Crime & Police

Photos: Twenty amazing mug shots of Denver con men from the 1920s

A specialty of our Alan Prendergast is bringing vintage crime stories to life, as he did with his September feature "The Happiest Man on Death Row." His look at 1920s-era Denver district attorney Phil Van Cise, "Scourge of the Underworld," is in this tradition -- and for that 2008 tale,...
By Michael RobertsOctober 1, 2012
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A specialty of our Alan Prendergast is bringing vintage crime stories to life, as he did with his September feature “The Happiest Man on Death Row.” His look at 1920s-era Denver district attorney Phil Van Cise, “Scourge of the Underworld,” is in this tradition — and for that 2008 tale, Prendergast assembled an amazing gallery of mug shots featuring members of a massive confidence ring the DA busted, featuring felons with names like “Fifky,” “Big Nose” and “The Perfume Kid.” They put most of today’s mug shots to shame. Check them out below.

Continue for more of our twenty amazing mug shots of Denver con men from the 1920s.

Continue for more of our twenty amazing mug shots of Denver con men from the 1920s.

Continue for more of our twenty amazing mug shots of Denver con men from the 1920s.

Continue for more of our twenty amazing mug shots of Denver con men from the 1920s.

More from our Mug Shots archive: “Photos: Colorado’s top twenty most wanted sex offenders.”

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword‘s news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor’s degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master’s degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

michaelrobertscolo@gmail.com
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