| Joseph Albert Guay was born in Quebec in 1917.
The youngest of 5 children, young Joseph was spoiled and always
expected to get his way.
As a young man, he sold watches and jewellery on commission.
He seemed to be a natural, but very persistent, salesperson.
When World War II broke out in 1 939, he got a job at Canadian
Arsenals Limited at St. Malo, Quebec.
The arsenal closed in 1945 and Joseph opened a jewelry and watch
repair shop in Quebec City.
During his time at Canadian Arsenals, Joseph met and married Rita
Morel. The marriage began
well, all smiles and chuckles, until the Guay’s had their first child.
Seems that Joseph did not like being second fiddle to a baby.
As time progressed, the jewellery business began to fail, debts
piled up and both his eye and his ardour began to scan for new romance.
It was not long before Joseph settled on 17-year old Marie-Ange
Robitaille, whom he dated under the assumed name of Roger Angers.
Joseph set Marie-Ange up in a small apartment and offered her an
engagement ring. Soon
after, Rita discover the arrangement and confronted the pair.
Marie-Ange left the relationship shortly thereafter citing the
marriage as her reason.
Joseph was furious. Not
only was he second fiddle to a baby in his marriage but nor he was
second fiddle to his marriage with his mistress.
In his fury, Joseph concocted a plan to get rid of his wife.
In his business, Joseph travelled frequently by airplane to deliver
or receive merchandise.
His plan was to convince his wife to take one of the trips
and then blow up the plane!
Genereux Ruest, a Joseph employee, designed, built and
package a timed bomb for Joseph. Joseph
also employed Marguerite Pitre, the sister of Ruest, to deliver the package
to Canadian Pacific Airlines for transfer to Baie-Comeau, on the same
flight as Rita. Joseph took
Rita to the airport in Quebec City and purchased a $10,000
insurance package on her (a common practice during the time).
The plan went off with out a hitch,
On September 9, 1949, 41 minutes into the flight, the plane exploded over Sault-aux-Cochons, a town located at the confluence of
little St. Francis River and the St. Lawren ce. and all 23
persons, including Rita, were killed.
Joseph was elated. He
had a dead wife and $10,000! However,
Marguerite Pitre attempted suicide 10 days after the bombing and while
in hospital confessed to her part in the crime.
Guay, Ruest, and Pitre were arrested, tried and hanged for their
crimes.
At the time, it was the worst mass murder in all of North America! |
