Shotgun Man
Encyclopedia
Shotgun Man was an assassin and mass murderer in Chicago, Illinois in the 1910s, to whom murders of Black Hand
extortionists were attributed. Most notably, Shotgun Man killed 15 Italian immigrants between January 1-March 26, 1911 between Oak Street
and Milton Street (now Cleveland Street) of Chicago's Little Italy
(known as "Death Corner"). In March 1911, he reportedly murdered four people within a 72-hour period, also at the intersection of Oak and Milton.
Although witnessed by dozens of bystanders, neither the Chicago police nor the "Whitechapel Society" were able to identify the murderer. However, he was said to be well-known throughout the Italian community and, with the political influence of the Black Hand, residents may have been hesitant to turn in the assassin. Although the fate of Shotgun Man is unknown, he seems to have disappeared from Little Italy shortly before Prohibition
, as extortion operations of the Black Hand all but faded away by the end of the decade.
Black Hand (blackmail)
Black Hand was a type of extortion racket. It was a method of extortion, not a criminal organization as such, though gangsters of Camorra and the Mafia practiced it.-Origins:...
extortionists were attributed. Most notably, Shotgun Man killed 15 Italian immigrants between January 1-March 26, 1911 between Oak Street
Oak Street (Chicago)
Oak Street is a short street on Chicago's Gold Coast at 1000 North in Chicago's street numbering system, running from 138 east to 648 west in the Near North Side community area of Chicago in Cook County, Illinois, United States. It ends without crossing the North Branch of the Chicago River...
and Milton Street (now Cleveland Street) of Chicago's Little Italy
Little Italy, Chicago
Little Italy is a neighborhood on the Near West Side of Chicago, Illinois. The current boundaries of Little Italy are Ashland Avenue on the west and Morgan Street on the east — bracketed by Harrison Street on the north and Roosevelt Road; i.e., 12th Street, on the south...
(known as "Death Corner"). In March 1911, he reportedly murdered four people within a 72-hour period, also at the intersection of Oak and Milton.
Although witnessed by dozens of bystanders, neither the Chicago police nor the "Whitechapel Society" were able to identify the murderer. However, he was said to be well-known throughout the Italian community and, with the political influence of the Black Hand, residents may have been hesitant to turn in the assassin. Although the fate of Shotgun Man is unknown, he seems to have disappeared from Little Italy shortly before Prohibition
Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
, as extortion operations of the Black Hand all but faded away by the end of the decade.