Stories

Prohibition Era
The Death of Edward Fats McCarthy Popke

The Death of Edward Fats McCarthy Popke

Fats McCarthy was one Vincent "Mad Dog" Colls trusted associate's and most trusted trigger man, and had once been one of Dutch Schultz's men but left Schultz operation when Coll parted ways with Schultz. McCarthy, who's real name was Edward Popke, was with Vincent...

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The Fox Lake Massacre

The Fox Lake Massacre

The Fox Lake Massacre was an event when Prohibition Era violence spilled over into Lake County, northeastern Illinois on June 1, 1930. Gangsters from Terry "Machine Gun" Druggan & Frankie Lake's gang were gunned down at Manning's Hotel in Fox Lake. That area of...

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Waxey Gordon

Waxey Gordon

Irving Wexler better known as Waxey Gordon was born to Polish - Jewish Immigrants in 1888, he grew up to become an infamous Prohibition Era gangster who specialized in bootlegging, illegal gambling and in later years, narcotics. He grew up in New York's Lower East...

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Bloody Williamson

Bloody Williamson

Williamson County in Southern Illinois during the 1920's was a lawless place, there was the Herrin Mine Massacre where 23 people were killed during a strike, bootlegging and Prohibition were in full effect and this would set the stage for an all out war between hated...

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Frankie Lake, Terry Druggan and the Valley Gang

Frankie Lake, Terry Druggan and the Valley Gang

Frankie Lake and Terry Druggan were leaders of The Valley Gang from Chicago, the were one of the most successful bootleggers of their time, amassing a fortune from bootlegging and rum-running. Its said they were making so much money that even the lowest gang member...

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Charles Vannie Higgins – His Life and Crimes

Charles Vannie Higgins – His Life and Crimes

Charles Vannie Higgins was born in 1897 and is generally regarded as the last Irish Boss of Brooklyn, he was born in the Bay Ridge area in Brooklyn. He built up a successful bootlegging operation but he was never really considered a big time mobster, he has almost...

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Spike O’Donnell – The Southside O’Donnells

Spike O’Donnell – The Southside O’Donnells

James Edward O’Donnell or better known as “Spike” O’Donnell he was born on November 29,1889, O’Donnell was one of the few gangsters from the Capone era to retire from the rackets, pioneer the Chicago paving of streets, maintain his political clout and die of natural...

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Thomas Snake Kinney

Thomas Snake Kinney

Thomas Snake Kinney was a Missouri state senator, he was one of the founding members of the infamous Egan's Rats, a St. Louis organized crime gang in the early part of the 20th Century. Thomas Snake Kinney was born and raised in St. Louis's "Kerry Patch" neighborhood...

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