Murder Incorporated

Wednesday, July 05, 2006

Isadore " Kid Cann" Blumenfeld

Isadore Blumenfeld commonly known as Kid Cann, was the most notorious mobster in the history of Minnesota.
He was born in the shtetl of Rumnesk, Romania, but was brought to the United States at the age of two. By his 20s, Blumenfeld and his brother (Harry "Yiddy Bloom" Blumenfeld) held considerable power in north Minneapolis, and oversaw illegal activities such as bootlegging, prostitution, and labor racketeering. A number of deaths are attributed to him or his gang, including prominent journalists who were killed after writing articles explaining the inner workings of his organization. Blumenfeld was Jewish, and associated himself with many other Jewish mafia men.

There was a high degree of political and civil corruption in the region in the 1920s and 1930s. The main newspapers in the area hardly mentioned what was going on, as any outlet that published articles critical of the status quo were threatened. Some small alternative newspapers attempted to report what was going on, but reporters and editors quickly became targets.
Howard Guilford of the Twin City Reporter was shot and killed on September 6, 1934. A decade later the paper lost another reporter when Arthur Kasherman was killed on January 22, 1945.
The most notorious death was that of Walter W. Liggett, founder and editor of the weekly paper The Midwest American. He had been threatened and offered bribes to stay quiet, but he persisted in reporting on links he found between area crime syndicates and the governor of Minnesota, Floyd B. Olson. Liggett was beaten up, framed, and finally died after being shot in the alley behind his home on December 9, 1935. His wife and daughter were nearby when it happened and witnessed the assassination.
Cann was indicted by a grand jury, but poor investigative work and a careless trial meant that he wasn't touched.

Blumenfeld was indicted for the killing of a taxicab driver, and was also believed to be responsible for the attempted murder of police officer James H. Trepanier.
As the area streetcar system, operated by Twin City Rapid Transit, was being dismantled in the early 1950s and replaced with diesel buses, Blumenfeld owned a 16% stake in the company. Some people believe he held considerable responsibility for what happened, but when a court case years later led some people from the company to go to prison, Blumenfeld was not convicted.

In 1959, he was convicted on charges related to prostitution activities. After his release from prison, he moved to Miami Beach, Florida with his friend Meyer Lansky. They reportedly continued to make money through illegal activities, though they changed tack, focusing instead on stock market fraud, money laundering, and questionable real-estate dealings. He died in Minneapolis in 1981

8 Comments:

  • interesting stuff you got here

    By Blogger The Town Crier, at 9:12 AM  

  • Thanks.....Spread the word !

    By Blogger ADMITNOTHING, at 9:44 AM  

  • In the mid-50's I caddied for Kid Cann, his brother Yiddy, and their pal Doc Moses at Hillcrest Golf Course in Saint Paul. This was back when jews were excluded from country clubs and formed their own. They were all great tippers and always offered to go double or nothing on the caddy fee on craps, blackjack, or something else and (usually) intentionally lost. As tough Jews, they all thought their wives were raising their sons to be a bunch of pussies and they liked to get out on the course with a pack of tough wops, polacks, and harps like us caddies. They were great guys to caddy for.

    By Blogger puppyfoot, at 8:37 PM  

  • This comment has been removed by the author.

    By Blogger Unknown, at 4:50 PM  

  • They were nice guys as long as you didn't fuck with 'em!

    By Blogger Unknown, at 4:50 PM  

  • Can anyone tell me more about Abe Brownie Brownstein I believe he is related to my family and would like to know more.

    By Blogger Unknown, at 11:25 PM  

  • Can anyone tell me more about Abe Brownie Brownstein I believe he is related to my family and would like to know more.

    By Blogger Unknown, at 11:25 PM  

  • abe brownie brownstein is my great uncle. you may contact me heifhome@gmail.com

    By Blogger steve, at 8:55 PM  

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