Hoxton Gang
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Hoxton Gang was an independent street gang based in London's Soho district during the interwar years. They were one of several gangs which fought against Charles "Darby" Sabini and the "Italian Mob", specifically over control of gambing clubs or "spielers".
During the 1930s, they gang were among many who struggled for control of racetracks and "protection" rackets and, in June 1936, around 30 gang members attacked a bookmaker and his clerk with hammers and knuckle-dusters at the Lewes racetrack before police arrived, with at least 16 gang members being convicted and sentenced to serve over 43 years at Lewes Assizes [1].
In the spring of 1941, two gang members were involved in an alterication with the doorman when they were denied entry to the Palm Beach Bottle Party, a small basement pub housed on Soho's Wardour Street and a known hangout for members of the "Italian Mob". As the bouncer began brawling with gang member Edward Fletcher, its manager mobster Antonio Mancini barred both Fletcher and his friend from the club despite threats that they would "get [Mancini] for this" [2].
The play West by Steven Berkoff featues a character Ken, a leader of the Hoxton Gang.
