.

Early in the day, information from officials to the various news media, including the Evening Reporter, had stated that Mr. Armstrong had died from a "heart attack." It was hours later that the true circumstances of the victim's death were 'openly announced.

SHOT FROM REAR

"Investigation revealed there are two, possibly three, bullet wounds in the hack and side of the head." said Inspector Wilfred Henrich, head of the Kitchener police detective division.

Inspector Henrich intimated that foul play was definite as it was extremely unlikely the wounds could have been self-inflicted. Police are not eliminating the possibility that the 45-year-old ex-clergyman may have been killed by a homicidal hitchhiker. No gun was found.

For the past 18 months since Mr. Armstrong had vacated his Hespeler church post, he had been selling insurance for the Equitable Life Insurance Company of Canada. Married, with five children, he resided at 210 Herbert St., Waterloo.

While one theory is that Mr. Armstrong was killed and robbed by an unknown hitchhiker, the police investigation intends to ferret out every angle of the, shooting.

Said Keith Farrell, 50, a fellow insurance man, "It was a dirty night and he (Armstrong) would not want to see anyone walking in a storm."

DRIVER DISCOVERS

A passing motorist had called the police at 6.04 a.m. after seeing the former Hespeler man huddled over the wheel. The victim was apparently heading into Kitchener at the time of the tragedy.

Inspector Henrich revealed a post-mortem had substantiated the belief that the neck wounds have been caused by bullets.

The auto, a 1958 black coach model, was seen parked at the side of the highway. When police arrived two minutes after the alarm, they found the former clergyman past all help.

According to reports, Mr. Arm-strong, had given up the church ministry due to difficulties in keeping his large family on a clergyman's salary. The mysterious death has triggered an all-out police investigation. Said Inspector Henrich, "Every detective is still out on the case."

Mr. Armstrong was reported to have been in Hespeler Tuesday evening. He had lunch at a local snack bar, and upon leaving at about 9 p.m., was understood to have said that he was going home. Mr. Armstrong's business frequently brought him to Hespeler.

The Evening Reporter, Gait, Thurs., Mar. 19, 1964
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Police Charge Man Armstrong Shooting

Wayne Donald McKinney, 22, of Kirkland Lake, has been charged with capital murder in the shooting death of Rev, Joseph A. Armstrong, a former Hespeler clergyman who was living in Waterloo.

Police said McKinney was arrested Thursday night in Kitchener. He had been staying at a Kitchener motel.

Mr. Armstrong was found slumped in his car in front of Hiway Market on Highway 8 eleven days ago. He was shot in the neck three times.

The father of five was a former Anglican minister in Hespeler and left there 18 months ago to work as an insurance salesman in Kitchener.

The arrest came as police throughout the province continued their search for a hitch-hiker wanted for questioning in connection with the murder. Today Kitchener detectives are resting after the intensive 11-day investigation.

Police said the suspect would likely appear in Kitchener court on Thursday.

Earlier police had been searching for a hitch-hiker believed responsible for the clergyman's death.

A wallet was missing from the slain man's pocket and was believed to contain between $100 and $200. Police said this led them to believe robbery was the motive.

Police Chief James Lautenslager said an investigation is still continuing and "there are a lot of loose ends to pick up".

Officers from other departments, including Galt, Preston and Hespeler joined Kitchener police in the investigation,

Inspector Harry Sayeau of the criminal investigation branch of the Ontario Provincial Police was called in after police leads came to a standstill a week ago.

MAGAZINE SALESMAN

McKinney left Kirkland Lake four years ago.

He was working in the Kitchener area as a magazine salesman.

His mother and father, Mr. and Mrs. W. E. McKinney, are both chiropractors and operate the McKinney General Health Clinic in Kirkland Lake.

Wednesday a police composite drawing of the suspect was circulated in many provincial newspapers including the Reporter and police received an avalanche of calls from the public, They were searching for a hitchhiker on Highway 401.

Mr. Armstrong had been in the Galt and Hespeler area the night before he was found dead.

Police said he was shot with a single-shot model .22 calibre rifle that may have been sawed off.
Details of McKinney's arrest were not released by police.

The Evening Reporter Galt, Ontario, Saturday, March 28, 1964

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Wayne McKinney, 22, was found guilty of non-capital murder and sent-enced to life imprison-ment in Waterloo ,Court today.

Galt, Wed., Sept. 16, 1944 BULLETIN

Joseph — Winnifred "Wynn" Matthews. Winnifred was born 1922, Port Dalhousie, Welland, Ontario, Canada; died 12 Oct 2002, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Greenwood Cemetery, Milverton, Mornington Twp., Perth Co., Ontario. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-102062