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>. GANGSTERS, SLAIN TOGETHER, CAUGHT IN RECENT RAID Here Axler {left} and Fletcher, diminutive ing them. The gang palr, slain on a “Hde* In a guns Gang gunmen, are being taken to police Jone Oakland County road early yesterday, at this uarters_ for. questioning after a public enemy time faced police together as they faced their rounds Detective Mike Flannegan Ia accompany: murderer's yesterday, (This is a Timea picture) The Detroit Tine: Novenber 27, 193 . Police “Here are tha Fecords Fletcher, Purple gangsters Ader. was arrested [8 ( dn New. York and Detroit. , wis convicted three tlmes, Hits police record follows: = rapris, 1920, arrested in . Frork,: Fobbery and assault, Inlesed by magistrate. March 21, 1921, arrested in York, grand larceny, discha by a magistrate. Dee. 6, 1931, sentenced to to 5 years In Sing Sing Prison: burglary. Dec, 7, 1925, arrested In Br lyn, attempted = attack ar woman, discharged by a m trate. Oct, 27, 1976, arrested in “Abe Gold” trolt as as oA orderly person, discharged superintendent. Oct. $1, 1976, arrested In troit aa “Abe Gold” ay a 7 witness, discharged” by ar intendent. + March 29, 1527, ‘arrested in troit as “Harry Levine" rob ‘armed, discharged by 51 intendeni. ‘May 9, 1927, robbery ‘armed. charged by superintendent. Aug. 18, 1923, robbery 17 Mischarged bY superintende: SLAYINGS LEAVE LAST OF PURPLES LEADERLE % The awesome news that Abe) boys want to see me in action just St Louis gang geems to have “% her * e} once,” merged with the Detroiters, the er one bores wn er mere He boxed Don Burchard at Harry [combination belng strengthened by the addition of a dozen or so of accredited tough ones from New) York. , The new gang proceeded to work from the ylewpoint that there ts more profit in levying tribute thaa in belng paid for bodyguard. Tn 1927 Axler and Fietgher ocecu- pied a suite in the Miraflores Apart- ments, 106 East Alexandria avenue. In this building they and their gang reputedly wiped out Frank Wright, Reuben Cohen and Joseph Bloom, threa opposing gangsters, in what: haz become known as: tha “Mirafiores massacre.” In disposing of the trio, reputedly Chicago gang- asters, the Purples tntraduced ma- chine guns in Detrojt Bangster war- fare. FORCED DYERS’ TRIBUTE | Aaler and Fletcher; along with Fred !Killer”- Burke, were arrested as suspects in the massacre, Police gee them without resuit, and the “eventually "releazed. . ee kiero a ail # ,Ran- Rr is sald that pack,” when tence. “ior murder at ae : notte arris’ Fairview Club, Mack and Fairview avenues, and the mob saw him get decisively cutpointed in eight rounds. It was from thts fight, some Say, q| that the name “Purple” gang origi- |im nated, Fletcher followed the then popular New York prize ring cus tom of dressing the fighter and his seconds in colored jerseys. The lor of the jerseys, on this occa- ‘Axler and. Fletcher, ,inaeparabie | &° oun als and partners, pint-sized tough | om, was a bright purple, - ye and Killers, were aviggies™ of, MORE VICIOUS KILLER ‘the national underworld. -> | Axler never was a pug. His nose In Detroit they had earned the! had not been knocked askew as odious ‘reputations ‘of Public Ene-| Fletcher's’ was and his sizable “mies No. 1 and 2, respectively.lears had never been “cauli- <<: Mhey were sawed-off Nafdleons of{ aowerized,” but nonetheless his was “the infamous Purple Gang anrd./the more sinister face of the two, “from its rise to power in 1926 untili pe had an acquiline nose, high they died with theig shoes on, lead-} cheek bones, deep shadows under Ane actors in its eri min history his smalt eyes, sunken cheeks, and a ory vic a thi . ro 7 | Herbert Asbury, historian of Amer-| y,. af thecarnere | Stesger — crime, to call it “the most. efes wee elous| tly organized gang_of. Ritiers as he tre y orga ued ae kitler and & toughér, Mgnt’ than (Burks ip : Fistener. it fetus of Detroit's underworld {he armall, black hours. «Tt came: first before dawn yester- | ‘day as a fumor wiiich was soon fantirmed via the grapevine of the Fracket world, The previous chile “topic in the hoodlums’ delicatessen *jeadquarters—"they stuck up Gol- “die's handbook and killed a guy”— ‘was Immediately superseded. oY, preg Spi tha eaUeane ““Abeler purpoh y : bie which is so often frq a New Yo f aractell cates Fie en. neaay|? hicher’s ig Raa se ‘oageh he eo had "dark, ‘card Axier's|: THe two “killers ot & feather” sooh welt bares ol ha me ee Ln #2" Bt ing 18 ‘eepiaia the” ‘origin 6 greg” Hatha, ad 3a Se a er and Milberg were sentence Federal Judge Charles C. Sim. Serve one year and 10 moni the Federal Penitentiary at Li worth, Kan. and to pay fir 35,000 seach, COLLINGWOOD MASSACKI .They served their sentenc: did’ not get inte sérious t with the law again until Se ber, 1931, At that time the ! gang was accused of perpet the “Collingwood magsacre. (Nigger) Lebovits; Herman (HH Paul and Izzy Sutker, mem> the xival. “Navy” gang, had shot down * and. the Purples blamed, : ‘ Axler “and Fletcher | “were tloned and released, Ray stein, Harry” ‘Keaywell “and Milberg were prosecuted, ‘| guilty, and sent to Marquette: for Hfe.. 8 iat: Milford Jones, a” gotor!~: Louis’ gunman, was taurde: he stood at the bar of the = Stork Club; 4T ‘Rowena str: June, 1982, ‘and again Fletch Axter ware brought: Ne for 8 pon Ageing od qu ‘Pishegere "thelr t yeteran Morrie She ME Jackle; a novice. bes Moines middlev ‘4m hawae wha aes |