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| Leslie McWilliams, left, and Alfred Pinisch, right were killed in the FLQ attack |
Schirm moved to Canada in 1956 from Hungary after fighting for the French foreign legion in Vietnam and Algerie.
He was talked into joining the PQ precursor RIN by translator André D’Allemagne and chemist Marcel Chaput in 1960.
Schirm formed the military arm of the early FLQ along with Pierre Tousignant and Gilles Turcot.
On August 29, 1964 Schirm, then aged 32, attempted to rob a gun shop on lower Bleury.
International Firearms was owned by Willliam Sucher, who went on to do a brisk business and even sold - by mail order - the Italian war rifle that killed Kennedy.
Schirm was hoping to get weapons from the store, presumably for future FLQ armed attacks
He entered carrying a rifle as if he was a normal customer. Pinisch got him to remove the clip from the he was carrying, which is normal procedure. But then Schirm took another bullet from his pocket, placed it in the firearm in and demanded weapons. McWilliams wasn't aware of what was going on, so he told Schirm not to point the rifle.
Schirm just shot him dead on the spot, "like a dog," according to one police officer.
Schirm was with partner Edmond Guenette when they murdered International Firearms Company VP Leslie McWilliams, 58, of 5145 de Lanaudiere).
In the shootout cops, who were investigating another robbery across the street, accidentally shot and killed salesman Alfred Pinisch, 37, of (6540 Clanranald) at a gun shop at 1011 Bleury.  |
| Schirm in prison |
Schirm defended himself in court, giving a 180 minute speech, which was fruitless because Schirm and Guenette were sentenced to hang in October 1965. He flashed a defiant V sign upon learning of the verdict.
The sentence was commuted and he served a mere 10 years. In 1974 and Canada unsuccessfully tried to export Schirm back to Hungary.
Sadly, Schirm remained unrepentant.
Schirim served 14 years in prison and wrote a book or two.
He became a truck driver but launched a petition in 1985 to try to get easier treatment for the FLQ people.
One ironic element: without Schirm's parental guidance Schirm's daughter Sylvie Schirm grew up without any of his prejudices and is solidly bilingual and a well-respected lawyer here in Montreal now. Alas, she has decided to run as a separatist candidate for the Parti Quebecois.
Sad - I also remember a 15 year old killed by an FLQ bomb I think at a textile plant - his last name was Noël I think.
ReplyDeleteInternational Firearms Co. was located on the northeast corner of Bleury/La Gauchetiere. Original building was demolished about 30 years ago and the lot became a parking lot, until the present building was built. I used to drive by there often and I always thought about the tragedy that occurred there. Viewed pics of the crime scene many years ago. I seem to remember that one of the victims died with a cigar still clenched in his teeth.
ReplyDeleteMy dad was the first cop on the scene !! I still have the scrapbook with all the daily paper clips from it !!
ReplyDeleteMy dad was a cop and he was the first on the scene with his partner ... He is the one that said the Schirm shot McWilliams like a dog !!
ReplyDeleteI was a member of the Black Watch at that time. We had armed sentries 24 hours per day thanks to the FLQ stealing firearms from another armoury. In 1963/64 the VanDoos stood the day and night watch and reservists the evening watch. By 1965, the Vandoos were no longer doing guard duty at the armoury. I was duty for the St Jean Baptiste Parade in 1965 when the Separatists were throwing stones at Trudeau on Sherbrooke Street. We were expecting vandalism, but nothing happened. Some people gave us the finger, but most ignored us.
ReplyDeleteLeslie MacWilliams was my great uncle. He was my grandmother’s (Alice Maud MacWilliams nee: Williams) brother.
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