William Colbeck (gangster)

William Colbeck
Born(1890-11-17)November 17, 1890
DiedFebruary 17, 1943(1943-02-17) (aged 52)
Cause of deathGunshot wounds
Occupation(s)Politician, criminal

William P. "Dint" Colbeck (November 17, 1890 – February 17, 1943) was a St. Louis politician and organized crime figure involved in bootlegging and illegal gambling. He succeeded William Egan as head of the Egan's Rats bootlegging gang in the early 1920s.[1]

Early years

Born in North St. Louis with German and Irish roots, Colbeck joined Egan's Rats in his late teens. In between his gangster jobs, Colbeck trained to work as a plumber. His work in this field resulted in his nickname of "Dinty" or "Dint", as he was most usually called by associates. After the outbreak of World War I, Colbeck joined the U.S. Army in April 1918 and fought as an infantryman with the 89th Infantry Division in France. Upon his return home in 1919, Colbeck became Willie Egan's right-hand man in the gang.

Gang leader

On October 31, 1921, Willie Egan was shot dead in front of his Franklin Avenue saloon by gunmen in a passing automobile. Colbeck had been present at the time of the shooting and Egan reportedly whispered to him the names of the shooters before he died. Now the leader of the gang, Dint announced to his men that Egan's killers were Jimmy Hogan, John Doyle, and Luke Kennedy. These three belonged to the Rats' arch-rivals, the Hogan Gang, which was led by Edward "Jelly Roll" Hogan, the Missouri state beverage inspector. Colbeck and his men immediately retaliated and gang warfare engulfed St. Louis.

During the first years of Prohibition, the Rats controlled most of the illegal bootlegging in and around St. Louis. They also began to supplement their bootlegging profits with armed robberies that victimized banks, armored cars, and messengers. It was estimated that Egan's Rats stole nearly $4,000,000 over a five-year period. Colbeck was ruthless with anyone who got in the gang's way, including its own members.

Dint Colbeck was the most powerful gangster in St. Louis during the early 1920s. He and his men were headquartered at the Maxwelton Club in North St. Louis County, and Colbeck often dispensed bribes, illegal booze, or other favors from his roost. Dint also served as the sergeant-at-arms of the St. Louis Democratic City Committee, giving him a political base inside the city government. While Colbeck was shot and wounded by the Hogan Gang during the gang war, he successfully led his crew against their rivals until a peace treaty was brokered in June 1922 by Monsignor Timothy Dempsey. While Dint did not usually accompany his men on jobs, he had no qualms about getting his hands dirty. Having survived years on the streets and combat on the Western Front, Colbeck was fearless under fire and an expert shot; his weapon of choice was the BAR.

The Egan-Hogan gang war re-ignited when Colbeck and five of his men assassinated Hogan Gang lawyer Jacob Mackler on February 21, 1923. Shootings again rocked the city of St. Louis. By Easter Sunday 1923, both Dint and Jelly Roll Hogan wrote letters to the citizens of St. Louis telling them that the war was finally finished once and for all; both notes were published in the St. Louis Star.

Downfall

By 1924, Colbeck and the Rats were at the height of their power, but trouble was coming fast. Cliques had developed in the gang, and Colbeck surrounded himself with his four core gunmen: bodyguard Louis "Red" Smith, Steve Ryan, Oliver Daugherty, and sharpshooter David "Chippy" Robinson. A handful of Rats either fled town or ran afoul of Dint Colbeck. In one instance of intra-gang turmoil, Dint and his four top men executed disgruntled Egan gang member Eddie Linehan at the Maxwelton Club on February 13, 1924.

By this time, the law was closing in as well. Colbeck and his top henchmen went on trial for two 1923 mail robberies, one of which netted the gang nearly $2.4 million US in cash and negotiable bonds. In order to pay his crew's mounting legal fees, Dint led some of the boys on the robbery of the Granite City National Bank on April 25, 1924, netting $63,000. Colbeck was also suspected of ordering an assassination attempt on his longtime benefactor and associate, Missouri State Senator Michael Kinney, on June 3, 1924. Kinney survived his wounds, and no one was charged in his shooting.

On the strength of the testimony of Egan gangster Ray Renard, Colbeck and eight of his men were convicted on November 15, 1924, and sentenced to 25 years in federal prison. While in the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary, one of his cell mates was Chicago gang boss Al Capone, who assisted him in his work with the Catholic chaplain. Legend has it the two hit it off so well they planned to go into business together once they were both paroled. These plans were foiled by Capone's transfer to Alcatraz in 1934.

Unsuccessful comeback

Paroled in November 1940, Colbeck declared he was going to work as a master plumber and stay out of trouble. Nevertheless, Colbeck and his old associates were rumored to be trying to muscle their way back into the St. Louis underworld. On February 17, 1943, Dint Colbeck was found machine-gunned to death[2] in his car at the corner of Ninth and Destrehan streets in St. Louis. The exact motive for his murder was unclear; he might have been killed by crime bosses wanting to eliminate a potential rival or by someone nursing a grudge. No one was ever charged in Colbeck's murder.

See also

References

  1. ^ Waugh, Daniel (2007). Egan's Rats: The Untold Story of the Gang that ruled Prohibition-era St. Louis. Nashville, Tennessee: Cumberland House.
  2. ^ O’Neil, Tim (17 February 2024). "Feb. 17, 1943: Egan's Rats mob boss is killed in a blast of machine-gun fire". STLtoday.com. Retrieved 13 March 2024.

Read other articles:

خيسوس خيل مانزانو   معلومات شخصية الميلاد 4 فبراير 1984 (40 سنة)  دون بينيتو  تاريخ الوفاة 2024/3/3 مواطنة إسبانيا  الحياة العملية المدرسة الأم جامعة إكستريمادورا  المهنة الحكام الدوليين للفيفا  [لغات أخرى]‏،  وحكم كرة قدم  اللغات الإسبانية  الرياضة كرة...

 

 

Untuk pernyataan yang menjelaskan asal muasal geografi dan migrasi awal manusia ke benua Amerika, lihat Pemukiman benua Amerika. Informasi lebih lanjut mengenai warisan genetik Amerik Asli: Sejarah genetik penduduk asli Amerika Peta dunia (proyeksi Mercator), yang menempatkan benua Amerika pada bagian tengah. Klaim-klaim kontak lintas samudra pra-Columbus berkaitan dengan kunjungan, penemuan atau interaksi dengan benua Amerika dan/atau penduduk asli Amerika oleh orang-orang dari Afrika, A...

 

 

Cet article est une ébauche concernant une localité du Maine. Vous pouvez partager vos connaissances en l’améliorant (comment ?) selon les recommandations des projets correspondants. Old Orchard Beach Administration Pays États-Unis État Maine Comté Comté de York (Maine) Code ZIP 04064 Indicatif(s) téléphonique(s) local (locaux) 207 Démographie Population 8 856 hab. (2000) Densité 452 hab./km2 Géographie Coordonnées 43° 31′ 02″ nord, 70°...

Map of the counties named after prominent Confederate historical figures tabulated below. This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (November 2023) This is a list of U.S. counties named after prominent Confederate historical figures. The counties are named primarily for Confederate politicians and military officers. Most counties are located in Confederate States, whilst five counties are located in what was the Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma), a territory that w...

 

 

Angkatan Bersenjata AfganistanPresiden Hamid Karzai memeriksa Pasukan Penjaga Kehormatan pada Hari Kemerdekaan Afganistan pada tahun 2011 di Kabul, Afganistan.Didirikan1709Formasi terkini2002AngkatanAngkatan DaratAngkatan UdaraMarkas besarKabulKepemimpinanPresidenAshraf GhaniMenteri PertahananBismillah Khan MohammadiKekuatan personelUsia penerimaan18Ketersediaanmenurut usia6,800,888 laki-laki, umur 16 to 49[1], 6,413,647 perempuan, umur 16 to 49[1]Kete...

 

 

Surface containing a line through every point Definition of a ruled surface: every point lies on a line In geometry, a surface S is ruled (also called a scroll) if through every point of S there is a straight line that lies on S. Examples include the plane, the lateral surface of a cylinder or cone, a conical surface with elliptical directrix, the right conoid, the helicoid, and the tangent developable of a smooth curve in space. A ruled surface can be described as the set of points swept by ...

American gridiron football player (born 1956) Grover CovingtonNo. 77Grover Covington - Photographed by Mike F. CampbellBorn: (1956-03-25) March 25, 1956 (age 68)Monroe, North Carolina, U.S.Career informationCFL statusAmericanPosition(s)DEHeight6 ft 2 in (188 cm)Weight235 lb (107 kg)CollegeJohnson C. SmithCareer historyAs player1981–1991Hamilton Tiger-Cats Career highlights and awards Grey Cup Most Valuable Defensive Player (1986) James ...

 

 

United States Air Force general Joseph McNeilOfficial U.S. Air Force PhotoBirth nameJoseph Alfred McNeilBorn (1942-03-25) March 25, 1942 (age 82)Wilmington, North CarolinaAllegianceUnited States of AmericaService/branch United States Air ForceYears of service1963–2000Rank Major GeneralUnit 702nd Military Airlift Squadron 22nd Air ForceCommands held702nd Military Airlift Squadron22nd Air ForceBattles/warsVietnam WarOperation Arc LightOperation Young TigerAwardsLegion of MeritM...

 

 

Ursuline Church along Slovene Street Ursuline Church of the Holy Trinity (Slovene: Uršulinska cerkev svete Trojice), officially Holy Trinity Parish Church in Ljubljana (Župnijska cerkev svete Trojice), also Nun Church (Nunska cerkev), is a parish church in Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia.[1] It is located at Slovene Street (Slovenska cesta), along the western border of Congress Square. It was built between 1718 and 1726 in the Baroque style.[2] History The church was desi...

Municipality in Rhineland-Palatinate, GermanyGunderath Municipality Coat of armsLocation of Gunderath within Vulkaneifel district Gunderath Show map of GermanyGunderath Show map of Rhineland-PalatinateCoordinates: 50°15′18″N 6°58′54″E / 50.25500°N 6.98167°E / 50.25500; 6.98167CountryGermanyStateRhineland-PalatinateDistrictVulkaneifel Municipal assoc.KelbergGovernment • Mayor (2019–24) Nick Radermacher[1]Area • Total1.29...

 

 

American rock band This article is about the rock band. For their debut album, see Foo Fighters (album). For the aerial phenomenon, see Foo fighter. Foo FightersFoo Fighters at Glastonbury Festival 2023. From left: Chris Shiflett, Rami Jaffee, Dave Grohl, Nate Mendel, Josh Freese and Pat Smear.Background informationAlso known asThe Holy Shits[1]Dee Gees[2]The ChurnUpsOriginSeattle, Washington, U.S.Genres Alternative rock post-grunge hard rock grunge DiscographyFoo Fighters dis...

 

 

Avetranacomune Avetrana – VedutaVista aerea notturna del centro abitato LocalizzazioneStato Italia Regione Puglia Provincia Taranto AmministrazioneSindacoAntonio Iazzi (lista civica) dal 4-10-2021 TerritorioCoordinate40°21′14″N 17°44′09″E / 40.353889°N 17.735833°E40.353889; 17.735833 (Avetrana)Coordinate: 40°21′14″N 17°44′09″E / 40.353889°N 17.735833°E40.353889; 17.735833 (Avetrana) Altitudine62 m...

U.S. forecasting agency of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Weather Bureau redirects here. For other uses, see Meteorological Administration. National Weather ServiceAgency overviewFormedFebruary 9, 1870; 154 years ago (1870-02-09)Preceding agencyUnited States Weather BureauJurisdictionUnited States federal governmentHeadquartersSilver Spring, Maryland38°59′30″N 77°01′48″W / 38.99167°N 77.03000°W / 38.99167; -77.03000Ann...

 

 

Istana St James, dimana Dewan Kenaikan berkumpul Di Britania Raya, Dewan Kenaikan (bahasa Inggris: Accession Council) adalah sebuah badan seremonial yang ditempatkan di Istana St James setelah kematian penguasa (Kepergian Mahkota), untuk secara resmi memproklamasikan kenaikan tahta penerusnya. Menurut Act of Settlement 1701, penguasa monarki secara otomatis menggantikannya. Proklamasi tersebut dikonfirmasikan dengan penyebutan identitas pewaris yang menggantikannya. Dewan tersebut terdiri...

 

 

保加利亞共和國Република България 国旗 国徽 格言:Съединението прави силата(保加利亞語)“團結就是力量”国歌:Мила Родино《亲爱的父母邦》保加利亚的位置(深綠色)– 歐洲(綠色及深灰色)– 歐盟(綠色)  —  [圖例放大]首都暨最大城市索菲亞官方语言保加利亞語官方文字西里尔字母族群(2011年)84.8% 保加利亞人8.8%...

Library in the University of Toronto housing a collection of rare books and manuscripts At one of the open atria at the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library, a seminar room is situated at the base under a mezzanine and upper-level shelving. The Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library is a library in the University of Toronto, constituting the largest repository of publicly accessible rare books and manuscripts in Canada. The library is also home to the university archives which, in addition to institution...

 

 

Untuk artikel tentang perawatan medis, lihat Tuam (medis). Lambang Tuam Tuam (bahasa Irlandia: Tuaim) ialah sebuah koa kecil di County Galway, Republik Irlandia. Kota ini berpenduduk tak sampai 3000 jiwa. Tuam memiliki 2 katedral; St. Mary's Cathedral (Gereja Irlandia) dan Cathedral of the Assumption (Katolik Roma), kedudukan Keuskupan Agung Tuam. Beberapa lembaga pendidikan, seperti St. Patrick's College, St. Jarlath's College, MacHale Vocational School, Presentation College Currylea dan St ...

 

 

For other uses, see Inari. Place in Lapland, FinlandInari (Finnish)Aanar (Inari Sami)InariLocation in FinlandCoordinates: 68°54′20″N 27°1′40″E / 68.90556°N 27.02778°E / 68.90556; 27.02778}Country FinlandRegionLaplandMunicipalityInariPopulation (2014) • Total581Time zoneUTC+2 (EET) Inari is a population centre in the municipality by the same name in Lapland, Finland. It is widely known as the capital of Finnish Sámi culture.&...

1928 film Good Morning, JudgeFilm posterDirected byWilliam A. SeiterWritten byHarry O. HoytJoseph F. PolandTom ReedEarle SnellBeatrice VanStarringReginald DennyMary NolanOtis HarlanCinematographyArthur L. ToddEdited byEdward M. McDermottJohn RawlinsProductioncompanyUniversal PicturesDistributed byUniversal PicturesRelease date April 29, 1928 (1928-04-29) Running time60 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguageSilent (English intertitles) Good Morning, Judge is a 1928 American silent ...

 

 

Carl Froelich durante le riprese del film Die Regimentstochter (1908) accanto a Oskar Messter Carl Froelich, nato Carl August Hugo Froelich, (Berlino, 5 settembre 1875 – Berlino, 12 febbraio 1953), è stato un regista, direttore della fotografia, produttore cinematografico e sceneggiatore tedesco. È considerato uno dei pionieri del cinema tedesco. Indice 1 Filmografia 1.1 Regista 1.2 Produttore 1.3 Sceneggiatore 1.4 Direttore della fotogragia 2 Altri progetti 3 Collegamenti esterni Filmogr...