Purple Gang

Subject Focus: The Purple Gang

Public Relations Team — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 09:11:58 -0400

In the Winter 2012 semester, the Reuther Library worked with students in the Graduate Certificate in Archival Administration program at the Wayne State School of Library and Information Science to produce a series of student-written, guest blog posts.

Camille Chidsey is a Library and Information Science graduate student at Wayne State University. Her concentrations are in Archival Administration and Digital Content Management.

"'These boys are not like other children of their age, they’re tainted off color.' 'Yes,' replied the other shopkeeper. 'They’re rotten, purple like the color of bad meat, they’re a Purple Gang.'" read more »

(11648) Purple Gang, Collingwood Massacre Trial, 1931

mbanes — Mon, 06 Apr 2020 11:22:29 -0400

Collingwood Massacre Trial, Purple Gang member (L to R): Keywell, Milberg, Bernstein and their attorney's.

October 2, 1931. Detroit, MI.

(11649) Purple Gang, Collingwood Massacre Trial, 1930s

mbanes — Mon, 06 Apr 2020 11:39:48 -0400

Purple Gang member leaving the courthouse during the Collingwood Massacre trial.

1930s. Detroit, MI.

(11650) Purple Gang, Collingwood Massacre Trial, 1931

mbanes — Mon, 06 Apr 2020 11:46:50 -0400

Collingwood Massacre Trial, L to R: Purple Gangsters Irving Millberg, Raymond Burnstein, Harry Keywell, and Attorney Edward Kennedy.

September 28, 1931. Detroit, MI.

(12497) Purple Gang, Arrests, Axler, 1927

mbanes — Mon, 06 Apr 2020 11:48:41 -0400

Mug shots of Purple Gang member Sam "Simon" Axler.

April 13, 1927. Detroit, MI.

(12504) Purple Gang, Members, Axler

mbanes — Mon, 06 Apr 2020 11:57:12 -0400

Purple Gang member Sam "Simon" Axler.

Undated. Detroit, MI.

(12768) Purple Gang, Arrests, Sam Bernstein

mbanes — Mon, 06 Apr 2020 11:59:34 -0400

Mug shots of Purple Gang member Sam Bernstein alias "Sam Stein" or "Fatty."

Undated. Detroit, MI.

(13031) Purple Gang, Arrests, Sylvan Bernstein, 1935

mbanes — Mon, 06 Apr 2020 12:02:14 -0400

Mug shot and information sheet for the arrest of Purple Gang member Sylvan Bernstein.

March 6, 1935. Detroit, Michigan.

(26144) Purple Gang, Collingwood Massacre, Detroit, 1931

eclemens — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 13:49:53 -0400

A view of the escape route that the perpetrators of the Collingwood Massacre took after they murdered four men.

Caption reads: “Scene showing the alley between Collingwood Avenue and Lawrence Avenue, City of Detroit. Taken Sept. 20 1931 between 1 and 2pm by Detective Edward Crimmins.”

(4030) Purple Gang, Arrests, Feldman, 1939

mbanes — Mon, 30 Mar 2020 09:43:46 -0400

Mug shots of Junior Purple Gang member Irving Feldman.

July 10, 1939. Detroit, MI.

(4036) Purple Gang, Arrests, Drapkin 1950

mbanes — Mon, 30 Mar 2020 09:54:26 -0400

Mug shots of Junior Purple Gang member Sam Drapkin.

February 21, 1950. Detroit, MI.

(4043) Purple Gang, Arrests, Jacobs 1954

mbanes — Mon, 30 Mar 2020 10:19:10 -0400

Mug shots of Junior Purple Gang member Louis Jacobs aka "Harry Stiner."

November 18, 1954. Detroit, MI.

(4044) Purple Gang, Arrests, Levine

mbanes — Mon, 30 Mar 2020 10:39:55 -0400

Mug shots of Junior Purple Gang member Harry Levine.

Undated. Detroit, MI.

(4308) Purple Gang, Purple Gang Trial, Axler with Lawyer, 1931

mbanes — Mon, 30 Mar 2020 10:53:46 -0400

Purple Gang member Abe Axler, left, with his lawyer at the Purple Gang Trial.

Circa 1931. Detroit, MI.

(4314) Purple Gang, Arrests, Millman, 1958

mbanes — Mon, 30 Mar 2020 10:55:53 -0400

Mug shots of Purple Gang member Sam Millman.

May 18, 1958. Detroit, MI.

(4321) Purple Gang, Arrests, Burnstein, 1940

mbanes — Mon, 30 Mar 2020 11:01:06 -0400

Recognized as the brains of the Purple Gang, Abe Burnstein washes his hands after being fingerprinted at the Detroit Police Department.

August 14, 1940. Detroit, MI.

(4322) Purple Gang, Arrests, Burnstein, 1940

mbanes — Mon, 30 Mar 2020 11:04:16 -0400

Purple Gang leader Abe Burnstein at the Detroit Police Department.

August 14, 1940. Detroit, MI.

(4555) Purple Gang, Arrests, Burnstein, 1940

mbanes — Mon, 30 Mar 2020 11:06:22 -0400

Purple Gang leader Abe Burnstein with his lawyer, Louis J. Weitzman at the county jail.

August 14, 1940. Detroit, MI.

(4570) Purple Gang, Arrests, Joe "Little Joey" Burnstein 1940s

mbanes — Mon, 30 Mar 2020 11:21:37 -0400

Purple Gang member Joe Burnstein aka "Little Joey" with his lawyer, left.

1940s. Detroit, MI.

(4585) Purple Gang, Arrests, Raymond Burnstein, 1926

mbanes — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 10:45:03 -0400

Mug shots of Purple Gang leader Raymond Burnstein.

October 10, 1926. Detroit, MI.

(4601) Purple Gang, Arrests, Axler

mbanes — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 10:53:52 -0400

Mug shot of Purple Gang member Abe Axler.

Undated. Detroit, MI.

(4613) Purple Gang, Arrests, Budd

mbanes — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 10:56:01 -0400

Mug shots of Purple Gang member Jack Budd.

Undated. Detroit, MI.

(4619) Purple Gang, Trials, Joe "Little Joey" Burnstein

mbanes — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 10:59:23 -0400

Purple Gang leader Joe Burnstein, alias "Little Joey" and his attorney Edward Kennedy Jr., left.

Undated. Detroit, MI.

(4626) Purple Gang, Arrests, Fingerprints, Joe Burnstein, 1940

mbanes — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 11:15:06 -0400

Purple Gang leader Joe Burnstein being fingerprinted at the Detroit Police Department.

August 12, 1940. Detroit, MI.

(4629) Purple Gang, Arrests, Abramowitz, 1928

mbanes — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 11:22:30 -0400

Mug shots of Purple Gang member Sam Abramowitz.

March 1, 1928. Detroit, MI.

(4651) Purple Gang, Arrests, Altman, 1935

mbanes — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 11:26:04 -0400

Mug shots of Purple Gang member Hymie Altman,with information taken from back of photograph:

"Hymie Altman aliases: "Harry Altman", "The Indian", "Two Gun Harry", and "Jew Altman""

March 8, 1935. Detroit, MI.

(4657) Purple Gang, Trials, Auerbach

mbanes — Mon, 06 Apr 2020 11:09:12 -0400

Purple Gang member Charles Auerbach alias "The Professor."

Undated. Detroit, MI.

(4576) Purple Gang, Arrests, Joe "Little Joey" Burnstein

mbanes — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 10:42:54 -0400

Mug shots of Purple Gang member Joe Burnstein.

August 12, 1940. Detroit, MI.

(4587) Purple Gang, Arrests, Isadore "Izzy" Burnstein

mbanes — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 10:47:50 -0400

Mug shots of Purple Gang leader Isadore "Izzy" Burnstein.

December 17, 1943. Detroit, MI.

(4600) Purple Gang, Arrests, Isadore "Izzy" Burnstein

mbanes — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 10:51:57 -0400

Mug shots of Purple Gang leader Isadore "Izzy" Burnstein, with accompanying info on back of photograph:

"Issy Burnstein 4/26/1927 Build-Slim; Complex-Fair; Hair-Black; Eyes-Hazel; Age-21; Weight-130lbs.; Height-5’4 1/2"

April 26, 1927. Detroit, MI.

(4656) Purple Gang, Arrests, Altman, 1950

mbanes — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 11:28:26 -0400

Mug shots of Purple Gang member Hymie Altman, with information taken from back of photograph:

Hymie Altman aliases: "Harry Altman", "The Indian", "Two Gun Harry", and "Jew Altman"

April 25, 1950. Detroit, MI.

(26141) Purple Gang, Collingwood Massacre, Detroit, 1931

eclemens — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 13:40:36 -0400

Crowds gather outside of 1720 Collingwood as police investigate the quadruple homicide in apartment 211.

Caption reads: “Photograph of a DeSoto sedan, license plate # 283-757, taken in front of 1720 Collingwood Ave in the company of Inspector Navronne.”

(26142) Purple Gang, Collingwood Massacre, Detroit, 1931

eclemens — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 13:43:07 -0400

Caption reads: “Scene looking east on Collingwood Ave from 12th Street, City of Detroit. Taken Sept. 20 1931 between 1 and 2pm by Detective Edward Crimmins.”

(26143) Purple Gang, Collingwood Massacre, Detroit, 1931

eclemens — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 13:47:40 -0400

Caption reads: “Scene showing 1740 and 1750 Collingwood Avenue, City of Detroit. Taken Sept. 20 1931 between 1 and 2pm by Detective Edward Crimmins.”

(26147) Purple Gang, Collingwood Massacre, Detroit, 1931

eclemens — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 14:41:09 -0400

Caption reads: "Scene showing the bedroom of apartment 211 at 1740 Collingwood Avenue, City of Detroit. Taken Sept. 20 1931 between 1pm and 2pm by Detective Edward Crimmins.”

Note: The location of bullet holes are outlined in white chalk.

(26148) Purple Gang, Collingwood Massacre, Detroit, 1931

eclemens — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 14:43:18 -0400

Caption reads: "Scene showing the bathroom and bedroom of apartment 211 at 1740 Collingwood Avenue, City of Detroit. Taken Sept. 20 1931 between 1pm and 2pm by Detective Edward Crimmins.”

Note: The location of bullet holes are outlined in white chalk.

(26149) Purple Gang, Collingwood Massacre, Detroit, 1931

eclemens — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 14:39:20 -0400

Caption reads: "Scene showing the living room of apartment 211 at 1740 Collingwood Avenue, City of Detroit. Taken Sept. 20 1931 between 1pm and 2pm by Detective Edward Crimmins.”

Note: The location of bullet holes are outlined in white chalk.

(26150) Purple Gang, Collingwood Massacre, Victims, Detroit, 1931

eclemens — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 14:07:01 -0400

Crime scene photograph that shows the bodies of Joe Lebovitz and Hymie Paul after they were gunned down by members of the Purple Gang.

Caption reads: “Scene in the living room of apartment 211 - 1740 Collingwood Ave (City of Detroit). Taken September 16 1931 at 4:00pm by Detective Edward Crimmins.”

(26151) Purple Gang, Collingwood Massacre, Victims, Detroit, 1931

eclemens — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 14:18:20 -0400

Crime scene photo that shows the body of Isadore “Izzie the Rat” Sutker where he fell in the bedroom after being gunned down by members of the Purple Gang.

Caption reads: “Scene in the bedroom of apartment 211 - 1740 Collingwood Ave (City of Detroit). Taken September 16 1931 at 4:00pm by Detective Edward Crimmins.”

(26153) Purple Gang, Collingwood Massacre, Victims, Detroit, 1931

eclemens — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 14:21:52 -0400

Crime scene photo that shows the bodies of Isadore Sutker, left, near bed; Hymie Paul, right, foreground; Joe Lebovitz, center, background after they were gunned down by members of the Purple Gang.

Caption reads: "Scene in the bedroom, hall and living room of apartment 211 - 1740 Collingwood Ave (City of Detroit). Taken September 16 1931 at 4:00pm by Detective Edward Crimmins."