Montreal, Canada, 1949. Le Devoir publishes a series of articles decrying lax policing and the spread of organized crime in the city. Written by campaigning lawyer Pacifique ‘Pax’ Plante (1907 – 1976) and journalist Gérard Filion, the polemics vow to expose and root out corrupt officials.
With Jean Drapeau, Plante takes part in the Caron Inquiry, which leads to the arrest of several police officers. Caron JA’s Commission of Inquiry into Public Morality began on September 11, 1950, and ended on April 2, 1953, after holding 335 meetings and hearing from 373 witnesses. Several police officers are sent to prison.
During the sessions, hundreds of documents are filed as evidence, including a large amount of photos of places and people related to vice. Below are photos of brothels, gambling dens and mugshots of people who ran them, often in cahoots with the cops – prostitutes, madams, pimps, racketeers and gamblers.

Anna Labelle, alias Mme Émile Beauchamp, 1939 .Anna Labelle, aka Ms. Émile Beauchamp, was the most powerful brothel keeper in Montreal during the Second World War. Arrested for the last time in 1939, she went regularly to the courthouse in her Cadillac, wrapped in a mink, to free her managers. The story tells that she receives police officers every week from her rich home in 219 Sherbrooke West.

Liliane Brown, alias Ida Katz, tenancière, 1930 or 1940. Liliane Brown, aka Ida Katz, was one of the three principal tenants in Montreal during the Second World War. She kept several low-end houses on Clark Street, south of Ste-Catherine, near the Gayety cabaret, and on the streets of Bullion and Desmarais.

Lucie Delicato Bizante, 6 mai 1944. Lucie Delicato Bizante, was one of the three principal tenants in Montreal during the Second World War. She was an important witness of the Caron Commission.

Lina Tony 1940 – arrested on 1 December 1941 for running a brothel at 1244 Berger, and at 1242 on the same street, on 26 August 1941.

Germaine Giraud, 19 février 1941- arrested in connection with an investigation related to prostitution.

Marguerite Smith, 1940 – arrested several times between 1941 and 1943 for having run a brothel at 1225 de Bullion and having worked as a prostitute.

Gisèle Roy, alias Marie-Jeanne Lambert, 27 janvier 1941. Gisèle Roy, aka Marie-Jeanne Lambert, arrested for prostitution on January 27, 1941.

James Masters, alias Gaetano Mastracchio, 1940 – arrested in connection with an investigation related to the game.

Madeleine Gagnon, 7 August 1942 – arrested at 1223 Bullion on February 16, 1943 in connection with an investigation related to prostitution.

Eugène Caviola, 15 décembre 1945 – arrested in connection with an investigation related to the game.

Ruby Taylor, années 1940 – arrested at 1225 Bullion on 1 May 1942 in connection with an investigation related to prostitution.

Henry Druik, 1940 – arrested 8 times between 1938 and 1942 for holding a gaming house at 463 McGill.
Via Archives de la Ville de Montréal
Would you like to support Flashbak?
Please consider making a donation to our site. We don't want to rely on ads to bring you the best of visual culture. You can also support us by signing up to our Mailing List. And you can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. For great art and culture delivered to your door, visit our shop.