Emily Sweeney Discusses Her Book ‘Gangland Boston’ at West End Museum

Boston Globe reporter, Emily Sweeney, discussed her book, “Gangland Boston: A Tour Through the Deadly Streets of Organized Crime,” on March 23, at The HUB50 Community Room, Boston. The Dorchester resident shared fraudulent and violent stories of local mobsters that prevailed in Boston during the West End Museum event. “The mafia made its debut in the late 19th century Boston,” began Sweeney. “It was difficult being a police officer around the turn of the century. Back then, nobody carried ID’s. Criminals constantly used aliases. Boston Police didn’t start using fingerprints to identify people until 1906.” Until then, officers relied on mug shots, and measurements such as the length of the left foot, middle finger, or forearm to identify suspects. “One of the first gangs that rose to prominence in the late 19th century was the Swindling Beggars Gang,” Sweeney noted.

…