A staunch defender of 'dry' Westmount

McMahon, “an enthusiastic temperance advocate,” had little patience for public drunkenness and devised a rehabilitation scheme that provided for periodic moments of levity in the suburb’s courtroom.

In that regard, in its July 11, 1906 edition, the Montreal Star reported the tribulations of a seemingly respectable young man who had been picked up by the local police force and charged with “being under the influence of liquor in the streets of Westmount.”

The man in question (who was not identified by the newspaper) pleaded guilty, stating that it was his first offence.

The strict McMahon took the opportunity to lecture the accused about the benefits of abstinence and concluded his homily with the suggestion that the miscreant “take the pledge.” After a few moments of hesitation, the defendant agreed but was warned by His Honour that if he were brought back before him again his sentence would be six months in jail with hard labour.

According to the newspaper account, the offender, not believing his good fortune, left McMahon’s courtroom jokingly exclaiming: “Tis folly to be jolly on wine.”

Only two days later, two more individuals found themselves before the eminent judge on similar charges. One, a recently arrived Scot from Dundee, said that he would have no difficulty in “taking the pledge” given the fact that Canadian ale (according to him) was of such a poor quality! The second ne’er-do-well, a French Canadian, initially resisted McMahon’s proposal and stated quite defiantly that he saw no harm in taking an occasional “whisky blanc” to calm his nerves. After a brief argument with the determined magistrate, the detainee finally agreed to give it a try. McMahon, however, was not amused by what he heard and warned the man that if he too showed up before him again, it would also be six months of jail and hard labour!

Edmond McMahon was an exceptional personality. Born in Ste. Rose (Laval), Quebec, in 1852, he was called to the bar in Montreal in 1881. He became Montreal’s coroner in 1892, a position which he held for many a year. In addition, McMahon became justice of the peace for Westmount in 1894, once again an office he held for the longest time.

McMahon was also an accomplished musician and singer. For a brief period of time, he was choirmaster at St. Joseph’s Church in what is today Little Burgundy. He held that same title from 1888 - 1893 at St. James Cathedral (today, Mary Queen of the World) and later occupied the identical position at Notre Dame Basilica in Old Montreal. As well, he edited the French-language review “Album littéraire et musical de La Minerve.” He was truly a man of many interests and talents.

McMahon died in Westmount on Feb. 2, 1942 at the age of 89.



• Robert N. Wilkins is a writer and researcher with the Quebec Family History Society, an anglophone genealogical association based in Pointe Claire. He can be reached at montreal_1900@hotmail.com while his “blog” is found at www.geocities.com