27. Founding Murder Inc.
Murder Incorporated was formed in the early 1930s, following a period of chaotic gang warfare that greatly disrupted mafia activity. After the dust settled, the mob was reorganized in a more streamlined structure, to enable it to pursue its illicit activities in a business-like manner, with as few disruptions as possible. That was accomplished by setting up what came to be known as “The Commission” – a collective leadership council, akin to a board of directors – to oversee broad strategy and settle disputes.
Murder Inc. was the muscle that would do the actual dispute settling. It was the brainchild of Jewish-American labor racketeer Louis “Lepke” Buchalter. In essence, it was a streamlined contract killing system, intended to isolate mafia members from any connection with the necessary murders that went with their line of business. Murder Inc. operated out of a 24 hour Brownsville coffee shop called Midnight Rose, where the killers whiled away the time, ready at a moment’s notice to go out on a job once word came down.
