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Title
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Charles Gargotta Being Escorted by Officers
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Description
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Mobster Charles Gargotta (center) being escorted to his arraignment to face charges of murdering bootlegger Ferris Anthon and the attempted murder of Sheriff Thomas Bash on August 12, 1933. He is being escorted by Chief Deputy William Schickhardt (left) and Deputy Al Finkelstine.
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Date
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1933-08-16
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Object Type
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Negative
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Title
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3203-3211 Southwest Boulevard - Last Chance Tavern (Saloon)
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Description
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View looking east of the buildings that once stood at 3203-3211 Southwest Boulevard. The Last Chance Tavern (or Saloon) at 3205 Southwest Boulevard, Goulding's, and the Last Chance Cafe are in view. Cars parked on the street can be seen.
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Date
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1950-04
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Object Type
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Photograph
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Title
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Charles Gargotta
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Description
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Newspaper clippings from the Kansas City Star and Times on Charles Gargotta, the organized crime leader in Kansas City shot to death in 1950, with photos.
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Object Type
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Archival Material
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Title
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SC205 Organized Crime Files - Series 3: Hoods Who Spotlight on Organized Crime in the Kansas City Area
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Description
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Booklet intended to inform the public of the dangers of organized crime in Kansas City. The book contains: a summary of successful prosecution of syndicate members or associates from January 1, 1961 to present (April 1970); the Kefauver Senate Committee underworld charts for Kansas City organized crime activities, Exhibits 1 and 1A; a list of members and associates of the syndicate; the danger signs for the community; and a list of syndicate business connections.
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Date
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1970-04
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Object Type
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Archival Material
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Title
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The Binaggio and Gargotta Murders
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Description
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A collection of 111 pages of photocopied newspaper articles from the Kansas City Star and Kansas City Times detailing the murders of Charles Binaggio and Charles Gargotta and the subsequent investigation of those killings. The victims were associated with the First District Democratic Club, located on Kansas City's north side, and both had ties to organized crime. The clippings cover a four-month period in 1950, from April until August. Each article is annotated with its source and date of publication. Charles Binaggio was a Democratic faction leader and Charles Gargotta was a north side underworld character. Both were shot on April 6, 1950, in the club rooms of the First District Democratic Club at 716-718 Truman Road. According to the newspaper clipping on page 37 of the compilation, both Binaggio and Gargotta are buried in Mount St. Mary's Cemetery in Kansas City, Missouri.
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Date
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1950-04-06/1950-08-06
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Object Type
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Newspaper Article
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Title
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Future: The Newsweekly for Today
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Description
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Issue of the anti-corruption, Kansas City-based newspaper, Future: The Newsweekly for Today. The front page includes an article, continued on page 8, about the escape from federal police in Kansas City of Sam Randazzo, "a St. Louis gangster" being released from Leavenworth, with the help of police officials Otto Higgins and Jeff Rayen. Other featured articles include: “Patriots Go to Riverside” (p. 2), about the gambling on horse racing in Riverside, Missouri, "(owned by Pendergast associates)" and its effects on gambling salons or saloons in Kansas City such as "the Bowery and the King Kong"; “The Eagle Hovers” (p. 2), about the meeting of the Fraternal Order of Eagles (led by Conrad Mann) in honor of Thomas J. Pendergast to initiate 1,000 new members affiliated with the local Democratic Party including Charles Carrollo ("companion of John Lazia when the North End Democratic leader was machine-gunned to death"), Dominick Binaggio ("political gambling king here"), et al.; “New Pussys” (p. 3), about the "Pusateris" operating gambling machines, prostitutes, bootleg liquors, and "juicy steak dinners" "about a block east of police headquarters" during the Prohibition era, moving in 1935 to a new building near 79th and Holmes Streets "outside the city limits" and projected to be "one of the swankiest night clubs and casinos in the Middle West"; “Pathetic Case of Leonard Claiborne” (p. 3), photo and article about Leonard Claiborne, "for fifteen years a city detective" for the Kansas City Police Department and sentenced to "a four-year term for a lie he told to save the neck of Charles Gargotta, North Side gangster" under John Lazia in 1933; and “May We Present Mrs. George H. Hoxie” (p. 5), photo and profile of Ida S. Hoxie, who worked with the Consumers’ League to ensure that local dairies were hygienic and was also active with the Red Cross and League of Women Voters; also included in the newspaper are advertisements for local businesses and articles on fashion, finance, cooking, music, art, and national and international news.
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Date
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1935-05-24
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Object Type
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Newspaper
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Title
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Future: The Newsweekly for Today
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Description
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Issue of the anti-corruption, Kansas City-based newspaper, Future: The Newsweekly for Today. The front page includes an article, continued on page 8, describing the inequality of property tax assessments throughout Jackson County and other costs of homeownership. Other featured articles include: “He Beats the Rap but You Take It” (p. 3), photo and article about the murder trial of Charles Gargotta, "rat-faced Pendergast political lieutenant and gangster" reportedly interrupted by Sheriff Thomas Bash in "a killing party on Armour boulevard and Forest avenue" on August 12, 1933, including details about the case and information about other Kansas Citians involved, including the following: "Ferris Anthon, a rival Fifteenth street bootlegger" allegedly killed in the shooting by Gargotta; Sammy Scola and Gus Fasone, "friends of Gargotta and fellow workers in the North Side Democratic club" killed by Bash; John Lazia, "North Side gangster king" and owner of the Gargotta Buick; and presiding judge Merrill Otis, et al; “His Country Needs Him” (p. 4), article about Matthew Murray, "director of public works and a city hall protegee of Henry McElroy," recommended "to direct the expenditure of Missouri's share of the president's $4,880,000, 000 work relief fund" by "Senators Truman (Pendergast) and Clark of St. Louis"; and “May We Present George O. Pratt” (p. 5), photo and article about Pratt, local lawyer and associate director of the Regional Labor Relations Board; also included in the newspaper are advertisements for local businesses and articles on fashion, finance, cooking, music, art, and national and international news.
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Date
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1935-05-17
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Object Type
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Newspaper
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Title
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Future: The Newsweekly for Today
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Description
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Issue of the anti-corruption, Kansas City-based newspaper, Future: The Newsweekly for Today. The front page includes an article, continued on page 8, about the Kansas Citians of Italian descent and their often unfair treatment in the newspapers for their comparatively few members of organized crime, and descriptions of several "cultured and law-abiding" local Italians such as musicians M. A. Lenge, N. DeRubertis, Mike Russo, Arturo Corti, Gustavo Corti, and Rosemarie Brancato; artists Dante Cosentino, Frank Tommassini, and Paulo D'Anna; and scientists and teachers Dr. Louis Laurenzanna, Frank Laurenzanno, Dr. E. Mella, and Elio Monachesi. Other featured articles include: “Cheese Joins the Gang” (p. 3), a photo and article about Charley Casciola, or Cheese Casciola, a "hoodlum machine election 'worker'" acquitted of involvement in "the bloody election day murders March 27, 1934"; and “May We Present W. W. (Tom) Graves” (p. 5), a photo and profile W. W. Graves, Jr. (Waller Washington Graves), or Tom Graves, prosecuting attorney of Jackson County with close ties to the Pendergast machine; also included in the newspaper are advertisements for local businesses and articles on fashion, finance, cooking, music, art, and national and international news.
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Date
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1935-05-31
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Object Type
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Newspaper
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Title
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Future: The Newsweekly for Today
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Description
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Issue of the anti-corruption, Kansas City-based newspaper, Future: The Newsweekly for Today. The front page includes an article, continued on page 8, about the Bond Advisory Committee of the Ten-Year Plan, made up of prominent Kansas Citians including R. Crosby Kemper and J. E. Woodmansee, and chaired by Conrad H. Mann. Other featured articles include: “The Sport of Kings” (p. 2), about the Riverside horse racing track and the machine-controlled gambling that takes place there; “Will They Be Able to Silence Mr. Bash?” (p. 3), a photo and article about Thomas Bash, "shooting sheriff" of Jackson County testifying in trial about the shooting regarding Charles Gargotta, including speculations about his reasons for testifying against the Pendergast machine despite its offers made to him to keep quiet; also included in the newspaper are advertisements for local businesses and articles on fashion, finance, cooking, music, art, and national and international news.
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Date
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1935-06-28
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Object Type
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Newspaper
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Title
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Future: The Newsweekly for Today
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Description
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Issue of the anti-corruption, Kansas City-based newspaper, Future: The Newsweekly for Today. The front page includes an article, continued on page 8, about crime in Kansas City, the lack of accurate, trustworthy records about its frequency and location, and the city’s “inefficient, politically-controlled police department.” Other featured articles include: “Mister Welching” (p. 3), a photo and article about "Judge Casimir John Joseph Aloysius Welch," or Casimir Welch, "the florid Fifteenth street political boss" fighting "his way up from a journeyman plumber to the judgeship of a justice court and the baronage of Fifteenth street”; and “May We Present Paul Gardner” (p. 5), a photo and profile of Paul Gardner, "director of the William Rockhill Nelson Gallery and Atkins Museum" and an architect "in Kansas City advising with the architects and contractors during the building of the Nelson Gallery," born in Boston and raised in San Francisco; also included in the newspaper are advertisements for local businesses and articles on fashion, finance, cooking, music, art, and national and international news.
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Date
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1935-07-05
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Object Type
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Newspaper
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Title
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Future: The Newsweekly for Today
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Description
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Issue of the anti-corruption, Kansas City-based newspaper, Future: The Newsweekly for Today. The front page includes an article, continued on page 8, about J. C. Nichols and his city planning projects in Kansas City with the Country Club residential district and Country Club Plaza shopping center, etc., including a photo of Nichols. Other featured articles include: “To Better Serve His Clients” (p. 2), about Michael Konomos retiring as assistant county prosecutor after "'los[ing] the records' in one of the most infamous murder cases in court history here last March" involving a murder by John Mangiaricina, "alleged killer, ward politician in well with an organization power"; “Bye Bye Adam (p. 2), photo and article about Adam Richetti, "associate of Charles (Pretty Boy) Floyd, in the circuit court … being tried on a charge of murder in connection with the Union Station massacre"; and “May We Present Jimmy Maroon” (p. 5), profile of Jimmy Maroon, or James Maroon, "hoodlum, city employee, and man-about-Twelth-Street," starting out as a criminal in Kansas City in 1927 as a car thief and kidnapper and arrested as part of a criminal gang in Kansas City in 1935; also included in the newspaper are advertisements for local businesses and articles on fashion, finance, cooking, music, art, and national and international news.
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Date
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1935-06-21
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Object Type
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Newspaper
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Title
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Open City: True Story of the KC Crime Family 1900-1950
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Description
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Open City is an historical work detailing and analyzing the birth and growth of an organized crime family in Kansas City during the first 50 yars of the 20th Century. It includes names as Charles Binaggio, Nick Civella, Joe DiGiovanni, Charles Gargotta, John Lazia, and Tom Pendergast. Covers topics like prohibition, gambling, political machines, labor rackets, etc. The author was supervisor of the Organized Crime Squad, Kansas City Field Division after a long career with the FBI when he retired.
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Date
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2008
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Object Type
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Book
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Title
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The Crime-Ridden Summer of 1933
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Description
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Article reviews the events of the 1933 summer when Mary McElroy was kidnapped, eleven prisoners escaped from the Kansas penitentiary in Lansing, The Union Station Massacre took place, Bonnie and Clyde engaged in a shoot out with officers in Platte County, and Jackson County sheriff Thomas B. Bash interrupted a shooting and ended up killing two mafia figures.
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Date
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1963-09-08
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Object Type
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Newspaper Article
