The Sudbury Star
13 June 2011
By LAURA STRICKER, THE SUDBURY STAR
One of the Sudbury victims of William Hodgson Marshall was escorted out of a Windsor courtroom last week after threatening to attack the priest.
“When I gave my victim impact statement, I kept staring at Marshall and he was staring back at me,” said Ted Holland.
“I was reading my impact statement, but it reminded me of when I was a 14-year-old boy, looking back at his eyes. I had enough and I got out of my chair from the witness stand and I … walked over to him and said ‘this is for my father and for the other victims who haven’t come forward,’ and I said ‘take your glasses off because I’m going to hit you.’ ”
After pleading guilty to 17 charges of indecent assault, the 88-year-old Marshall was sentenced Thursday to two years in jail and another three on probation.
Marshall taught at schools in the Windsor and Toronto areas, as well as Sudbury’s St. Charles College when it was an all-boys high school.
Holland, who was in court to see Marshall get sentenced, said Friday that the previous few days had been extremely difficult.
“I’ve never felt such emotion like I did in the last three days in Windsor. It was devast a t i n g, hear tbreaking, g u t-wrenching. The saddest thing I’ve ever seen.”
Holland said he was abused by Marshall three times in 1969.
The first time, he said, was after a basketball practice in November. Marshall took Holland and another boy into a small room at the school. On the wall, said Holland, were a lot of pencil marks and initials. Marshall measured him and added another mark to the wall.
The second and third t ime s, Ho l land added, he was alone in the shower after basketball practice.
Sixteen of Marshall’s victims, including some from Sudbury, were in court to see him sentenced. They all formed an immediate bond, said Holland.
“Even though there’s such a difference in ages — I’m 56, the oldest is 74, the youngest 39 — (there was) such wonderful camaraderie, unfortunately under the wrong circumstances. We’ll be friends for life. There was a lot of hugs, handshakes, clapping on the back, crying.”
Holland said he finds it surreal that, after all this time, Marshall has been formally charged.
“I just can’t believe from when I started this in 1997, it’s over. Thursday was my 56th bir thday, what a present. I can’t believe so many years have gone by.”
Rob Talach, a London, Ont.- based lawyer who often represents victims of sexual abuse, was taking notes in the Windsor courtroom during the two days of the trial.
Holland said he plans to go after the Sudbury Catholic District School Board.
“I’m not done with this, oh no. I’m going after the school board. There’s a paper trail. There are teachers, trustees, who were culpable in this, and I’m going to hold the school board responsible, the Ministry of Education. I’m going all the way to Vatican with this. There’s a conspiracy here, it’s impossible that for so many years he got away with it.”
The Windsor Star reported that some victims said other priests and teachers walked in on the abuse, but never reported it.
In January 1970, Holland said, a teacher at St. Charles walked in on Marshall with a student and quickly left and closed the door.
“In some ways I feel sorry (for Marshall). In his apology he says he has a problem, he has a lust for young boys and that lust continues to this day, there’s nothing he can do about it. He’s tried, but he can’t control himself.”
However, Holland added, it doesn’t make what he did any less terrible.
“This is not right. What he did to these poor, beautiful, people, it’s beyond me how he could get away with it for so many years. It’s impossible that nobody knew. It’s a nightmare.”
lstricker@thesudburystar.com Twitter: @LauraStricker
I must say that, strange as it may sound, Ted Holland’s desire to hit Hod was conducted with the most courtesy and respect I have ever seen.
Ted told me later that he wouldn;t have punched Hod – he just wanted to give him a little slap on the face. After he was escorted out of the courtroom and to a downstairs room Ted broke down and cried his heart out. The emotions of the day were running so very very high.
I don’t think people realize that there was no contact between most of the victims. The first time they all met was last week in Windsor. I wondered what it was like for each of them to sit in that room and watch one after the other take the stand and struggle to read their staements? and what it was like for each to listen to ‘stories’ of sex abuse at the hands of Hod which without doubt were all so very different than their own, but somehow all so very much the same? ditto the ‘stories’ of life after the abuse.
It had to be an intensely emotional few days.
On Thursday morning Ted was sitting across the aisle from me. I watched him as the handcuffs were snapped onto Hod’s wrists. I don’t know that I can describe what I saw. It wasn’t glee. It wasn’t rejoicing. No, it was more a look of ‘it’s done.’ Over. Almost a peace. But sadness too. I saw it on other faces. I wish I had been able to take a picture.
I meant to note that Ted is referenced in the above article as “One of the Sudbury victims of William Hodgson Marshall.”
Thank you Sudbury Star. Yes, Ted Holland can now rightly and legally be referred to as one of Hod’s many victims. Thanks to all those who came forward, the days of being referred to as an alleged victim are a thing of the past.
In a previous post-Hod-conviction article Ted was referred to as an alleged victim. Thank you to those who drew this oversight to the attention of the Sudbury Star.
in the past.
I have heard there was so much emotion and sharing in the room they had set aside for us immediately after the end of court. I am sorry in a way that I missed some of it and I want my friends to know that I was not avoiding it in any way. I lingered quite long in the courtroom as I just couldn’t leave. I had to soak in the reality of what had finally happened, had to stay in that room – the room where it had finally happened, where he had finally been exposed for who we knew him to be.
I am sorry I was not in the room with Ted and everyone else immediately following court though I did get there. Again a case of wanting to be in two places at once.
I hope all of you are feeling stronger as the days have passed since those handcuffs were places on Hod’s wrists. I am. You described the moment well Sylvia – a conflicting jumble of emotions for all of us for sure. But unquestionably a feeling of “it’s done”. For me – something that had to be done has been done.
Yes, I saw the same thing with you Patrick. You were quite a distance from me, but I looked over, and I saw it in your face. I saw it in the faces of others too. I don’t know what I expected, but I know I did not see jubilation. It was a look which was different. A camera would have captured the moment and shown what I personally am at a loss to adequately describe.
I am interested. What thoughts went through your mind as you watched the cuffs click on “happy hands”? Is anyone else willing and ready to share?
Years ago when I first sought professional help I was plagued with the certain knowledge that I was the only victim. I couldn’t believe that wholly. My psychiatrist strongly suggested that there were probably many others. So, I began my search, by reaching out to former classmates and teammates. After meeting with a few, I became convinced that I was not the only victim. I searched for others because, like my fellow victims, I needed to feel vindicated. When I saw and heard the cuffs go on Marshall, I felt completely vindicated. As we sat silently watching this and his departure from the court, there was silence. No doubt we all had similar thoughts: “Thank God, it’s over. I feel justified. Please take care of us all.” Ken p.s. – I don’t know who Paul is (1951, St. Mike’s) but we were obviously classmates If you wish, you can get in touch with me through Sylvia.
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To the brave
May peace continue to be with each of you.
Congratulations on your bravery, but more important – for giving yourself back your voice.
I can’t imagine a more difficult task to fulfill.
Brenda Brunelle