by Owen Forsyth | Feb 19, 2019 | Chicago, Colorado, Mafia, Notorious, Prohibition
Diamond Jack had a fascination and love for the Western lifestyle and made his way out to Denver, Colorado to become “a peaceful rancher with persons of culture around me,”. Hank Bosco who was a young boy at the time, would take gum and rides in the passenger seat of... 
by Owen Forsyth | Feb 14, 2019 | Chicago, Cops, Mafia, Notorious, Police, Prohibition
On this day, 90 years ago one of the most famous Mob Hits of all time took place, the St. Valentines Day Massacre in Chicago, where seven men were shot to death by rival gangsters. What started with the death of Dean O’Banion in 1924 ended on St. Valentines Day... 
by Owen Forsyth | Feb 12, 2019 | Chicago, Notorious, Prohibition
Dean O’Banion was born to Irish parents who lived in Maroa, Illinois where he spent his early childhood before moving to Chicago in 1901 with his father and brother after his mother’s death. They settled in Kilgubbin on the North Side of Chicago it was... 
by Owen Forsyth | Jan 9, 2019 | Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Early Characters, Gangs of New York, Ireland, New Jersey, New Orleans, New York, Other, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Weapons
The Shillelagh (pronounced shi – lay – la) is the name for a traditional Irish stick or stick of blackthorn wood, its usually sold to tourists and is a symbol of Irishness, it is on the logo of sports clubs, political office and other places around the... 
by Owen Forsyth | Dec 26, 2018 | Chicago, Early Characters, Other
“Big” Jim O’Leary was a gambler & racketeer in early Chicago, he is credited in forming one of the cities first gambling syndicates and for having a rags to riches story. James O’Leary was born to parents Patrick and Katherine...
