Chicago Assassin: The Life and Legend of "Machine Gun" Jack McGurn and the Chicago Beer Wars of the Roaring Twenties
The city of Chicago led the nation when it came to gangland violence during the Prohibition era. As a result, many infamous, unforgettable personalities became a part of America's criminal history.
Chicago Assassin is the story of "Machine Gun" Jack McGurn, one of the people responsible for putting much of the roar into the Roaring Twenties. His family immigrated to Chicago from Sicily in 1906, as he grew up in the city's slums and later took up boxing as "Battling" Jack McGurn.
After avenging his father's death by killing the three hit men responsible, he came to the attention of Al Capone, who invited him into his organization, known as the Chicago Outfit. There he rose to power and was one of the most feared members Capone's organizations, with more than twenty-five known kills for the mob. "Battling" Jack McGurn became so adept with the Thompson submachine gun that he quickly became known as "Machine Gun" Jack McGurn.
We earn a commission for purchases made through the following links.
Book details
- Author
- Richard Shmelter
- Imprint
- Cumberland House Publishing, an imprint of Turner Publishing Company
- Published
- Formats
- Hardcover
- Subjects
- Biography & Autobiography › Criminals & Outlaws
True Crime › Organized Crime - Topics
- Chicago gangsters · Prohibition era · organized crime · Al Capone · criminal biography · Chicago Outfit · mob violence
- ISBN-13
- 9781581826180
About the author
RICHARD J. SHMELTER is a writer and researcher specializing in sports history, American crime history, and Hollywood history, with four published books to his name. His recent books include The Los Angeles Lakers Encyclopedia, The Raiders Encyclopedia and Chicago Assassin: The Life and Legend of "Machine Gun" Jack McGurn and the Chicago Beer Wars of the Roaring Twenties.
Shmelter is a member of the International Association of Crime Writers, the American Crime Writers League, and the Professional Football Researchers Association.
When he’s not writing, Shmelter hosts the podcast Flashback on Raiders Fan Radio. His work spans the intersection of American sports, crime, and cultural history across the twentieth century.
Richard lives in Sagamore Hills, Ohio.