:: He worked for the Purple gang during prohibition. ::
Albion branch? They had a warehouse down by the Kzoo river behind downtown. My neighbor, masoner by trade, bought it from them after the repeal.
The last known member resided above the downtown area while I was growing up in the 70s. I’d always see him walking downtown, headed for the Colonial Cafe. Dangling a cigarette and wearing the signature black fedora with the purple band. He passed on about 20 years ago, IIRC.
My grandfather worked in Detroit. He was a diver who went under the hulls of boats to release barrels attached to smuggle across the river. I’m assuming he did some driving as well.