Rare Photos Of The Dapper And Dangerous Criminals Of The 1920s
By Jack Ripley | October 14, 2023
Nowadays, a criminal's mugshot is just a close-up shot of their face. Drunk, high or just a bit desperate looking, there's nothing remotely cool about them. But back in the day? Well, it was quite the opposite. Long exposure cameras meant, as with all photographs, there could be no smiling or facial expressions. So you just go mean, moody stares.
Let's turn the dial back one hundred years to the Roaring 20s to take a look at these devastating mugshots from some of the most dangerous criminals of the early 20th century.
Perhaps the most noticeable thing about the pinched felons from the 1920's? Just how dapper they all were! Back then, even a petty thief would be dressed smart. Ties, suits, hats, the lot.
This collection of criminal mug shots from the twenties perfectly illustrates just how far the crooks of today have strayed from any notion of the sartorial. These vintage mug shots show some criminally smart-dressed dudes.
A Dastardly Duo
Edward Dalton (right) and his colleague Mr. De Gracy (left) were partners. Partners in crime. But while breaking the law might have landed them in trouble with the police, it didn't see them upset any local tailors. They kept things looking fly throughout their criminal careers.
Joey Messenger Steals Threads
This young kid is called Joseph Messenger. He used to commit a lot of fairly low level crimes. Mostly burglary and breaking & entering. Here we see him snapped after an arrest for, ironically, a clothes-based crime. He broke into an army warehouse and stole a slew of boots and overcoats. Look where it landed him...
'Gaffney the Gunman' & Co.
These four hoodlums were Thomas Craig, Raymond Neil (otherwise known as “Gaffney the Gunman”), FW Wilson and William Thompson. This picture was taken after the gang were arrested by Chief Bill Mackay on a house at 74 Riley Street in Lower Darlinghurst.
The gang of thieves would serve a little time, but not much. They were out on the streets looking sharp again in no time.
Can You Tell His Personality Here?
Some people have suggested that it's possible to be able to determine the person's character and personality merely by glancing at their mug shot. What do you think, can you tell a little about what this guy is about just from this picture?
Lookin' Sharp, Fellas
We don't quite know who the guy in the middle is here, but the fellows flanking him? Well they are “Silent Tom” Richards and his pal Mr. T. Ross (who had the alias 'Walton'). This show shows the trio after getting busted by police way back in 1920. These guys show just how accurate Boardwalk Empire's costume design was, don't they?
'Wilful and Obscene Exposure'
The man on the right here might look like an old president or the guy who invented the gramophone or something, but the reality is much grimmer. He's Adolf Gustave Beutler and he was arrested for "willful and obscene exposure."
The man on the left? His crime was even more disturbing. He is Albert Stewart Warnkin and he was charged with trying to lure an eight year-old girl into his home. Lock him up and throw away the key.
'The Hot Seat'
This man is Sidney Grant and his criminal activities gained him some notoriety. He was a con man. A grifter of some repute. In fact, his crimes were covered in 'The Big Con' and referred to repeatedly as 'The Hot Seat'. Whatever that means...
Coolest Mug Shot Ever?
This is William Stanley Moore, an early drug dealer. He was arrested way back in 1926 for being in possession of huge quantities of "fake opium" and real cocaine. This dapper-looking gentleman is also described as “a wharf labourer who associates with water front thieves and drug traders.”
You Are Feeling Sleepy...
The criminal in this photo here is Thomas Bede. But he was, we assume, referred to as 'Sleepy'. Angered by his arrested, Bede refused to open his eyes for the picture. Which explains why it was captioned, “this man refused to open his eyes,” at the time.
The Smile of a Counterfeiter
This is Patrick Riley. He was arrested, in his suave woollen trench coat, back in 1924. The charge? Counterfeiting. But not counterfeiting notes. Oh no. Mr. Riley here was pinched for illegally replicating COINS. Anything but our precious coins!
Meet 'Cecil'...
This man here might look pretty damn evil, but his charge was just a little light business fraud. He's Sydney Skukerman - aka Cecil Landan - and he would pretend to own a warehouse, buy things on credit and then disappear with the goods without payment.
Gang of Four
Their outfits, their smiles, their obvious friendships... You could be easily forgiven for mistaking these four men as a barbershop quartet. But the reality is a little darker than that. These four were all about to be sentenced to fifteen months hard labor for a large scale burglary. Still, they all look the part, eh?
That Bow Tie!
Walter Keogh wasn't a nice guy. He would buy rundown suburban apartment blocks and sell them to people based on lies around their worth. A "suspected person and a bogus land salesman," he still always made sure his bow tie was on nice and straight.
Meet Mr. West
Alfred Francis West cuts a dash in his mug shot. We particularly enjoy his wide suit lapels. He was arrested in April 1922 for a crime which has been lost in the records. We bet it wasn't the fashion police that picked him up, though.
Smart Pals
John Walter Ford and Oswald Clive Nash were taken in by police in June 1921. A couple of low-rent punks, they never got involved in anything too big. But they still looked cool. 'Fake it 'til you make it', right?
Merry Christmas, Walt!
Walter Smith here was taken in on Christmas Eve, 1924. He might not look full of Christmas spirit, but dammit - that's a cool haircut. Walt here is pre-dating David Beckham's gelled blonde locks by some ninety years too.
Coffey in Cream
Pinched on June 2nd 1922, Edward James Coffey here looks particularly swish in his beige/cream get-up. It takes a brave man to pull off a light-colored suit, but we reckon ol' Coffey here has managed it. Kudos, man.
That Mustache...
Ernest James Montague here was arrested in the August of 1927. And, as we've seen, everyone looked smart. Mr. Montague here had his mug shot taken while he was wearing a three piece suit, ferchrissakes!
You'd Pay $60 For That Haircut Now...
Guiseppe Fiori, aka Guiseppe Permontto, was taken in by authorities and photographed on August 5, 1924. But this safebreaker is so cool, his images look less like mug shots and more like photographs taken during a modelling shoot.
Where's That Button?
Mr Whitehall here earns points for his hat - we like that. But he loses points for missing a button in the middle of his shirt. That's sloppy work...
Ms. Falleni...
Here's our first woman. Eugenie Falleni. She might not look quite as dapper as some of the guys in this list, but we like her collar. Plus, you just wait. She appears again, later in our list. Looking much smarter. And for quite a strange reason...
A Top Quality Ensemble
Bill Cahill here doesn't seem too disturbed at having been arrested and why would he? Like a lot of men back then, he was tough. Real tough.
Sartorially - you have to admire the woollen tie and the collar pin. And the high-waisted trouser. It's a sweet - and pretty timeless - look.
Snip, Snip...
Gilbert Burleigh and Joseph Delaney here were what's called 'hotel barbers'. They would book into hotels and then go wandering about the rooms in the dead of night taking (or 'snipping') items from other guests. While looking cool, obviously.
MISS Falleni?!
We told you Ms. Falleni would be back. Only thing is... She ain't a miss here. She's Harry Leon Crawford. Posing as a man, she'd marry and kill a woman and eventually get arrested for murder.
What a Do!
Mr. Murray here might look like he's auditioning for a 1920's Broadway production of Eraserhead, but in reality he's a criminal and this is his mugshot.
That knitwear, though... Very chic.
Kong Lee - A Serious-Looking Young Fellow
Kong Lee here was pictured in 1922, but would go on to be picked up by the police many times for being a thief and, later - as he got sharper - a safe blower.
How Low Can You Go?
May 31st 1928. A man by the name of Ah Low is arrested, processed and photographed. The real crime? Committed by the police when they didn't ask him where he got his overcoat from.
A Thief and a Gunman
Harold Price here may have been a thief. He may very well have also been a gunman. A crook, a criminal and a low life. But you can't say he was a fashion slouch. That pocket square!
Mean Sid
Arrested in the 20's for assaulting and shooting people during a robbery in Sydney, Australia, this guy sure is mean looking. Mean looking, but sharp dressed fellow all the same.
