Cleaners and Dyers War
As the gang grew in size and influence, they began hiring themselves out as hitmen and took part in the Cleaners and Dyers war. The Purples profited from the Detroit laundry industry unions and associations; they were hired out to keep union members in line and to harass non-union independents. Bombing, arson, theft, and murder were the usual tactics that the gang employed to enforce union policy. Abe Axler and Eddie Fletcher were reputedly imported from New York to take part in the scheme. In 1927, nine members of the Purple Gang (Abe Bernstein, Raymond Bernstein, Irving Milberg, Eddie Fletcher, Joe Miller, Irving Shapiro, Abe Kaminsty, Abe Axler and Simon Axler), were arrested and charged with conspiracy to extort money from Detroit wholesale Cleaners & Dyers. They were eventually acquitted of all charges.
Read more about this topic: The Purple Gang, Rise
Famous quotes containing the words cleaners and, cleaners and/or war:
“I could have taken you to the cleaners and made love to a woman at the same time.”
—Blake Edwards (b. 1922)
“I could have taken you to the cleaners and made love to a woman at the same time.”
—Blake Edwards (b. 1922)
“I really don’t think this war will end soon. We are completely aware of the difficulties, no food or fuel, the danger, but we want to be stronger than all that. With each child, we are fighting back with our love of life.”
—Tina Bajraktarebic (b. 1965)