Sangerman's Bombers
Encyclopedia
Sangerman's Bombers were a criminal group of bomb
ers based in Chicago
during the 1920s.
The successors of Sweeney's Bombers, the gang was formed by Joseph Sangerman in the early-1920s, shortly after the arrests of the Sweeney gang in 1921. Hired out by primarily by Chicago politicians and organized crime groups (such as Al Capone
's Chicago Outfit
), the group was the first to use its services for labor unions. As an officer of the Chicago barbers union, as well as a leading manufacturer of barber supplies, Sangerman began using the gang to bomb barber shops which refused to agree to union regulations. With the gangs early success, Sangerman began accepting jobs from outside trade unions. By the time of Sangerman's arrest in 1925 the gang, by Sangerman's own admission, included a well organized group of six members which was hired from $50 to $700. George Matrisciano, a leading member of the gang, was considered one of the best bomb makers in Chicago history. Receiving several indictments against him as a result of Sangerman's arrest, Matrisciano was killed before his testimony, however. A later investigation by the Illinois Crime Survey suspected several members of the barbers union however no charges were filed.
With the conviction of Sangerman and Matrisciano's death, the gang dissolved shortly afterward. The use of bombings as a means of intimidation had become less favorable from the negative press coverage, specifically during the Aldermen's Wars
of 1916-1921 and the 1928 Republican convention known as the "Pineapple Primary
", drew too much attention and public outcry and by the end of the decade the Chicago underworld had returned to more discreet methods of intimidation.
Bomb
A bomb is any of a range of explosive weapons that only rely on the exothermic reaction of an explosive material to provide an extremely sudden and violent release of energy...
ers based in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
during the 1920s.
The successors of Sweeney's Bombers, the gang was formed by Joseph Sangerman in the early-1920s, shortly after the arrests of the Sweeney gang in 1921. Hired out by primarily by Chicago politicians and organized crime groups (such as Al Capone
Al Capone
Alphonse Gabriel "Al" Capone was an American gangster who led a Prohibition-era crime syndicate. The Chicago Outfit, which subsequently became known as the "Capones", was dedicated to smuggling and bootlegging liquor, and other illegal activities such as prostitution, in Chicago from the early...
's Chicago Outfit
Chicago Outfit
The Chicago Outfit, also known as the Chicago Syndicate or Chicago Mob and sometimes shortened to simply the Outfit, is a crime syndicate based in Chicago, Illinois, USA...
), the group was the first to use its services for labor unions. As an officer of the Chicago barbers union, as well as a leading manufacturer of barber supplies, Sangerman began using the gang to bomb barber shops which refused to agree to union regulations. With the gangs early success, Sangerman began accepting jobs from outside trade unions. By the time of Sangerman's arrest in 1925 the gang, by Sangerman's own admission, included a well organized group of six members which was hired from $50 to $700. George Matrisciano, a leading member of the gang, was considered one of the best bomb makers in Chicago history. Receiving several indictments against him as a result of Sangerman's arrest, Matrisciano was killed before his testimony, however. A later investigation by the Illinois Crime Survey suspected several members of the barbers union however no charges were filed.
With the conviction of Sangerman and Matrisciano's death, the gang dissolved shortly afterward. The use of bombings as a means of intimidation had become less favorable from the negative press coverage, specifically during the Aldermen's Wars
Aldermen's Wars
The Alderman's Wars is a term used to describe the series of murders and violent rioting between warring Alderman Johnny "de Pow" Powers and Anthony D'Andrea from 1916 until 1921...
of 1916-1921 and the 1928 Republican convention known as the "Pineapple Primary
Pineapple Primary
The Pineapple Primary was the name given to a Republican primary election held in Chicago on April 10, 1928; more than 60 bombs were thrown during the campaign and at least two politicians were killed...
", drew too much attention and public outcry and by the end of the decade the Chicago underworld had returned to more discreet methods of intimidation.