DARLINGHURST, SYDNEY
8th July 1928
Since the announcement of the construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge in July 1923, many migrants, workers and others moved into the city of Sydney to seek their fortune securing contracts and labour.
For the citizens of Darlinghurst and other inner-city suburbs of Sydney, razor wielding gangsters ruled the dark and dingy streets. They were called razor gangs because of the use of the cut throat razor (a straight shaving blade). It was the weapon of choice, especially after the Pistol Licensing Act of 1927 meant automatic gaol time for anyone caught carrying an unlicensed firearm.
In the pre-depression era, two vice queens, Kate Leigh and Tilly Devine, ruled the Darlinghurst underworld. Their rivalry was infamous, leading to a litany of violent crimes enacted by their razor gangs as each struggled to gain dominance in a world of sly grog, narcotics and prostitution.
The Police Commissioner, James “Jim” Mitchell, enacted different strategies during his reign as Police Chief of the NSW Police. Increasing police numbers, police stations and a series of undercover investigations to end the reign of terror.
PLAYERS
MAXIMUM OF 20 PLAYERS.
Before the game begins, each player will receive a message with roles details and their true identities. You will also be advised of whose side you are on RAZOR GANG or SYDNEY SIDER
ROLES
The following roles may be in play for this game:
RAZOR GANG
Tilly Devine, known as the ‘Queen of Woolloomooloo’ ran a string of brothels centred around Darlinghurst and Kings Cross, in inner city Sydney.
Was named by local press as the ‘Worst woman in Sydney’, with 79 convictions for such charges as prostitution, offensive behaviour and indecent language. Famously slashed a man across the face with a cut throat razor in a barber shop.
ROLE: Razor Gang Framer
POWER: Has the power to choose one person per night to frame. If that same person is investigated by a cop, their report will come back as that person being guilty. Conspires with other RAZOR GANG on whom to kill in the night phase.
Big Jim Devine, husband of Tilly Devine, was an ex-digger who served in WWI before returning to Sydney as a hire-car proprietor and acted as protector, chauffeur and ‘get-away’ man for Tilly’s underworld activities.
He is an aggressive, violent man who is an enforcer and rules with a clenched fist.
ROLE: Razor Gang Strongman
POWER: Once per game, can use his strength to guarantee a successful mafia kill. On this occasion, he cannot be role blocked and Nellie cannot save the victim. Conspires with other RAZOR GANG on whom to kill in the night phase.
Kate Leigh known as the ‘Queen of Surry Hills’, whose main enterprise was the lucrative ‘sly-grog’ trade, induced by six o’clock closing.
From her Surry Hills home she supplied services at extortionate prices including illicit goods and services, including after-hours drinking venues, sly-grog, prostitution, illegal betting and gambling. She often provided bail and alibis for gangsters and racketeers at a price.
ROLE: Razor Gang Queen
POWER: Always returns as INNOCENT on all reports. Conspires with other RAZOR GANG on whom to kill in the night phase.
Wally Tomlinson was a live in lover and bodyguard of Kate Leigh.
ROLE: Razor Gang Watcher
POWER: Visits one person per night and learns if they are a cop or not. Conspires with other RAZOR GANG on whom to kill in the night phase.
Norman Bruhn was a Melbourne gangster banished to Sydney by Squizzy Taylor. Planned to take down Kate Leigh, Tilly Devine and Phil the Jew. Wanted to be the KING of Sydney. Set up Kate, Tilly and Phil to think the other was attacking them so he wouldn’t get the blame essentially. Created his own gang and was possibly the first to start using the razor as a weapon in the razor wars.
ROLE: Razor Gang Member
POWER: Visits one person per night; slashes that person with a razor blocking that person from fulfilling their role for that night. Conspires with other RAZOR GANG on whom to kill in the night phase.
Phil Jeff was known as Phil “The Jew”, he ran gambling rings and clubs and also illegal alcohol and dealt in cocaine.
He had dealings with corrupt dentists to purchase their unused cocaine and sell it at a premium on the street. Both Tilly and Kate wanted him dead to take over his business and gain his supply contacts.
ROLE: Razor Gang Observer
POWER: Visits one person per night; learns whether that person is a cop or not and role blocks them. Cannot visit the same person two nights in a row. Conspires with other RAZOR GANG on whom to kill in the night phase.
NSW POLICE
James “Jim” Mitchell was responsible for many early reforms within the NSW Police Force. He was instrumental in changing policies in particular the Vagrancy Act and initiating major and essential reforms, modernizing his force by increasing the number of police stations in Sydney
ROLE: Cop
POWER: Investigates one person per night and learns their alignment. Under the Criminal Consorting Act if someone else visits that person on the same night, he learns both of their alignment.
Lillian Armfield was one of the first plain-clothes female detectives, exercising the same powers of arrest as male colleagues and working side by side with them in the history of the NSW Police Force. Although her work primarily concerned women and girls; it often led her into cases involving murder, rape, theft, drug-running, the white slave traffic—indeed the whole catalogue of crime.
ROLE: Cop
POWER: Investigates one person per night and learns their role.
Ray Blisset was a member of the NSW Police Force joining in Redfern in 1922 and later in the CIB. Worked as a member of the Criminla Investigation Bureau during the violent razor gang wars in the late 1920’s.
The CIB ran the show. It was rough justice, full of rugby players and tough guys – it was very effective in sending a clear message to criminals.
ROLE: Cop
POWER: Visits one person per night, roughing them up and role blocking them for the night.
Constable Wharton Thompson was a member of the NSW Drug Bureau and CIB. In 1927 legislators passed the Drug Act providing prison terms for simple possession of illicit drugs. To enforce the new law, police formed the Drug Bureau and staffed it with experienced CIB detectives, including Constable Wharton Thompson. They swept the streets, making hundred of arrests of drug dealers and users. However, Thompson was found to be corrupt and giving information to Kate Leigh.
The internal affairs department therefore began feeding him incorrect information to try to get evidence of his association with the razor gangs.
ROLE: Corrupt Cop
POWER: Investigates one person per night but gets opposite information from the Police Department.
SYDNEYSIDERS
Nellie was well known for her beautiful looks, sex appeal and hour-glass figure. Her relationships with gangsters (and their deaths) Frank Green and Guido Calletti, led to her becoming known as ‘the Kiss of Death Girl’.
Initially worked for Tilly Devine as her highest paid prostitute before setting up shop on her own.
ROLE: Prostitute
POWER: Chooses one person per night to entertain. Due to connections with Razor Gang protects that person from any harm and also restricts them from performing any tasks. Can entertain herself also. Cannot visit the same person two nights in a row, including herself.
FRANK “the gunman” GREEN
Frank Green worked as a gun for hire and Tilly used him to protect her brothels in the late 1920s. Green had an explosive temper, not helped by the fact he was an alcoholic and cocaine addict.
Often exploited by Tilly and Jim by doing their dirty work for them with little to no reward. Turned on Tilly in the end and worked for Kate Leigh. Has a razor scar from mouth to ear on the left side of his face.
POWER: Chooses one person per night to visit. Visit has no impact. Wins game if lynched during the day.
All other Sydneysiders only powers is that of their vote and powers of deduction.
PHIL JEFF
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