GANGS AND GANGSTERS -- PART THREE

Jack Comer was born as Jacob Comadio and was the youngest of four children. His father was a poor Jewish tailor machinist. They moved to London from Lodz, Poland in 1903. They changed their name to Comer to sound more English but still received anti-semitism.

Jack Comer grew up in a Jewish ghetto street in Fieldgate Mansions. At the age of seven he joined a gang of Jewish boys who were the rivals of Catholic Irish.

He was called spotty because he had a mole on his left cheek                              .

JACK COMER

Spot Comer claimed he was taken part in the 'Battle of Cable Street'. For people who don't know it were a street battle between the Black Shirts of Mosley (British Nazis) and the East Ender of London including Jews. He was badly beaten by the police with truncheons and ended up in Hospital and then in prison. He stated afterwards that it wasn't a mob fight; it was a victory over the Nazis.

Spot lost control of the East Ender rackets in 1952. After his partner Bill Hill was released from prison when Jack Comer failed to heist the £1.25 in London Heathrow. Also the Betting and Booking was legalized and Spot lost a lucrative market.

In 1955 a knife fight in Frith Street, Soho between Albert Dimes and Spot ended with both men badly insured. Both men pleaded not guilty and neither man was jailed.

After that Spot kept loosing control over the crime empire. In 1959 he and his wife were attacked by "Mad" Frankie Frazer, Bobby Warren and many others.

Frazer and Warren were given seven years.

In his hay-days, Spot was living in a ten guineas flat in Hyde Park Mansion near Edgeware Road.

He died of "Cerebrovascular accident and immobility" at the age of 83 in reduced circumstances.

Jack Comer's ashes were scattered in Israel

REGINALD (LEFT) 
AND RONALD KRAY

The Kray's brothers were notorious. Even in our time, people gave them folk hero's status. Ronnie and Reggie Kray were twins. They controlled a 'protection' racket in the East End of London in the 1960. Their friends or admirers, whatever you may call them, stated that they helped fellow East-Enders who were hard up. Whether it was a method to rope them in is not known. Also they made the streets safe for women and children which sound controversial to their activities but they did. Nevertheless, they only fought other gangster who either double crossed them or trying to muscled in, in their territory. They dealt with them ruthlessly.

Their gang was called the 'Firm' and Reggie Kray was the 'chairman of the board'. Ronnie Kray was the second in command. The company prospered and they opened up a smart nightclub 'Esmeralda's Barn' There they mixed with TV personalities, politicians and American movie stars.

However, underneath all that glamour the reign of terror continued.  Apparently, on one occasion, Ronnie Kray walked into a crowded bar. He shot a man dead because that man insulted him and then calmly walked out again. Another man offended the twins and Reggie Kray dealt with him with a carving knife. He was found and sent to the mortuary. There are a number of deaths in the East End of London occurring at that time which are still unexplained. Some are linked to the Kray’s Brothers but never proven.

In 1969, the two Kray's brother went on trial and found guilty. Both became life in prison and eventually died there.