Oath and/or declaration of R.P. Kinkel, in support of Thomas Joseph Carbone, July 1940

Oath and/or declaration of R.P. Kinkel, in support of Thomas (Tom) Joseph Carbone, July 15, 1940.

Tom and his family lived in Timmins when World War II broke out. He was one of many arrested on June 10, 1940.

Under the DOCR (Defence of Canada Regulations), after 30 days, internees could formally object to their detention to an advisory committee appointed by the Minister of Justice. The Minister of Justice then appointed a judge to review the internee’s case. This meant an examination of the RCMP’s evidence against the internee, meetings with the internee, and interviews with witnesses who could attest to the internee’s character. After this, the judge either recommended an internee’s release or continued internment to the Minister of Justice.

Tom worked at the Buffalo Ankerite Gold Mines Ltd. in Timmins (then known as South Porcupine).  Mine manager Kinkel wrote this letter in support for Tom's release. He writes that Tom was hardly considered an Italian by his English speaking peers, as he was not known to speak Italian and he associated himself with English speaking persons.  Further, Kinkel states that when Tom was detained, his colleagues wanted to start a petition in Tom's defence. He concludes: "All of this contact with the man, perhaps somewhat more than the usual, enables me to sincerely approve his character in so far as I have thus known him."