The Violent Years (17 page)

(Photo courtesy of the
Detroit News
collections at the Walter Reuther Library, Wayne State University)

Thomas Camp,better known to history as “Killer” Burke,was one of the founders of what later became the “Legs“Laman kidnapping mob.

(Photo courtesy of the author‘ collection)

Joseph “Legs” Laman standing center of photo with smirk.

(Photo courtesy of the
Detroit News
collections at the Walter Reuther Library, Wayne State University)

Andrew Germano. Germano was a member of the “Legs” Laman mob known for his viciousness. He committed suicide during a 1931 Marquette Prison riot.

(Photo courtesy of the archives of the State of Michigan)

Frank Hohfer was a Laman mob gunman and one of two Laman mobsters who murdered kidnap victim David Cass.

(Photo courtesy of the archives of the State of Michigan)

Henry “Ray” Andrews. Andrews was a member of the Laman mob. He and his wife kept the houses or kidnap castles where kidnapping victims were taken. He later became a State’s witness and testified against the gang.

(Photo courtesy of the archives of the State of Michigan)

Paul Jaworski and his gang were some of the most ruthless bank robbers and payroll robbers of the twentieth century. Jaworski died in the electric chair in 1929.

(Photo courtesy of the
Detroit News
collections at the Walter Reuther Library, Wayne State University)

Stanley “Big Stack” Podolski was a member of the notorious “Shotgun Gang” that robbed banks in the Detroit area during the early twenties.

(Photo courtesy of the archives of the State of Michigan)

Edward Wiles was a Laman mob gunman. He was the other trigger man in the David Cass murder. He died of natural causes in Marquette Prison shortly before the 1931 riot.

(Photo courtesy of the archives of the State of Michigan)

Jimmy Carson was the brains behind the Carson/Kozak mob of bank robbers. Working out of Hamtramck, this gang terrorized southeastern Michigan in the twenties.

(Photo courtesy of the archives of the State of Michigan)

Phillip “Russian Shorty” Kozak was co-leader of the Carson/Kozak mob. His chief value was as a ruthless enforcer for the gang. He was later deported to his native Russia.

(Photo courtesy of the archives of the State of Michigan)

Chester Tutha aka “Tutja” was the leader of Hamtramck’s Lizzard Gang and a former member of the Carson/Kozak mob.

(Photo courtesy of the archives of the state of Michigan)