<P> The wives, girlfriends, and mistresses of the gang members were known for wearing lavish clothing . Pearls, silks, and colourful scarves were commonplace . </P> <P> Low economic growth in central England led to a violent youth subculture . Poor youths frequently robbed and pickpocketed men walking on the streets of slum Birmingham . These efforts were executed through assaults, beatings, stabbings, and manual strangulation . During the 1890s, youth street gangs consisted of men between the ages of twelve and thirty . The late 1890s saw the organisation of these men into a soft hierarchy . The most powerful member of the Peaky Blinders was known as Kevin Mooney . His real name was Thomas Gilbert; however, he routinely changed his last name . Many of the land grabs undertaken by the gang were initiated by him . The most violent of these youth street gangs organised themselves as a singular group known as the "Peaky Blinders ." After select gangsters attacked a man in 1890, they sent a letter to various national newspapers declaring themselves as members of this specific group . Their first activities primarily revolved around occupying favourable land, notably the communities of Small Heath and Cheapside, Birmingham . Their expansion was noted by their first gang rival, the "Cheapside Sloggers," who battled against them in an effort to control land . The Sloggers originated in the 1870s known for street fights in the Bordesley, and Small Heath areas--extremely poor slums of Birmingham . In 1899, an Irish police constable was contracted to enforce local law in Birmingham . However, police corruption and bribery diminished the effectiveness of his enforcement . </P> <P> The most prominent members of the gang were David Taylor, Earnest Haynes, Harry Fowles, Stephen McNickle, and Thomas Gilbert . Fowles, known as "Baby - faced Harry," was arrested at 19 for stealing a bike in October 1904 . McNickle and Haynes were also arrested at the same time for stealing a bike and home invasion, respectively . Each was held for one month for their crimes . West Midlands police records described the three arrested as "foul mouthed young men who stalk the streets in drunken groups, insulting and mugging passers - by ." Taylor was arrested at age 13 for carrying a loaded firearm . </P> <P> The Peaky Blinders, after they established controlled territory, began expanding their criminal enterprise in during the late 1800s . Their activities included protection rackets, fraud, bribery, smuggling, hijacking, robbery, and bookmaking . Historian Heather Shor of the University of Leeds claims that the Blinders were more focused on street fighting, robbery, and racketeering, as opposed to more organised crime . </P>

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