This was a time when the municipal authorities decided to curb what they defined as “vice“. Montreal was a wide-open city and had a reputation as the “Paris of North America“. Among the new regulations introduced was a directive that liquor could not be served on Sundays unless accompanied by a meal. This reflected the influence of the church, which felt drinking liquor on Sunday was contrary to religious observance. They would have preferred drinking establishments be closed entirely.
Nathan knew the Inspector heading this department, having arranged for his mistress, who threatened to reveal their affair, be relocated to the Laurentians and ensconced in a luxury home on Lake Manitou. In gratitude, the inspector permitted a select number of establishments to fulfil the requirement of the new law by serving cheese sandwiches on paper plates to each customer. The same sandwiches, which remained uneaten, were used each Sunday.
This was the same Inspector who allowed Charlie B’s, a blind pig, to remain open at the corner of Mountain and Dorchester, by defining it as a rooming house. While the city was cracking down on vice, knowing the right people ensured that certain predetermined locations would be exempt. If you hired Nathan, your place would be on this list.
Another example was the bookmaking parlour located on the second floor of a four-story building located at Bleury and Saint Catherine St. It was raided by police on a regular basis, but only the 3rd or 4th floors were affected. Never the 2nd. Operators were notified in advance of the raid and planted someone on each of the 3rd and 4th floors who would be the ones arrested and released after paying a small fine. The real betting action on the 2nd floor continued undisturbed. It was an arrangement that suited everyone. Police statistics increased as did their bank accounts, and it continued this way for years. Nathan was well rewarded for his intervention.
There are many examples of Nathan‘s compassion and concern for others, when he became involved in situations for which he received no payment, other than the satisfaction of knowing he had done the right thing.
One was the widow Antonelli, who may not have actually been a widow, but insisted on wearing black ever since her husband Guido left for Naples to visit his family and never returned. She had limited income and had compiled a rather large bill at Klingers, the corner grocery store. It’s not that the store owners didn’t care, but their sympathy for her was reaching its limit. After all, they had a business to run, so they threatened to cut off her credit. When Nathan was made aware of this, he arranged for two of his contacts to visit the store, which he thought might change their minds. It did. They also decided, coincidentally, to erase her balance owing. Their sympathy for Maria Antonelli had been revived.
