Charlie Birger Case Analysis

The first organized crime mastermind that will be analyzed is Charlie Birger. Charlie Birger was a Russian born immigrant who first came to America sometime between 1896-1897. Birger’s first well documented experience in America was the three years he spent in the United States Army. Birger served in the 13th United States Cavalry from 1901-1904. Birger’s early years in Illinois are not very well documented. It isn’t until 1913 when he moved to Ledford, located in southern Illinois’ Saline County. He quickly began selling whiskey to and beer to miners in and around Ledford. Birger was smart in that he bought property near the railway and utilized the railway to transport his alcohol. Birger being a business man opened up his restaurant-saloon to accommodate the town miners, who were the biggest alcohol consumers in the area. Birger was an easy going guy which only helped him in gaining many friends. The townspeople also seemed to enjoy him around as well. Birger
He quickly began creating more enemies than alliances within the underworld of crime. Birger’s main competition was his once alliance, the Shelton brothers gang. Birger was rivals with the KKK due to their intolerance and hatred for immigrants. He and his men were involved in shoot outs with the Shelton’s and other small time crooks in the area over territory. Birger presented this Robin Hood like life. He was convicted at the end of his criminal career for killing several men, and participating in bootlegging, but also well liked by his community; because of all the charity he provided the general public. Birger is the most contradicting of the three criminal profiles that are discussed in this paper. Ultimately, like most gangsters of this era Birger met his end. He was sentenced to be hung April 19, 1928. Birger was hung that morning around 10am and died smiling, “it’s a beautiful world,” were some of his last