Stories
Prohibition Era
Dean O’Banion The North Side Gangster
Dean O’Banion was born in Maroa, Illinois in 1892, where he spent his early childhood before moving to Chicago in 1901 with his father, brother, and sister. O’Banion’s mother, Emma Brophy, who was first generation Irish her parents were from Ireland, died of the...
Thomas Egan – Co Founder of Egans Rats of St. Louis
Thomas Egan was a St. Louis saloon keeper, politician and gangster involved in bootlegging, illegal gambling, voter intimidation, labor slugging and a whole lot of other criminal activities. The infamous Egan's Rats gang from St. Louis, Missouri was named after him,...
The Gustin Gang
At the turn of the 20th-century criminal gangs sprouted up in the Boston Irish wards, the Gustin gang was first to dominate and control the scene. The name of the gang came not from any of the members, but from the name of a street off Old Colony Avenue in South...
The Distinguished Owen Vincent Madden of Hot Springs, Arkansas
Owen Vincent Madden was a quiet an unassuming character in Hot Springs, Arizona, he married the postmasters daughter, Agnes Denby. He was often seen out on the streets tipping his hat to the women. He was always quick to give impressive donations to the Boys Club. He...
The very last picture of Legs Diamond
The very last picture taken of Jack “Legs” Diamond, just 9 hours before he was killed. Jack’s Attorney Daniel H. Prior, Alice Diamond and Jack shortly after he was acquitted. It is said that Jack went out celebrating his acquittal, followed by a visit to his mistress...
Texas Guinan – Queen of the nightclubs
Born in Texas in 1884 to Irish parents, some sources say one or both of her parents were born in Dublin, Ireland. Mary Louise Cecilia Guinan, better known as Texas Guinan was a movie star and star of the New York stages. But she is probably best known for being the...
Thomas “Fatty” Walsh & Haunting the Biltmore Hotel
Thomas "Fatty" Walsh was a gambler, mobster and an associate of Dutch Schultz and Lucky Luciano. He now reportedly haunts the 13th floor of the Biltmore Hotel, Miami, Florida. "Fatty" Walsh was a former bodyguard of Arnold Rothstein, Rothstein or "The Brain" would...
Prohibition ends in America on this day
On the 5th of December 1933, the National & Constitutional ban on the production, importation, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages in the U.S comes to an end. Originally brought into law in 1920 and after 13 years the law was finally repealed. The...
Marion “Kiki” Roberts & Legs Diamond
Marion "Kiki" Roberts, real name Strasmick (Strasmich) was born in Boston in 1909. When she was young her dream was to become a star. She would also become involved with Jack "Legs" Diamond. When Marion was eight years old she came eighth place in a beauty contest in...