Organized Crime

(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.”

(31864) Organized Crime, Purple Gang, Mug Shots, 1930s

eclemens — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 14:28:40 -0400

Police mug shot of suspected members of the Purple Gang.

Identified by number:

29766: Sam Axler
28544: Eddie Fletcher
24243: Sam Goldfarb
27946: Phillip Keywell
24031: Abe Zussman
31946: Willie Laks
16151 Harry Fleisher
30083: Jack Stein
29655 Abe Axler (seated)

(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."

(31863) Organized Crime, Purple Gang, Mug Shots, 1935

eclemens — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 13:52:45 -0400

A police mug shot of members of the Purple Gang, identified as "Group 135."

Identified by number:

25710: Louis Gillerman
21471: James Powell (Dead)
14498: Joe Burnstein
28205: Sam Burnstein, @Sam Stein
32559: Sam Vasallo
32563: Jacob Levites
32561: John Wolf

(31865) Organized Crime, Purple Gang, Police Line-up, 1928

eclemens — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 16:19:26 -0400

Members of the Purple Gang members hide their faces behind hats as they line up outside of the Detroit Police Department’s 13th Precinct building.

(31866) Prohibition, Speakeasies, Stork Club, Detroit, 1932

eclemens — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 16:24:52 -0400

An exterior view of the Stork Club, a speakeasy located at 47 Rowena Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. The establishment was frequented by members of the Purple Gang.

(31867) Organized Crime, Sugar House Gang, 1928

eclemens — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 16:31:04 -0400

Police mug shot of alleged members of Detroit's Sugar House Gang.

Identified by number:

32560: Jack Redfern
16151 Harry Fleisher
32564: Charles Leiter
10278: Henry Shorr
24687: Alfred Russell
4780: Ben Markus
29286: Isadore Kaminsky
32562: Louis Achtmann

(33753) Organized Crime, Purple Gang, Mug Shots, 1935

eclemens — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 13:47:13 -0400

A police mug shot of suspected members of the Purple Gang, identified as "Group 136."

Identified by number:

49107: Charles Harris
49106: Sylvan Bernstein
24243: Sam Golfarb
43883: Harry Sosnick
42505 Sidney Broad

(33756) Purple Gang, Trial, Detroit, 1931

eclemens — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 13:43:21 -0400

Detective Harvey Scher speaks before the court during a hearing concerning the Purple Gang. At his right, Harry Millman and Morris Raider stand with their attorney, Neil Kelly.

(33757) Purple Gang, Harry Millman, Assassination Attempt, 1937

eclemens — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 10:15:44 -0400

A crowd gathers behind Harry Millman’s LaSalle Coupe, destroyed during an assassination attempt at 234 W. Lafayette Boulevard in downtown Detroit.

(33758) Prohibition, Speakeasies, Stork Club, Detroit, 1932

eclemens — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 10:10:58 -0400

An interior view of the Stork Club, located at 47 Rowena Avenue. The establishment was frequented by Purple Gang members.

Note: The mirror behind the bar has been destroyed in a gun fight.

(33759) Oragnized Crime, Purple Gang, Trials, 1931

eclemens — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 10:04:54 -0400

Prosecuting Attorney Harry Toy speaks before the court during a hearing concerning members of the Purple Gang. At his right is Defense Attorney Edward Kennedy and Purple Gang members Abe Axler and Eddie Fletcher.

(45981) Prohibition; Purple Gang; Collingwood Massacre, 1931

eclemens — Thu, 07 Nov 2019 10:52:02 -0500

A view of the alleyway behind 1740 Collingwood Avenue. The dotted line shows the route gunmen used to escape.