Capone's Cornfields: The Mob in the Illinois Valley

By Dan Churney

Book Overview

Residents of small towns in New England like to say "George Washington slept here," while citizens of the Illinois Valley like to say "Al Capone slept here." As you can see, things are different in... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1594570930
• ISBN13: 9781594570933
• Release Date: December 2003
• Publisher: Booksurge Publishing
• Length: 248 Pages
• Weight: 0.71 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.2" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

book review

I really enjoyed this book. It is local history mixed with people everyone would recognize.

Lincolnland is Caponeland!

The Outfit's domain has traditionally extended beyond Chicago and you'd be surprised at the gangland anecdotes in the area surrounding Interstate 80. Dan Churney has done a great job of collecting these stories. Jimmy Murray, the politician-bootlegger who masterminded the million-dollar Rondout train robbery in 1924 and later served as a connection for Dillinger and Baby Face Nelson, Eddie Tancl, the boxer-turned speakeasy owner, Edgar Lebensberger and his questionable suicide, Rock Island crime boss John Looney, and lots of gangland lore you won't find in the standard books on the Chicago underworld. These are Capone's Cornfields!

Great read!

Someone in my office took the Churney Mob tour of the Illinois Valley (which is basically La Salle County, IL for those who aren't familiar). My officemate bought the book after the tour- I was third in the office to borrow this book after he was done, and I had to get my own copy. History buffs, wiseguy enthusiasts, and Illinois Valley residents past and present will love this thorough, factually detailed book about the rich underworld history of our little area. Churney names names, identifies the unknown landmarks, and pulls no punches telling the real stories you only thought you knew and many you didn't...get the book. If you're from the area, I promise, you'll know people who knew people...and you won't want to put the book down until you've read this cover to cover.

Capone's Cornfields

A fascinating and funny book about mob connections in a section of Downstate Illinois. The author made good use of irony and dry humor. An enjoyable read.