Quiz - The Life and Crimes of Sydney's Razor Gangs

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The Razor Gang terminology originated from 1927 onwards owing indirectly to a piece of government legislation that was passed in 1927. What was the name of the Act?* This field is required.

Liquor Act

Pistol Licencing Act

Police Regulation Act

Dentists Act

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The Pistol Licencing Act of 1927.

This legislation made it illegal to carry concealed firearms and handguns without a license. Members of the different razor gangs worked around this by adopting the practice of carrying razors in case there was a need for an urgent shave.

The razor was also easy to acquire, easy to conceal and carried the implicit threat of being able to inflict permanent physical scars on it's victims.

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Rival gang leaders Kate Leigh and Tilly Devine developed a bitter feud over a dog. What was the breed of the dog that somehow became embroiled in gang warfare?* This field is required.

Poodle

German Shepherd

Pomeranion

Hot Dog

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Pomeranion.

Kate Leigh told reporters that she had leant Tilly Devine one of her best dogs for breeding purposes, but claimed that Tilly had kept that dog and sent back an inferior one in its place.

Tilly Devine refuted the accusation and claimed never to have received a dog. Furthermore she had the pedigree and they were a class above Kates.

One of them was telling a doggone lie.

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Which out of town gang leader moved into Darlinghurst in 1926 is said to be the spark that triggered the first gunshots in the Razor Gangs War?

Kate Leigh

Norman Bruhn

Phil Jeffs

Tilly Devine

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Norman Bruhn.

Norman and his gang arrived in November 1926 and set about gaining control; as Norman was famously quoted, "Two women running crime in sydney? How easy is this going to be!"

7

Darlinghurst is located in the heart of the Razor Gangs territories. By what colloquial name was Darlinghurst also known as?* This field is required.

Razorhurst

Gunhurst

Bottlehurst

Dopehurst

All of the Above

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All of the Above

The Truth newspaper in September 1928

Razorhurst, Gunhurst, Bottlehurst, Dopehurst – it used to be Darlinghurst, one of the finest quarters of a rich and beautiful city; today it is a plague spot where the spawn of the gutter grow and fatten on official apathy. By day it shelters – in its alleys, in its dens – the underworld people. At night it looses them to prey on prosperity, decency and virtue, and to fight one another for the division of the spoils. Unceasingly it attracts to its cesspool every form of life that is vile.

9

Guido Calletti was a well known player in the game, and used to run a stall as a cover for his operations. What kind of stall did he run?* This field is required.

Hot Food Stall

Plant Stall

Fruit Stall

Drinks Stall

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Fruit Stall.

Guido was born to immigrant parents and ran the family fruit stall to supplement, and act a cover for, his extra curricular activities.

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Phil Jeffs was another player in the Razor Gang wars and had a specific moniker that he was known for. What name was he commonly referred to as?* This field is required.

Phil the Gardener Jeffs

Phil the Man Jeffs

Phil the Jew Jeffs

Phil the Contact Jeffs

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Phil the Jew Jeffs.

Phil tended to operate a little quieter than the other gang leader personalities, although he did he own the high flying 50-50 nightclub frequent by the rich and famous. He was desperate to amass a small fortune and become the Al Capone of Sydney.

13

Nellie Cameron was a beautiful, young lady of the night whom was particularly sought after during the Razor Gang era. She was said to have the best ____ in Palmer Street.* This field is required.

Eyes

Legs

Smile

Coffee

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Legs.

She had many nicknames such as "Helen of Darlo" and "Lady Nell" and key players in the Razor Gang Wars fought for her affections on a regular basis.

16

Kate Leigh had 3 husbands during her lifetime, along with a number of "personal protectors".

James Ernest Leigh (m. 1902, div. 1921)
Edward Joseph Barry (m.1922, dec'd. 1948)
Ernest Alexander Ryan (m. 1950, dec'd. 1954)

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Barney Dalton was one of Kate Leigh's personal protectors and also was a top-grade Rugby League player. For which NRL team did he play for?* This field is required.

Glebe

Eastern Suburbs

Western Suburbs

Newtown

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Eastern Suburbs (Sydney Roosters).

He played for the Sydney Roosters and won 2 premierships before retiring and turning to a life of crime. He was Kate Leigh's personal protector and cocaine supplier.

19

Frank Green was another key player in the Razor Gang wars often changing allegiances. What was Frank Green's nickname?* This field is required.

Razor Jack

Scarface

The Little Gunman

Greenie

20

The Little Gunman; owing to his favourite weapon of choice - guns. He was of relatively short height and described as "a tiny but violent cocaine addict and alcoholic", and was said to have more enemies than any other Sydney criminal of the time.

He also had a less well known nickname "Scarface" owing to an L-shaped scar across his right cheek from a mysterious injury prior to the commencement of the Razor Gang Wars.

21

Tilly Devine's followed her first husband, known as Big Jim, from England to Sydney in 1920. Big Jim had told Tilly that he owned farms in Australia. What kind of farms?

Crocodile Farms

Dropbear Farms

Kangaroo Farms

Ostrich Farms

22

Kangaroo Farms.

Tilly married the Australian Serviceman James Devine "Big Jim" in England in 1917. Having met during the Great War of 1914-1918 (the war to end all wars), they stayed married through the Razor Gang Wars and eventually divorced in 1944.

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You finished with a score of {youScored} out of 14.5

Not a great score I'm afraid. It's time to study up on your Razor Gang War facts and figures. Come back and try again sometime soon. We'll keep this between us ;-)

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You finished with a score of {youScored} out of 14.5

Not bad, we can see potential when we see it! Although, it wouldn't hurt to do a little more study on the Razor Gangs way of life. Come back and try again sometime soon. ;-)

29

You finished with a score of {youScored} out of 14.5

Excellent score! You are a true crime Razor Gangs expert and probably place a razor under your pillow before going to bed every night. You should be proud of your score, and deserve to put on some old time 1920s tunes and relive the histories one more time. Come back and try again sometime soon. ;-)

30

You finished with a score of {youScored} out of 14.5

Perfect! How did you manage that? Pure 100% Razor Gangs blood runs through your veins. Perhaps you may have won the Razor Gangs Wars had you been around back then? Thanks for sampling this quiz, and stay tuned for more quizzes to come. :-)

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