THE BROTHERHOOD

Hardback. Leslie Payne was a close associate of Ronald and Reginald Kray in the early 60s, the years of their real rise to power and wealth. In this rise Payne played a vital part. The Krays were in truth little more than East End thugs with a certain native wit. Payne was an expert operator and fraudsman. He provided the brains and confidence necessary to conduct the activities - gambling and fraud - on which the 'firm' flourished; the twins provided the personnel, the gangland aparate. He eventually drifted away from the Krays, alarmed by their psychopathic violence. It was Payne who played a crucial role in the conviction of the Krays, after their attempt to have him murdered had driven him into the arms of the police. Illus., Index. 174pp. 8vo. h/back. Ex-lib. with the usual markings to fpd, ffep and rubber stamp to tp, which also shows signs of label removal. A G+ in Vg. dw. copy of a scarce Kray associated title.