Born in 1892 and crippled in a childhood accident, Dion O'Banion started as a singer, pick-pocket and jackroller in the Chicago Northside's Little Hell neighborhood. By 1920, he led a gang of burglars, safecrackers and robbers and was allegedly responsible for killing more than 25 people. When Proibition came in, O'Banion became a bootlegger and ruled the Northeast side of … [Read more...] about Charles Dean O’Banion, the bootlegger that ruled the Northeast side of Chicago
Chicago
Giacomo “Big Jim” Colosimo
In 1895, Giacomo "Big Jim" Colosimo moved into Chicago's Levee District, home to 2000 brothels, saloons and gambling dens. Ironically, legitimate work as a street sweeper caused his rise in the underworld, as Colosimo organized the street sweepers into a social club that came to the attention of notorious Aldermen "Bathhouse" John Coughlan and "Hinky Dink" Kenna. … [Read more...] about Giacomo “Big Jim” Colosimo
Death to the “Mustache Petes”
The Mafia, an Italian Criminal Organization, came to America in the same wave that brought legitimate Italian immigrants to the U.S. in the 1890s. Restricting their criminal activities to Italian neighborhoods, Mafiosi held high positions in the Community. They controlled jobs and political power, operated prostitution rings and gambling halls and ran the notorious Black … [Read more...] about Death to the “Mustache Petes”
SLUM GANGS – The Roots of Organized Crime
New York City's street gangs of the 19th Century included the Plug Uglies, Kerryonians, Dead Rabbits, Chichesters, Roach Guards, Whyos, Shirt Tails and others, all of whom committed robberies and engaged in turf wars. In 1863 such gangs also partecipated in the anti-Civil War draft riots, in wich hundreds died. The 1890s saw a huge influx of European immigrants arriving … [Read more...] about SLUM GANGS – The Roots of Organized Crime
