Portraits of 1920s Criminals (25 Photos)

Here is a striking collection of vintage mugshots and portraits of criminals from a bygone era. Most of these photos were taken in the US and Australia between 1920 and 1928, captured right after charges were filed against the suspects.





1. Walter Smith — a gangster and terror of the streets. He disliked firearms, preferring to kill victims with his bare hands by snapping their necks. A note in his police file reads: "Extremely dangerous, exhibits pronounced sadistic tendencies, prone to biting, lacks any sense of fear, place in solitary confinement."



2. Murray — a burglar specializing in home break-ins. He squandered all his loot on booze and prostitutes, never managing to strike it rich due to his vices.





3. Mr. Scookerman — ran securities scams and port fraud. Worked for the mob.



4. A house burglar. He stole and would kill homeowners if necessary. His police record notes: "Extremely cunning and agile; feigns mental illness to gain sympathy."



5. Enforcers collecting debts from local business owners and mob debtors. Their police notes read: "Extremely dangerous; highly persuasive and capable of severe psychological pressure."



6. Gracie and Dalton — Los Angeles gangsters who belonged to the upper ranks of the American mafia.



7. Sydney Kelly — an LA gangster who operated for the mob in other states. His rap sheet included contract killings, armed assault, procuring, and drug trafficking.



8. Faytrill — a juvenile thief and burglar. He was 16 years old at the time of his arrest.



9. Left: 20 years old. His record included burglary, shoplifting, pickpocketing, and rape. His police record notes: "Extremely dangerous, agile, cunning, prone to escape attempts and panic." Right: "Little Schmidt" — a street urchin and petty thief. He worked for the mob as a courier delivering sensitive messages. If caught by the police, he would immediately swallow the notes containing instructions.



10. Mr. Ross — a mob lawyer nicknamed "The Old Man." For a long time, he refused to testify against a major LA gangster syndicate. After he finally gave evidence, his entire family was found dead in their downtown home. A month later, he was strangled by his cellmate.



11. Fitch — a seasoned car thief from Chicago. Worked for the mob.



12. Names unknown. Chicago gangsters. Their trademark: killing everyone, leaving no witnesses.



13. A prostitute and thief. She would drug clients' drinks and pick their pockets. Working for the mob, she turned over her most lucrative—and talkative—clients to organized crime handlers.



14. A Chicago mob crew. They repeatedly shielded John Dillinger's gang from the police, controlled labor unions, and ran gambling operations. They managed prostitutes, carried out armed robberies, and ran protection rackets for local businesses and drug dealers. The two on the right were brothers notorious for beating a police informant to death with meat hooks before hanging his body on a main street with a sign around his neck reading: "He talked too much to the wrong people." Their police notes read: "Extremely dangerous and ruthless, despite their polite and cultured demeanor."



15. Prostitutes acting as mob spotters. They picked up wealthy men in restaurants; the affairs ended in bloody massacres and the complete plundering of the unfortunate lovers' apartments.



16. A prostitute and thief. She drugged clients' drinks and emptied their pockets. She worked for the mob, turning over the most lucrative and loose-lipped clients to senior criminals.



17. Mr. Singh — a hitman and all-around fixer. Working for the mob, he skillfully eliminated rivals, police officers, and officials.



18. Mob members controlling part of New York. They managed labor unions as well as alcohol and tobacco smuggling. Murder and armed robberies were their everyday trade.



19. Stanley Moore — a hardened Chicago gangster nicknamed "The Inquisitor." He was responsible for executing debtors and anyone standing in the mob's way.



20. Left: Ellis — a high-ranking Chicago mobster and ladies' man. He organized crimes, incited accomplices, and strictly controlled the division of spoils. His police record reads: "Exceptionally brutal and dangerous." Right: Smith ("Bone Hand"), leader of a Chicago gang, and his lieutenant, Jones. They ran protection rackets for brothels, gambling rings, and narcotics, while robbing armored transport and murdering wealthy Americans for gain. Police notes state: "Intimidating presence, highly dangerous, will kill without hesitation."



21. Left: Mrs. Turner — a bar owner on the outskirts of New York. Together with her accomplice, she frequently murdered patrons in the meat-cleaving room to rob them. Her police notes read: "If she finds out you have cash on you, you're a goner." Right: This woman picked up men on the street, flirted, and invited them over for tea. She served them wine or tea laced with arsenic, robbed her victims, and sold everything to fences—down to their shoelaces.



22. Left: Smith — a crew leader among rank-and-file mob enforcers. His police notes read: "Known for intimidating presence, cunning, and ruthlessness toward mafia enemies; dead shot." Right: The man in short trousers — a Chicago mob accountant. Under police pressure in prison, he confessed, but was found hanged by his cellmate shortly after. Scratched onto his chest was the note: "I spilled it all, now I'm quiet forever."



23. Left: The dangerous Farlain brothers' gang. They specialized in highway robbery and raids across rural state lines. Right: The man in the middle — the gang leader known as "Bloody Fletcher." His crew was responsible for numerous contract killings and kidnappings for ransom. The gang didn't hesitate to abduct children of high-ranking government officials and top police commanders. Their police record reads: "Do not house together; strictly solitary confinement. Extremely dangerous and violent; capable of killing cellmates during arguments."



24. Prostitutes and thieves. They drugged clients' drinks and picked their pockets. Working for the mob, they turned over their highest-value and most talkative victims to syndicate handlers.



25. Left: A fence working for the mob. Right: Mr. Falleni — killed his first wife and served time. After his release, he remarried and killed his second wife.