Chicago Assassin: The Life and Legend of Machine Gun Jack McGurn and the Chicago Beer Wars of the Roaring Twenties - Hardcover

by Richard J. Shmelter (Author)

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. McGurn was born is Liscata, Sicily, on Febuary 15, 1905 as Vincenzo Antionio Gibaldi. His family immigrated to Chicago in 1906, and he grew up in the city's slums, later taking up boxing as "Battling" Jack McGurn.
Known to have been a well-mannered, law-abiding young man, he changed dramatically when his father was assassinated by members of the White Hand Gang in a case of mistaken identity. After he avenged 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 of Capone's organization 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.
McGurn's most famous killings became known as the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, which he planned in an effort to eliminate Bugs Moran, the North Side gang leader who was Capone's biggest competitor. For his humble beginnings to infamous criminal activities such as the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, Chicago Assassin takes a deeper look into the rise and eventual death of one of Chicago's most notorious and fear criminals.