On January 2, 1920, the Gray Ghost sailed his ice cutter across the Detroit River to Windsor, Ontario to buy a motorboat license. This was probably the last law abiding act he performed in his short life. During the Prohibition Years in America – 1920-1933- the Gray Ghost and other Detroit River pirates and rum runners, both professional and amateur, provided swashbuckling action enough to rival the Spanish Main. Unfortunately for the Gray Ghost, never identified, he was eventually killed by a member of the Purple Gang.
Source : Kathy Warnes, “The Gray Ghost Haunted the Detroit River During Prohibition”, Definitely Downriver, June 2012.