Detroit's Infamous Purple Gang

By Paul R. Kavieff

Book Overview

Beginning as a group of delinquents committing petty crimes, they became Detroit's infamous Purple Gang, of one of the most notorious organized crime groups of the 20th century.

The photographs in this fascinating collection chronologically follow the evolution of the Purples from their days as a juvenile street gang through their rise to power and eventual self-destruction. Detroit had a gold rush atmosphere and a thriving black market during the 1920s that attracted gangsters and unsavory characters from all over the country. The gang's reputation for hijacking and terror spread far, and they became associates with Al Capone, their location a perfect midway point to smuggle Canadian whisky across the border and down into Chicago. Their reputation was such that they were even suspected by the FBI for being involved with the Lindbergh baby kidnapping. Using rare police department mug shots and group photographs, the book transports readers through the dark side of Prohibition-era Detroit history.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0738552380
• ISBN13: 9780738552385
• Release Date: June 2008
• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing (SC)
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 0.73 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 6.5" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

The purple gang

This is an excellent book and shows the purple gang members with lots of pictures. It did not however have in it what Iwas looking for and that was information on the area in Clare MI where the purple gang had their hideout and the tunnels that run through this area that they used for booze running

relatives

Have not actually read this book yet...but I give it five stars. Why? Because it is a glimpse into the lives of some of our family members, stuff that was only whispered about in years past. I am interested in reading more.