Posts tagged crime

James Carney, aka Dirty Eddie, and his rap sheet, 1894, Chicago.

Drivers across the border were compelled to post signs on cars to ward off police looking for the Chicago gangster, 1933, Chicago.

Drivers across the border were compelled to post signs on cars to ward off police looking for the Chicago gangster, 1933, Chicago.

Police line-up at the courthouse, 1934, Chicago.

Police line-up at the courthouse, 1934, Chicago.

A Chicago Tribune political cartoon from 1890 offers a tongue-in-cheek defense for recent attacks on tourists to the city.

A Chicago Tribune political cartoon from 1890 offers a tongue-in-cheek defense for recent attacks on tourists to the city.

I just finished Murder City: The Bloody History of Chicago in the Twenties by Michael Lesy, 2007. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this documentary style non-fiction book by the same author of the book with a cult following, Wisconsin Death Trip. There are 17 chapters, each detailing a different murder case from Chicago in the twenties. Lesy also includes many photographs from the Chicago Daily News. These aren’t your run-of-the-mill crimes though. Each one captured headlines in the city, and the world. Strange, gruesome and compelling, the stories arguably put into perspective how violent we view our city today. I highly recommend it!

I just finished Murder City: The Bloody History of Chicago in the Twenties by Michael Lesy, 2007.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this documentary style non-fiction book by the same author of the book with a cult following, Wisconsin Death Trip.

There are 17 chapters, each detailing a different murder case from Chicago in the twenties. Lesy also includes many photographs from the Chicago Daily News.

These aren’t your run-of-the-mill crimes though. Each one captured headlines in the city, and the world. Strange, gruesome and compelling, the stories arguably put into perspective how violent we view our city today.

I highly recommend it!

Chicago May, Queen of Crooks, Her Story, 1928, Chicago.

The autobiography of the infamous Chicago gangsteress, May Churchill Sharpe (1871-1929), expert at the badger game. Pictured here at age 58.

The heydey of her crime reign in Chicago was during the time of the Columbian Exposition, 1893-1894.

Read more about the Queen of Crooks here: http://historicalheroines.wikispaces.com/BIOGRAPHY

Police line-up, 1992, Chicago. #3 is Jeff Erickson who along with his wife Jill, were like a modern day Bonnie and Clyde. Known for his use of disguises, line-ups were presented with decoys in the same disguise as Erickson.  From the Chicago Tribune: A Hanover Park couple, Jill and Jeff Erickson, robbed a string of Chicago-area banks. When they were caught in 1991, she was mortally wounded in a chase with FBI officers and he was arrested and taken to the Metropolitan Correctional Center. But as he was being led from the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse on July 20, 1992, Erickson uncuffed his hands with a handcuff key, disarmed a guard and fatally shot Deputy U.S. Marshal Roy “Bill” Frakes and court security officer Harry Belluomini, a retired Chicago police officer. Erickson, mortally wounded in an exchange of gunfire with Belluomini, shot himself in the head a few feet from a rush-hour Loop crowd.

Police line-up, 1992, Chicago.

#3 is Jeff Erickson who along with his wife Jill, were like a modern day Bonnie and Clyde. Known for his use of disguises, line-ups were presented with decoys in the same disguise as Erickson. 

From the Chicago Tribune:

A Hanover Park couple, Jill and Jeff Erickson, robbed a string of Chicago-area banks. When they were caught in 1991, she was mortally wounded in a chase with FBI officers and he was arrested and taken to the Metropolitan Correctional Center. But as he was being led from the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse on July 20, 1992, Erickson uncuffed his hands with a handcuff key, disarmed a guard and fatally shot Deputy U.S. Marshal Roy “Bill” Frakes and court security officer Harry Belluomini, a retired Chicago police officer. Erickson, mortally wounded in an exchange of gunfire with Belluomini, shot himself in the head a few feet from a rush-hour Loop crowd.

Scene depicting the use of a police phone box to report a situation, 1881, Chicago. Chicago was one of the first cities to use this new invention on a wide scale.

Scene depicting the use of a police phone box to report a situation, 1881, Chicago.

Chicago was one of the first cities to use this new invention on a wide scale.

Chicago Police detectives in action, 1957, Chicago. Gordon Parks

Chicago Police detectives in action, 1957, Chicago. Gordon Parks

Policewoman Maude Dennis with teenager Genevieve Shelton, one of five who had been involved with a girl gang incident on the north side, 1957, Chicago. via theseamericans.com

Policewoman Maude Dennis with teenager Genevieve Shelton, one of five who had been involved with a girl gang incident on the north side, 1957, Chicago.

via theseamericans.com

Mugshot of August Rosengard, the one-legged burglar, 1903, Chicago. August was caught because he left a very distinct trail of foot prints… LOC.gov

Mugshot of August Rosengard, the one-legged burglar, 1903, Chicago.

August was caught because he left a very distinct trail of foot prints…

LOC.gov

Alfred “Jake” Lingle, the Police Reporter for the Trib, gunned down in the Michigan Ave tunnel at Randolph, 1930, Chicago. Mob hit? Nah…. Chicago Tribune Archives

Alfred “Jake” Lingle, the Police Reporter for the Trib, gunned down in the Michigan Ave tunnel at Randolph, 1930, Chicago.

Mob hit? Nah….

Chicago Tribune Archives

Series of mafia hits in Chicago.

1) Edward J. O’Hare, 1939

2) Charles “Cherry Nose” Gioe, 1954

3) Michael de Stefano, 1955

Arrest photo of a dapper gent, crime unknown…c.1904.

Arrest photo of a dapper gent, crime unknown…c.1904.