Fat Marvin was a “fence”. An enabler – for people who wanted to buy “wet” stuff that “fell” off the back of trucks. Perhaps that’s putting it much too politely – and somewhat misleading. It’s stuff that’s stolen. Plain and simple. “Fence” was an appropriate term for what Fat Marvin did. He was a go-between. Never revealed who the buyers or sellers were. They remained anonymous. Stayed on their side of the fence. So to speak. You should also be aware that Fat Marvin was not fat. Not at all. Never was. He got that nickname because he loved to eat “spec”, a very spicy meat fat that could be added to various sandwiches, particularly smoked brisket, in order to enhance the flavour. Originally his nickname was Marvin the “Spec”. Unfortunately when the Italian associates he “worked” with quite closely, heard the word “spec”, they thought it was “spic” – a derogatory term for Italians. This made them very uncomfortable – and angry. Particularly since they knew his name was Marvin Greenstein. Which they were pretty sure was not an Italian name. They were right. Marvin was aware that getting them angry was very unwise – and potentially very dangerous. He tried to explain the difference to them. Didn’t help. So instead he became known as Fat Marvin. Even though he wasn’t. Never was.
Marvin said he became a ‘fence’ after seeing the various peddlers on horse-drawn wagons who would buy and sell anything and everything, plying their trade through the back lanes of Mile End.
His first foray into the ‘trade’ began when he and Muttie Greener, his best friend – broke into old Mrs. Stein’s flat and ‘borrowed’ her silver candlesticks. Which they attempted to sell to Sammy ‘fingers’ Polsky whose office was in the backroom of Solly’s Soda store on St. Viateur, between Park Ave. and Jeanne Mance. Sammy was very interested and made them an offer they couldn’t refuse. Actually it would have been unwise to refuse Sammy anything. He worked for Big Barney – who nobody wanted to get angry: Ever.
“Boys” he said while buffing his fingernails (which he continuously did). “Tell you what I’m going to do, for you. I’m going to take these candlesticks and consider them as your payment to me. In full. Don’t get me wrong, you did a good job”, he emphasized pointing a well-polished finger at them. “But you didn’t have my permission to do it. Which was not good. Not good at all. No one does this stuff in my territory unless they ask me first. Comprenez? Never without asking me first,” he shouted. “And just as important, you never, ever, steal anything from old ladies! Got it?” He went back to admiring his nails.
“One more thing boychicks. From this day on, any stuff that you do heist, fifty percent of its sale value comes to me. Now get out of here before I change my mind!” Marvin and Muttie stumbled over each other in their haste to leave. Sammy went back to admiring his fingers.
