The Combination: Original Murder Inc.

The Combination was a gathering together of various ethnic street gangs of Brooklyn New York, namely of Jewish and Italian heritage. Developed into what is also called "Murder Inc.," The Combination is an independent group that existed prior to formation of the National Crime Syndicate. While the group's original name was "The Combination," media frequently referred to them as Murder Inc. The gang encompassed well over 200 members at its height and was lead by Charles Lucky Luciano's associate, the notorious Albert Anastasia, who was dubbed the "Lord High Executioner" and his partner Louis "Lepke" Buchalter.

The Brownsville Boys, and Ocean Hill Gang made up most of the members of Murder Inc. The Combination was responsible for nearly 800 hits that were extremely brutal, many of which went unsolved for several years.

In 1931 a summit was held in Atlantic City, during which formation of an organized crime figure regime emerged, known as The Syndicate. A board of directors were appointed: Charlie "Lucky" Luciano, Tommy Gagliano, Joe Profaci, Joseph Bonanno, Vincent Mangano, Al Capone and Stefano Magaddino. Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel, Meyer Lansky, Joe Adonis, Abner Zwillman, Frank Costello, Johnny Torrio, and Louis 'Lepke" Buchalter were also in attendance at the summit and frequently part of subsequent board meetings alongside appointed board members. All the board of directors collectively formed what is known as the commission, which called upon The Combination to enforce their decisions, including those having to do with debt collecting, dispute regulation and hit contracts.

It is important to note here that while Sicilian Mafia members were all required to be Italian, those involved with The Combination could be of any ethnicity. The commission was a concept envisioned by Luciano, who also served as chairman of the board.

Louis Lepke Bucalter was the direct connect to the commission, responsible for ordering contracts. It was Lepke and Anastasia who then decided who would be the best guy for the hit. Lepke would become the first and only major mob connection to receive the death penalty for his crimes. In 1944, he died in the electric chair at Sing Sing prison.

Kid Twist is most known as the one who brought down Murder Inc., sending several of its members to the electric chair by providing a significant amount of evidence to the Feds. As a result of his cooperation, he received total immunity for his involvement and any crimes committed, even though he was one of the most active figures of the group. Kid Twist was facing a murder conviction for which he was to face execution.

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