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Mesmerizing Photos of 1920s Criminals

In the shadowy corners of history, the early 20th century's underbelly thrived with a cast of characters whose exploits were often as daring as they were criminal. From backyard abortionists to sophisticated thieves, this article delves into the lives of individuals whose names peppered police gazettes, their deeds a testament to the era's darker narratives. Through archival snippets, we uncover tales of deception, ambition, and survival, painting a vivid tableau of a bygone time where lawlessness wove its complex tapestry.

 
Herbert Ellis, 1920
1920s gangsters
"Ellis is found in numerous police records of the 1910s, 20s and 30s. He is variously listed as a housebreaker, a shop breaker, a safe breaker, a receiver and a suspected person."
 
Edith Florence Ashton, 29 August 1929
1920s gangsters
"Edith Ashton was a backyard abortionist who also dabbled in theft and fencing stolen goods"

Eugenia Falleni, Alias Harry Crawford. 1920
1920s gangsters
"Eugenia Falleni spent most of her life masquerading as a man. In 1913 Falleni married a widow, Annie Birkett, whom she later murdered."
De Gracy And Edward Dalton, 1920
1920s gangsters

William Stanley Moore 1926
1920s gangsters
"Opium dealer./ Operates with large quantities of faked opium and cocaine. A wharf labourer; associates with water front thieves and drug traders."
“Mrs Osbourne” Circa 1919
1920s gangsters
Nancy Cowman, 21 February 1924
1920s gangsters
"Nancy Cowman, 19, and Vera Crichton, 23, are listed in the NSW Police Gazette 24 March 1924 as charged, along with three others, with “conspiring together to procure a miscarriage” on a third woman."
 
‘Ah Num’ And ‘Ah Tom’, Ca 193
1920s gangsters
"The ‘D’ prefix on the serial number indicates that the photograph was taken on behalf of the Drug Bureau"
 
Guiseppe Fiori, Alias Permontto. 1924
1920s gangsters
William Cahill 1923
1920s gangsters
Sydney Skukerman, Or Skukarman. 1924
1920s gangsters
"Obtains goods from warehousemen by falsely representing that he is in business."
Emma Rolfe (Aka May Mulholland, Sybil White, Jean Harris And Eileen Mulholland), 1 April 1920
1920s gangsters
"Emma Rolfe better known as May Mulholland (also as Sybil White, Jean Harris and Eileen Mulholland) had numerous convictions in the period 1919-1920 for theft of jewellery and clothing (all quality items: silk blouses, kimonos and scarves, antique bric a brac etc) from various houses around Kensington and Randwick, and from city shops"
 
Doris Winifred Poole, 31 July 192
1920s gangsters
"Doris Poole appeared before the Newtown Police Court charged with stealing jewelry and clothing."
 
Philomena Mary Best, 15 March 192
1920s gangsters
"Philomena Best stole silk and other goods valued at over 36 pounds (about $2000 today) from a Bourke shopkeeper."
‘Hayes’, Early 1920s
1920s gangsters
Hampton Hirscham, Cornellius Joseph Keevil, William Thomas O’brien & James O’brien. 1921
1920s gangsters
"The quartet pictured were arrested over a robbery at the home of bookmaker Reginald Catton, of Todman avenue, Kensington, on 21 April 1921. The Crown did not proceed against Thomas O’Brien but the other three were convicted and received sentences of fifteen months each."
Frederick Edward Davies. 192
1920s gangsters
"The handwritten inscription on this unnumbered Special Photograph reads ‘Frederick Edward Davies stealing in picture shows and theatres Dets Surridge Clark and Breen Central 14-7-21’"
 
Group Of Criminals, Central 1921
1920s gangsters
Harris Hunter, 17 September 1924
1920s gangsters
Elsie Hall, Dulcie Morgan, Jean Taylor C. 1920
1920s gangsters
"The names inscribed here do not appear in police records for 1920-21, and it is likely the women were photographed simply because they were found in the company of known criminals."
Thomas Sutherland Jones And William Smith, 15 July 1921
1920s gangsters
"Smith and Jones are listed in the NSW Police Gazette as charged with stealing seven packages of twine (value 14 pounds). Jones was further charged with stealing thirty horse rugs (value 15 pounds) and two bales of kapok (value 20 pounds)."
Hazel Mcguinness, 26 July 1929
1920s gangsters
"Hazel McGuinness was charged along with her mother Ada McGuiness with having cocaine (in substantial quantities) illegally in her possession. Police described a raid on the McGuinnesses’ Darlinghurst house during which the mother Ada threw a hand bag containing packets of cocaine to her daughter, shouting, ‘Run Hazel!’"
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