William Sailor Freedman Lightweight Boxer and Jewish Criminal

William Sailor Freedman was a lightweight boxer who came to Philadelphia from Brooklyn as a runaway youth. He worked as a newsboy before he became an employee of gambler Max Hoff. In later years he resumed his connections with organized crime associates like Hoff. Hoff was a rum runner during the days of Prohibition and Freedman acted as his bodyguard and someone who did his bidding. In 1922 Sailor was arrested with an accomplice for the murder of a taxi driver in Chicago. During this time Freedman was among the most successful boxers in the lightweight division. He boxed with the likes of Mickey Walker and Benny Leonard, among many others.