Thread: the passing of an era

Interesting character, he confessed to kill 19 people but then again never was charged for it.
He said that he never inflict any pain to any person that did not want to inflict damage on him.
He refused to have a liver transplant because he said that he did not deserve it and will never compete with children who need the organ.

I met uncle Chop Chop in a pub in Hobart about 10 years ago. The publican introduced me. I told him i enjoyed his book. He asked me if i bought it new, stole it or got it from one of those $%%^^&& book exchange places. Not wanting to offend i told himk i bought it new. He was drinking with detectives of all people and i didnt stay around to chat for long. He had a different lifestyle than most choosebut he made a go of it and did rather well eventualy. A hard man with a good sense of humor and immortilised on film by that epic performanvce by Eric Banna that launched his movie career.
If he's gone to heaven ( and i doubt it) he will upset a few people. If he goes down below the devil better watch out. LOL
Mike

Mixed emotions.
He was a thug and a crook. But his books and the movie made him out to be a character.

Like a lot of crooks, they mellow as they see the end is nigh and want to be forgiven for the bad stuff they have done.
Never forget that what he would have done if he thought you did the wrong thing by him.

Have to say nevr really thought much about the man, but never heard him say poor me im dying and need this or that.

I did hear him say he wouldn't take an organ that kid needed. For this alone he has my respect, my daughter tells me of more than one patient in the dialysis ward who has had a transplant but continues to abuse themselves with booze and drugs.

RIP Chopper.... but I somehow doubt it..


Cheers Ean

In my single days long ago I knew two guys who worked for one of Sydney's leading gangsters. One of them was in a share house with me for a while. Let them be known as Snowy and Big Eddie. Yes he was bloody big. Their job was to visit crims like pimps, knocking shops, illegal gambling dens, bookies, sly groggers, unlicensed night clubs and strip joints, various professional thieves, armed robbers, con men etc. who were slow or reluctant to pay the collector who went around to collect licence fees, turnover tax etc. This collection filtered up and down the food chain from top government and police to the street soldiers. The city would have had a shortage of essential services otherwise, and without the protection provided the gaols would have been bulging at the seams. They had interesting stories to tell. Snowy had a wife and family out at Parramatta and he said this was his regular job just like working in a factory or driving a truck. He said they didn't deal with ordinary people they just threatened or bashed crims who didn't understand their financial obligations.

I believe that of all the people he knocked they were all crooks any way. If this is correct I do not have a problem.

It's a bit like the bikie wars, and underbelly series one with Carl Williams. If they kill each other, providing no innocent people get caught up in it by mistake, let them go for it. Saves the taxpayer a lot of money.

Originally Posted by Brian Hjelm

In my single days long ago I knew two guys who worked for one of Sydney's leading gangsters. One of them was in a share house with me for a while. Let them be known as Snowy and Big Eddie. Yes he was bloody big. Their job was to visit crims like pimps, knocking shops, illegal gambling dens, bookies, sly groggers, unlicensed night clubs and strip joints, various professional thieves, armed robbers, con men etc. who were slow or reluctant to pay the collector who went around to collect licence fees, turnover tax etc. This collection filtered up and down the food chain from top government and police to the street soldiers. The city would have had a shortage of essential services otherwise, and without the protection provided the gaols would have been bulging at the seams. They had interesting stories to tell. Snowy had a wife and family out at Parramatta and he said this was his regular job just like working in a factory or driving a truck. He said they didn't deal with ordinary people they just threatened or bashed crims who didn't understand their financial obligations.

Brian.
I dont know if anybody has ever pointed it out,you are a legend in your own lunchbox.
Andrew

I have not watched the Underbelly series but heard some stories about Carl Williams from a bloke who has worked for me in the past and was doing time in the same prison when Carl was knocked off. He was not well regarded in the underworld, threatening to dob others in for criminal activities and also by some police officers for the same reason. Was also apparently a serial pest for the prison staff. Seems they aided and abetted Carl having his head bashed in. The bloke held responsible is serving a long sentence for whatever he was convicted of but has apparently been a quiet type in jail. A penalty for an additional conviction would probably be served concurrently.

According to current laws, benefiting from the proceeds of crime is illegal. However, staff can treat this well behaved prisoner who has done the right thing by them very well. Also apparently other grateful people are ensuring his mother is well looked after for life. Including being provided with a new house and new car. Maybe one way of looking at the latter is as effective payment of the order of a million dollars for a hit man job. Many times that would have been saved from public money by not having to keep Carl in jail for a normal lifetime. However, maybe lawyers deprived of potential work and victims of others he could have dobbed in would not be happy.