Mr. William (W.B.) Common

This interview with W.B. Common provides a comprehensive overview of his distinguished legal career spanning from the 1920s through the 1970s. Born in London, England in 1898 and immigrating to Canada in 1906, Common served in the Royal Flying Corps during WWI before graduating from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1923 with honors. After articling with Price, Cochrane and Shaver and briefly practicing with Forsythe & Martin, he joined the Attorney General’s department in 1926, where he was thrust into criminal law and liquor control work following Frank Brennan’s sudden death.

Common played a crucial role in implementing and enforcing Ontario’s Liquor Control Act of 1927, dealing extensively with rum-running operations during Prohibition. His career encompassed significant involvement in high-profile criminal cases including the Evelyn Dick case, the Gouzenko espionage case, and various murder trials. The interview provides detailed insights into mid-20th century criminal procedure, prosecutorial philosophy, Crown discretion, and the evolution of Ontario’s justice system, including discussions of grand jury practices, magistrate appointments, and the practical administration of criminal justice during a transformative period in Canadian legal history.

This description was written by AI and may contain some inaccuracies.