Gangsters of the Golden Era

[Story]

LONDON | A handgun once owned by gangster Al Capone has sold for almost $110,000 at an auction in London.

Auctioneer Christie's says the Colt .38 revolver went for $109,080 to an anonymous bidder in the room.

Read more: http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/...d97-56c7-91cf-d53689c72168.html#ixzz1Q76V4fAE

 

[Tomasso]

Wonder how much Maddy was paid to provide the provenance, without which the gun is virtually worthless. Something about this deal is a little fishy.

The gun was sold along with a letter from Madeleine Capone Morichetti, the widow of Al Capone's brother Ralph. She confirmed the gun "previously belonged to and was only used by Al Capone while he was alive"

 

[Absinthe_1900]

If the revolver was made in 1939, wouldn't have Al been suffering dementia from the effects of his "little health problem".

 

[Mark D]

For those interested in gangster lore, history, news, etc...today was a very big day in the Boston area. Whitey Bulger was arrested in CA after 16 years on the run. I don't know how much play this got nationally but here it's getting about as much coverage as the last presidential election.

 

[Stearmen]

Wonder how much Maddy was paid to provide the provenance, without which the gun is virtually worthless. Something about this deal is a little fishy.

Reminds me of the story of Jesse James. Seems, after he was killed, people were clamoring to get their hand on any fire arm he once owned. His mother quickly sold all his fire arms, being a bright entrepreneur, she went down to the hardware store and bought more! As the years went on, she would buy the most rusted pistols she could get and sell them as genuine Jesse James pistols, newly discovered. She would also go down to the creek and replenish the pebbles on his grave, for sale of course for a modes price! So the story of your great great grand pappy buying a pistol from Jesse's mother was true!

 

[Story]

The Rise And Fall Of Gangster Al Capone

Jonathan Eig's book Get Capone reveals new insights about the famous Chicago gangster — including how freely he spoke to reporters, the time he shot himself in the groin, and how venereal disease eventually robbed him of his health and sanity. http://www.npr.org/2011/08/05/138889467/the-rise-and-fall-of-gangster-al-capone

 

[hatophile]

The Rise And Fall Of Gangster Al Capone

Jonathan Eig's book Get Capone reveals new insights about the famous Chicago gangster — including how freely he spoke to reporters, the time he shot himself in the groin, and how venereal disease eventually robbed him of his health and sanity. http://www.npr.org/2011/08/05/138889467/the-rise-and-fall-of-gangster-al-capone

Good book!

 

[Chas]

I thought that this book was a pretty good read. Those Brownsville guys were nasty characters.

 

[Story]

A pair of vintage guns believed to have been owned and used by the notorious outlaws Bonnie and Clyde will be sold at auction Saturday, Jan. 21, by Mayo Auction & Realty in Kansas City, Mo.

http://www.auctionbymayo.com/index.php?subp=1&sct=&pg=ap&pid=23883

 

[Stanley Doble]

I nominate Canadian rum runner Ben Kerr a real sport and tough as they make them. For more information try Whisky and Ice (his biography).

http://books.google.ca/books?id=WI6...A#v=onepage&q=ben kerr whisky and ice&f=false

 

[Story]

This article alludes to photos of the weapons in question, yet doesn't run them.

The weapons are believed to be among those seized after a raid April 13, 1933, at the outlaws’ apartment hideout near 34th Street and Oak Ridge Drive in Joplin.

Five lawmen in two cars, armed only with handguns, descended on the apartment, and a bloody gunfight ensued. Two of the lawmen — Newton County Constable John Wesley Harryman and Joplin police Detective Harry McGinnis — were killed. Clyde Barrow, Buck Barrow and fellow gang member W.D. “Deacon” Jones were injured.

After the raid, police confiscated guns, a camera and personal items from the apartment, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009. The film in the camera, which was developed by The Joplin Globe at the time, was of special interest. The images on the film, which include some with the guns, were the first to identify the outlaws. Historians say the publication of those images in newspapers across the country spelled the beginning of the end for the duo.

http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/x647568197/Rapid-fire-bidding-greets-Bonnie-and-Clyde-guns

 

[Story]

It’s no secret the mob heavily influenced Las Vegas in the 1940s and ’50s as the city rose to prominence, but many famous mobsters had Vegas ties well into the early ’80s.

Nearly 30 years later, the fascination surrounding Vegas’ organized crime days hasn’t died. In fact, some could argue it has intensified with recent attractions, such as the temporarily shuttered Las Vegas Mob Experience at Tropicana. (The interactive attraction recently got a new name and manager after its previous owner filed for bankruptcy.) In the meantime, there’s a new attraction in town — the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, or Mob Museum for short — opening Tuesday in downtown Las Vegas.

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2012/feb/13/wander-through-mob-history-las-vegas/


LAS VEGAS: In one room, a ghastly wall of bloody, uncensored photos showcases the mob’s greatest hits.In another, visitors are taught to load a revolver.

And for when a gun just won’t do, an oddball collection of household items – a shovel, a hammer, a baseball bat and an icepick – show the creative side of some of America’s most notorious killers.

On the 83rd anniversary of the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, Las Vegas honored one of its earliest relationships by opening a museum dedicated to the mobsters that made this desert city. There are Tommy guns, money stacks and a bullet-riddled brick wall from the 1929 massacre that saw Al Capone seize control of the Chicago mob.

Las Vegas has long been enamored with its gangster roots. Its longtime former mayor played himself in the mob flick “Casino,” and hotels often promote their nefarious origins. But the publicly funded, $42 million Mob Museum represents a new height in Sin City’s lawlessness devotion. Even the local FBI agents are in on it. “We wanted to make sure the truth came out,” said Ellen Knowlton, a former special agent in Las Vegas brought on to legitimize the downtown attraction.



Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Culture...ights-citys-gangster-roots.ashx#ixzz1mYYbEbRt

 

[Story]

Drug dealers, backstreet abortionists and a deadly femme fatale: Fascinating mugshots of women prisoners from 1920s Australia

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2103393/Womens-mug-shots-1920s-Australia.html#ixzz1n4nfdsOB

 

[HadleyH]

I know we have posted a million photos of him ....but he is still my favorite, most handsome,attractive gangster! He gives the word gangster a good name!

 

[Story]

Pieces of history: Guns of outlaws Bonnie and Clyde up for sale

Also up for bid is the Colt .38-caliber revolver that Parker had pasted to her inner thigh with medical tape, as well as the .45-caliber pistol that Barrow kept in his waistband. Each weapon could bring between $100,000 and $200,000, said Livingston. Barrow’s cosmetics case is also on the block.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/...nie-and-clyde-action-20120713,0,1932417.story

 

[rocketeer]

Johnny Torrio. I know who he was, dont know what he really did, I just like his name.

 

[DeaconKC]

Growing up in Chicago, then transplanting to Southern Illinois as an adult gave me an appetite for this lore. Check out the war in Southern Illinois between the Shelton and Berger Gangs, they built armored cars and even used homemade bombs thrown from airplanes!

 

[TomS]

Amazing stuff!