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Quiz about Violet Crimes
Quiz about Violet Crimes

Violet Crimes Trivia Quiz


Before they became the whole rhythm section in Jailhouse Rock, the Purple Gang was one of the most notorious organized crime mobs of the Prohibition Era. Answering these ten questions will help you wow the tour guides next time you're at Graceland.

A multiple-choice quiz by dbb. Estimated time: 6 mins.
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Author
dbb
Time
6 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
357,214
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Tough
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
664
Awards
Top 35% Quiz
Last 3 plays: calmdecember (7/10), Guest 202 (5/10), Maybeline5 (8/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. The Purple Gang, unlike many of the other crime "families," was predominantly made up of members of this heritage. Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. The Purple Gang controlled this Northern city's bootlegging operations years before Prohibition jump started other mobs in the booze business. Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. What made Detroit an advantageous spot for a bootlegging operation? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. How the Gang got its nickname has been disputed, although the most commonly given reason is which of these? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. The Gang branched out into more than bootlegging and drug dealing. In the mid 1920's the purples were used as muscle by corrupt union leaders in the laundry industry to enforce the loyalty of union members and to harass non-union shops. What was this action called? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Arthur Mixon was a 15-year old boy who was murdered by Purple Gang workers when he accidentally stumbled across a bootlegging operation in 1930. This murder was a turning point in the history of the gang. Why? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Harry Millman was a Purple Gang member who angered members of his own gang as well as those of rival gangs. The Purples tried to kill Millman more than once, including a botched car bombing. The rivals brought in muscle from Brooklyn to complete the hit. What was the group called that eventually killed Millman? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. In 1927, three hoods named Frankie Wright, Joseph Bloom, and George Cohen were murdered at the Milaflores Apartments in retribution for killing a Purple Gang drug peddler. The Milaflores Massacre, as it came to be known, was noteworthy because it introduced which weapon to the local crime scene? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. The beginning of the end came from within for the Purple Gang. A group of three gang members who owned boats and specialized in rum running and hijacking other shipments on the river decided to break away. What was this group called? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. The final straw for the Purple Gang was the 1931 conviction of Ray Bernstein, Irving Milberg and Harry Keywell, for the murders of the Little Jewish Navy. Much like the Milaflores Massacre, the victims were lured to an apartment where they were gunned down. What were these murders called? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Oct 26 2024 : calmdecember: 7/10
Oct 23 2024 : Guest 202: 5/10
Oct 19 2024 : Maybeline5: 8/10
Sep 16 2024 : Guest 98: 7/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. The Purple Gang, unlike many of the other crime "families," was predominantly made up of members of this heritage.

Answer: Jewish

The Purple Gang put the "Mispucha" in the mob. The founders of the group were four brothers: Abe, Joe, Raymond and Izzie Bernstein.
2. The Purple Gang controlled this Northern city's bootlegging operations years before Prohibition jump started other mobs in the booze business.

Answer: Detroit

Michigan passed the Damon Act in 1916 which prohibited alcohol. Even though the Damon Act was overturned in 1919, the Purple Gang's control over the movement of contraband liquor was well established by the time Prohibition went into effect nationally in 1920.
3. What made Detroit an advantageous spot for a bootlegging operation?

Answer: Its proximity to Canada

Alcohol was easily smuggled in across the Detroit River from Canada. It was illegal to sell liquor retail in Ontario, but the province allowed distilleries and breweries to manufacture and export product.

Henry Ford was a fervent Prohibitionist. He believed it would lead to a sober and therefore more productive workforce.
4. How the Gang got its nickname has been disputed, although the most commonly given reason is which of these?

Answer: They were like the color of bad meat

Supposedly this description of the gang during its formative years was made by a local merchant who said of the local boys "They're rotten, purple like the color of bad meat, they're a purple gang." - Mark Gribben "The Purple Gang - The Color Purple", Crime Library
5. The Gang branched out into more than bootlegging and drug dealing. In the mid 1920's the purples were used as muscle by corrupt union leaders in the laundry industry to enforce the loyalty of union members and to harass non-union shops. What was this action called?

Answer: The Cleaners' and Dyers' War

Theft, bombs, beatings and murder were employed by the Purple Gang. In 1928, gang members were tried and acquitted in connection with these activities, which just increased fear of the gang and their power.
6. Arthur Mixon was a 15-year old boy who was murdered by Purple Gang workers when he accidentally stumbled across a bootlegging operation in 1930. This murder was a turning point in the history of the gang. Why?

Answer: The shooters were the first gang members convicted of murder

Philip Keywell and Joe Miller were convicted and sentenced to life in prison. Up to that point many attempted prosecutions had failed due to bribery, jury manipulation and public fear. The fact that this victim was an innocent youth started a movement that led to many Purple Gang members being convicted.
7. Harry Millman was a Purple Gang member who angered members of his own gang as well as those of rival gangs. The Purples tried to kill Millman more than once, including a botched car bombing. The rivals brought in muscle from Brooklyn to complete the hit. What was the group called that eventually killed Millman?

Answer: Murder, Inc.

Murder, Inc., was the killing team for organized crime. They were made up of two factions, one Jewish, one Sicilian, and mostly performed hits among their own ethnicities.
8. In 1927, three hoods named Frankie Wright, Joseph Bloom, and George Cohen were murdered at the Milaflores Apartments in retribution for killing a Purple Gang drug peddler. The Milaflores Massacre, as it came to be known, was noteworthy because it introduced which weapon to the local crime scene?

Answer: Machine gun

The Purples had kidnapped a friend of Wright's and were told they could find him at the Milaflores Apt 308, but when they arrived, they were greeted by machine gun fire. Police found evidence in the apartment implicating Purple Gang members, but no charges were ever brought.
9. The beginning of the end came from within for the Purple Gang. A group of three gang members who owned boats and specialized in rum running and hijacking other shipments on the river decided to break away. What was this group called?

Answer: The Little Jewish Navy

They also went by the name of the Third Street Navy, and while controlling alcohol movement along the river was their preferred activity, they also got mixed up in racetrack gambling and fixing horse races. This ambition would quickly gain the attention of Purple Gang leaders.
10. The final straw for the Purple Gang was the 1931 conviction of Ray Bernstein, Irving Milberg and Harry Keywell, for the murders of the Little Jewish Navy. Much like the Milaflores Massacre, the victims were lured to an apartment where they were gunned down. What were these murders called?

Answer: The Collingwood Manor Massacre

Hymie Paul, Isadore Sutker, and Joe Lebowitz were gunned down at a supposed truce meeting with Purple Gang leaders at the Collingwood Apartments. Sol Levine, a bookie and the getaway driver, was arrested and turned state's evidence, resulting in three high-ranking Gang members receiving life in prison sentences.

The resulting power void and infighting opened the door for the Mafia to move in to Detriot. - Kathy Weiser, Legends of America.com, 2010.
Source: Author dbb

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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