Historical bronze plaque stolen from courthouse
The Chatham Court House was the scene of a heist that has left the building one commemorative plaque short.
Last month, someone stole a bronze historical plaque from the front garden area of Chatham Court House and Crime Stoppers is asking the public for their help in tracking it down.
The red-painted heavy plaque honoured the late politician David Mills who lived from 1831-1903. It was mounted on a metal frame and placed in the garden in front of the courthouse on 425 Grand Ave. W., back when it served as the Kent County building.
Chatham-Kent police and court services have released images of two suspects captured on security video. The individuals were on bicycles in the vicinity of the plaque in the early morning of July 21.
Acting Sgt. John DeForest said they unbolted the plaque from the metal stand and used a wagon to take it away.
Regardless of whether the thieves were looking to sell the plaque for scrap metal or are fans of former Supreme Court justices from 1902, officials at the courthouse don’t care why it’s gone. They just want it back.
“It’s sad is what it is and disheartening,” said Nicole Britley, supervisor of court operations, who’s been working in the court system for 25 years. The theft boggles her mind. “That’s like stealing the bike rack. Why would someone want to steal a plaque that’s been there for years?” she said.
She was told the bronze and possibly copper in the plaque could be melted down. She and Crime Stoppers both say they don’t know what the true monetary value of the plaque was.
David Bakker, Crime Stoppers Chatham-Kent coordinator, said the plaque is irreplaceable and that building was where the county council used to sit before the amalgamation of ChathamKent in 1998.
“All they want is the plaque back. If they came back to work and found it propped up against the door, that would be fine,” Bakker said. “It’s a real shame to lose something like that.”
The plaque provides details about David Mills, including his service as school superintendent for Kent County from 1856 to 1865 before representing Bothwell in the House of Commons from 1867 to 1896 as member of the Liberal party. In 1896, he was appointed to the Senate and became minister of the justice in 1897 to 1902 under Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier.
He held a chair of constitutional law at the University of Toronto from 1888 until 1902 when he was appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada. He died in Ottawa a year later.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers are 1-800-222-8477 or the Chatham-Kent police on the nonemergency telephone number at 519-352-1234.