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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 Originally brought into law in 1920 and after 13 years the law was finally repealed.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...
The Irish Channel An Old Irish New Orleans Neighborhood
The Irish Channel neighborhood is part of the historic city of New Orleans, Louisiana. Originally the Irish Channel was home to mainly, yes, Irish people who were emigrating from Ireland in the early 1800's with a wave of immigrants coming during the Great Famine of...
Billy McGlory’s Armory Hall
Billy McGlory opened McGlory's Armory Hall at 158 Hester Street in the late 1870s. It very quickly became a popular underworld hangout, frequented by thieves, pickpockets, and procurers throughout the old Fourth and Sixth Wards for nearly two decades.It was described...
Ned Kelly – Bucket Head Ned – The Outback Outlaw
In a bit of a break we can have a look at Australia and one of the most famous gangsters / outlaw of them all Ned Kelly or Buckethead Ned. He was the son of Irish parents, his father Red Kelly had been a convict who had been sent to Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) in...
The Failed Assassination of Paul Kelly
Biff Ellison was one of Paul Kelly's gang members in the Five Points gang, he started out as a bouncer in Fat Flynn's dive bar on Bond Street. He later became a bouncer of a bar on Christie street where he made his name by knocking a police officer unconscious with a...
The Coffey Gang – New York’s Finest
New York Detective Joseph Coffey certainly doesn't need any introductions, he was legendary in both law enforcement and criminal circles alike. He had a career like no other and an impressive arrest record to match.We have covered Joe Coffey previously in...
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...
The Molly Maguires & The Pennsylvania Miners Strike
The Molly Maguires were portrayed in a movie in the 1970's starring Sean Connery & Richard Harris, the story was based on true events, the Pennsylvanian Miners Strikes of the 1860's & 70's, they also featured in a song by the Irish folk band, The Dubliners....
John Martorano Kills “Indian Al” & His Gang
Alfred "Indian Al" Notorangeli was an a bookie and an “earner” from Somerville who made a poor career choice and would pay for it with his life. His death came in the form of John Martorano. One weekend "Indian Al" murdered the wrong bookie, one connected to Mafia...