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Two U.S. Jews Bring Suit for Expulsion from Montreal Hotel Allegedly on Racial Grounds

February 27, 1949
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Legal proceedings were begun today against the Mont Tremblant Lodge, Ltd., in the Superior Court of Terre Bonne district arising cut of a case of alleged anti-Jewish discrimination by the hotel. The plaintiffs are A. Milit and Nathan Gollub, of New York, and the defendant is J,B. Ryan, heir to a Philadelphia locomotive fortune. The plaintiffs are seeking $2,100 in damages.

A declaration filed by the plaintiffs alleges "malicious, inhuman and unwarranted breach of contract and non-execution of obligation," as well as "unjust and unwarranted discrimination because of race and creed of plaintiffs." The plaintiffs claimed they were denied "civil rights granted plaintiffs by law, in addition to a breach of contract. The defendant has no right to discriminate between guests, since the hotel’s services are public services," the complaint says."

According to the declaration, hotel reservations fox the two Americans were made by long-distance telephone. The plaintiffs said they arrived at the hotel at noon were received courteously and shown to their rooms. Their baggage was also brought up. They availed themselves of the room and hotel services, including teals and skiing.

The declaration adds that the plaintiffs "conducted themselves in the most courteous and gentlemanly manner." At 11:30 P.M., they said, they entered the hotel they ordered beer, which was served them, "While drinking our refreshments," the declaration continues, "we were approached by the owner, in a gruff and pleasant tone."

The plaintiffs said the owner asked them if they were guests in the hotel. Then they replied in the affirmative, the declaration says, he asked their names. Upon learning that the defendants were Jewish, the plaintiffs asserted, the owner, "in a ##oud voice and within hearing of other guests" allegedly insulted the plaintiffs, "by ?sans of malicious, defamatory, vituperative, profane and venomous declarations against the plaintiffs and their Jewish ancestry, ordering the plaintiffs out of the hotel at once. ‘We do not -want any American Jew kikes here,’" the declaration quoted the hotel owner as saying.

The plaintiffs charge that the owner ordered his staff to put them out of the hotel at once "contrary to contract." They declared their "baggage was packed and carried out by an employee of the hotel end they were expelled from their room and the hotel around midnight. "The weather was extremely cold and we found it most difficult, if not impossible, to obtain accommodations at that hour," the declaration added.

The plaintiffs claim that they cut their visit short and suffered anguish, humiliation and extreme embarrassment as well as physical discomfort.

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