Eddie Fletcher (Eddie Fletcher)

Eddie Fletcher

Gangster. One of the most prominent members of Detroit’s Purple Gang. Fletcher was born and raised in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, along with future Purples such as Abe Axler, Irving Milberg, and Abe Kaminski. Fletcher was originally a featherweight boxer and even ran for alderman in Brooklyn, but he soon turned to crime. Fletcher first arrived in Detroit in the fall of 1923 to participate in the Oakland Sugar House War. Despite his small size, he became known as one of the most dangerous killers in the Purple Gang. His life-long best friend, Abe Axler, always accompanied him wherever he went. So much so they were nicknamed the “Siamese Twins.” Fletcher was questioned by Chicago Police about the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre along with Phil Keywell. Later that year he and Axler went off to Leavenworth to serve two years for bootlegging. In the early 1930’s, Fletcher and Axler attempted to take over the declining Purple Gang as well as Detroit’s narcotics rackets. The Siamese Twins were both taken for a ride and shot to death just before the end of Prohibition by members of their own gang.

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Born

  • April, 26, 1898
  • USA
  • New York

Died

  • November, 26, 1933
  • USA
  • Michigan

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