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Bienfait
Border Smugglers
Aka- Rum Runners
In Canada, the temperance
movement began in 1915.
Prohibition was declared
in the United States in 1919
Info below from the 1955
History of Bienfait
BORDER SMUGGLERS
Border smuggling was very
prevalent in 1920. The main item
smuggled was Liquor, but
small amounts of wheat, wool, and live
stock were also smuggled
at intervals.
Different classes were
either directly or indirectly involved
the majority of the smugglers
being men who wanted to make
some easy money on the side-line.
The chief effect of this
activity was annoyance to residents of the area.
Many times an innocent resident
was called up in the middle of the night
and asked to pull a smuggler's
wagon out of the mud
or he may be asked to hide the cache of liquor in
his cellar.
This leads to the discomfort of the party who was running
the risk of being implicated in an affair not of his choice.
Police officers patrolled
the border country and any suspicious vehicle was
stopped and searched.
Many times the officers gave chase and even resorted
to gunfire. However
contempt of prohibition,
fear of reprisals and exposure of friends,
acquaintances
or kin seemed to favour the smugglers,
much to the disadvantage of the
law enforcement officers.
The common set-up for smuggling
was a Canadian
and an American working together with the tip-off persons
in some in-between stations.
Methods of conveying the
liquor across the border
varied from the use of compartment fuel tanks
to filling tire tubes
with whisky and air to get pressure.
Once the
destination was reached, the whisky was drained from the tires
and placed
in bottles or metal containers.
Large caches of liquor were hidden
in cisterns,
grain bins, hay and straw stacks and under piles of gravel.
Cars, trucks and wagons
were used to transport smuggled goods across the border.
However,
on certain occasions smuggled goods were carried on foot or on horseback.
Smuggling was a profitable
proposition, but very few seemed to have benefited,
for it was "easy come,
easy go". If the smuggler was caught by the law,
the resulting fines
and loss of any cargo wiped out the profits of his career.
The risks were great and
many included rivalry with different groups
and the danger of being caught
by the patrol officers.
In our immediate district
two men were wounded in a gun battle
with American and Canadian law officers
near Portal.
Another man,
Paul Matoff
was murdered.
(night of Oct 4, 1922
by a 12 gauge shotgun)
A shipment of liquor was scheduled to
be transferred from the CPR station, in Bienfait,
to a truck owned by
Lee Leander Dellage
who met the liquor company agent,
Paul Mattoff, in the CPR station,
a few hours after the train arrived, with the large shipment from Quebec,
to complete a transaction, which involved $6,000.
During this time
a hold-up was staged and Mattoff
was shot to death in the back, by a sawed-off shotgun,
in the hand of an unknown person.
There were 2 "Boozoriums", or Liquor Warehouses, or "Export House"
located in Bienfait, during this period.
Bronfman's Boozorium, which was in what became Alex Ronyk's pool hall on Main St.,
and a fellow by the name of Albert C. Rodgers owned one as well.
Wallace W. Lynd was Mr. Rodgers lawyer, and records his name
as Rodgers, so he should know how it was spelled.
Will be doing research on him in the future.
I did find another article dated Mar 1923,
commented on a civil case, the National Insurance Co vs Al Rogers.
note- it goes on to say he had a car stolen from him,
and was making a claim for it.
It also states he was linked up with the illicit Liquor traffic.
Also an article May 1922, says an A. Rogers lived on a
farm, near Bienfait.
There was a shooting on the road to the farm,
and questions were asked about illicit liquor sales there, during the trial.
Some books record 3, but haven't pinned the 3rd one down yet.
There were 2* in Estevan,
1 each in Oxbow, Carnduff, Carievale, and Gainsborough.
Company in Gainsborough was called Liquor Exporters,
Limited.
owned by the Regina Wine and Spirits Company,
owned by the Bronfmans.
*Per an article quoting Mr. Fraser the MPP for Souris,
stated there was 5 warehouses in Estevan
2 companies in Estevan were charged by Police, Aug.
1920,
for each selling illegal liquor to undercover police.
Southern Export Company, fined $1600.00,
defended by P.M. Anderson KC.,
and Beaver Wine company, fined $1,000.00,
defended by W. H. McEwen,
both lawyers from Regina.
J. Martin was the Prosecutor from Weyburn.
Harry Bronfman was one of the owners
of the Southern Export Company, surprise, surprise!
Oct 5, 1920 at 7pm, an American car was caught loaded
with $1,000 of liquor.
at the Southern Export Co.
They arrested the person in charge of the car.
It was alleged Harry Bronfman paid a $100 fine for the
guy arrested, for carrying a concealed weapon.
The customs officers were informed and the car was seized
and stored overnight in Nesbitt's garage.
the liquor was seized by the police.
The town police were notified and told to watch the garage until morning.
You guessed it, the car magically disappeared!
The town police supposedly guarded the wrong garage!
Now reading other articles on rum running,
it appears some of the police were on the take,
and were as crooked as the gangsters.
I think this bunch should have been checked out!
All of the Bronfmans dealings
appeared to be legal based on the laws of the day.
Here is a great story from a
Yorkton history book
on how they did business.
They didn't do the physical bootlegging, but contributed to it.
It's like saying the guy growing or making illicit drugs in Columbia is OK
but the guy selling them here is real bad!
The Regina Wine and Spirits Company, owned by the
Bronfmans
got it's alcohol from the Prairie Drug Company, owned by the Bronfmans.
The Drug company, made no drugs! only alcohol.
It was located on NW corner of Halifax St. at 6th Ave..
Moses Chechik was an employee of the Drug Company.
He was a brother of Meyer Chechik,
who also had something to do with this "Drug" Co..
a guy by the name of Pelham Rodrigues was treasurer.
Other names mentioned to do with this Company:
A. E. Gorman
F. A. Masterman
Harry Rabinovitch
A. Robbins
the Prairie Drug company was no longer operating in 1927
Land and building owned by the company
was sold in a Sheriff's auction sale Apr 9, 1924.
They bought the lots and one story brick warehouse,
in May 1920, for $15,000.00.
they were known as "Wholesale Druggists"
at this time it was legal for druggists to dispense liquor for medicinal
purposes.
The Regina Wine and Spirits Company was equipped with
bottling equipment,
caps, strips etc, used to bottle liquor.
Zisu Natanson was Secretary and Stock Holder
of the Regina Wine and Spirits Company
He lived at 1326 15th Ave in Regina.
When the police raided his house the basement was full of Liquor
and bottling equipment.
Another company involved, the Regina Vinegar Company.
owned by Zisu Natanson, of Regina, and Sam Diamond of Calgary.
There was illegal removal of proof alcohol from this company,
before it was made into vinegar.
allegedly a 2 way tap was in place and used while the customs man
would turn his back during the transfer. How handy!!
Harry Rabinovitch was from Winnipeg, Jan 14, 1920
when a carload of 1600 cases of whiskey
valued at $216,000.00 was robbed at St Paul MN
The car was on its way from St Louis to Winnipeg.
Police surprised the robbers.
From the arrest Harry was charged with conspiracy,
as he was alleged to have the liquor stolen in the states,
and sold down there where the price was higher.
He plead not guilty.
Oct 26, 1923 his house at 2322 St John st in Regina
was raided and a large quantity of liquor was seized
along with a quantity of bottles, corks and labels.
He actually was acquitted in his first trial,
then his case was appealed. I'm sure he was innocent!
Dominion Distributors Limited in Yorkton,
was owned by 5 men.
Harry and Sam Bronfman, Harry Rabinovitch,
Zisu Natanson, and Meyer Chechik.
names sound familiar? All a big coincidence, right?
Meyer Chechik even took his other partners to court.
Seems he wasn't getting his fair share of their "legal" partnership?
Meyer Chechik- b- ca 1877 in Minsk, Belarus
d- 1947 in Vancouver BC (not in BC archives?)
wife- Baska "Bertha" Chechik
Merchant in Winnipeg ca 1923-26
Zisu Natanson- Merchant in Regina 1924-25
involved in incorporation of a Hebrew School in Regina
He was a member of the Board of Trustees for the school
He was a Co-Owner of the Regina Junk Co.
And this all went on for years!!!
Alleged
Crooked Police, Alleged Crooked lawyers, Alleged Crooked Customs Officers,
Alleged Crooked Liquor Inspectors, Alleged
Crooked Politicians, Alleged Crooked farmers, etc etc.
Millions of dollars changed hands.
the men involved paid minimal fines, minimal jail time, if any,
and most, if not all were considered respectable citizens in Winnipeg,
and Montreal.
Even today the family surnames are considered members of high society!
Who says crime doesn't pay!
Doing this type of research I found names of folks
I thought were clean as the driven snow.
Farmers names I thought were totally honest,
and wouldn't be caught dead involved in this racket.
What a surprise to me!
In respect for some of their descendants, I will not go into details,
but if you look at the old newspaper archives,
you will be surprised who was charged,
some more than once!
All the farmers along the border were susceptible to this.
Easy money, for little work, compared to farming.
Do you think the drug trade today is done the same way?
scary thought!
Rumours abound that Al Capone
and other gangsters from Chicago
spent time in Bienfait.
They would travel up on the Soo line to Moose Jaw
(Chicago of the north)
and make stops at places like Bienfait securing deals.
Ironic the big gangster hangout
in Moose Jaw was within an hour
from the RCMP training headquarters
in Regina.
Alphonse (Al) (Scarface)
Capone
b- Jan 17, 1899
d- Jan 25,1947
Died of Cardiac Arrest
Buried in Mount Carmel Cemetery, in a Chicago suburb.
referred to himself as the "Big Fellow"
Arthur S. Flegenheimer
(aka: Dutch Schultz, Arthur Schultz, George Schultz,
Joseph Harmon, and Charles Harmon)
spent a week in Gordon White's King Edward Hotel in Bienfait,
in early August, 1922.
It's reported he met with Paul Matoff on Aug 7, 1922.
He was sent to Bienfait by Capone,
travelling on the Soo Line from Chicago.
"Beer Baron of the Bronx"
born Aug 6, 1902 in the Bronx, NY (headstone
says 1901?)
Dutch Schultz killed in
the Palace Chop House, Newark, New York,
Thursday, October 24, 1935
murdered by Charles (The
Bug) Workman,
on a mob hit ordered by Charles "Lucky" Luciano.
He ran a $20,000,000.00 a year gambling racket per one article,
Prosecutor Thomas E. Dewey claimed $100,000,000.00 per year.
in 1935 dollars!He got off on income tax
evasion, using Capone's trick
of being extremely generous to those around him at the time of trouble.
Before his case in Malone NY in 1935 it is reported he bought free meals,
drinks etc etc, so that the jurors from the town said "not Guilty"
the even the Judge declared was a stupid decision.
The old saying, "Money talks, BS walks!" fits this guy, and others.
Killed with 3 of his henchmen.
Leo Frank, of Newark,
Otto "Abbaddabba" Berman, age 46 of NYC.
Bernard "Lu Lu" Rosenkratz, of 312- 168th st. NYC
instead of Leo Frank, one source says Abe"Misfit" Landau was there.
but Police reports in the newspaper at the time, says Frank?
Dutch Schultz was for sure in Bienfait, as Ken John knew him,
as well as other people that were well respected and known in the town.
There is no doubt in my mind he was there, from these reports.
He met Matoff to set up the Bronfman connection, for Capone.
Have seen some books report Capone came to Bienfait,
and met the Bronfman's at White's Hotel.
After Bienfait he made his way to Moose Jaw, via the train.
I think Sam and Harry Bronfman tried to have as little direct physical contact
with Capone and Shultz for fear of being associated with the "criminal element"
This job they left to their brother in law,
Paul Matoff.
Now did Capone actually make this trip?
Can't say other than the odd book, and the tourist thing
in the tunnels of Moose Jaw, that he actually did.
If there were some first hand accounts from old timers,
saying they had a beer with him in White's Hotel,
then maybe I will believe it 100%.
Lots of first hand reports on visits by Dutch Shultz in Bienfait
and "Diamond Jim" Brady in Moose Jaw,
and only one 1 story I have read with a bit of credibility,
is a lady reported her dad was a barber in Moose Jaw,
and was called into the tunnels to give Capone a haircut.
Not much to base all this on, but that is about it,
other than rumours, and stories.
Was he ever in Moose Jaw, Bienfait, or even in Saskatchewan???
Makes a good story if nothing else.
Register from the old King Edward Hotel would be only solid evidence left.
"Doc" Riley was another
name from this era
found a Mickey Riley shot to death in front of Capone's headquarters
but he belonged to another tough Chicago gang.
A Bart Riley was Capone's attorney
Meyer Lansky (Suchowljansky)
b- Aug 28, 1902 in Grodno, Russia
d- January 16, 1983.
Meyer was half of the Bugs (Siegel) and Meyer Gang,
friend of Lucky Luciano, one of few non-Sicilian 'Mafia' and one
of few who died of natural causes. (Lung cancer)
The government was never
able to convict him..
Buried in Mount Nebo Cemetery, Miami, Florida, USA
Lee Leander Dellage- 1922
Paul Matoff- 1922
Eddie Norris Gang
