The "Untouchables" as they came to be known were a special squad tasked specifically with bringing down Al Capone and his network. That group was disbanded upon Capone's conviction in 1931. Mr. Ness then became Chief Investigator of the Chicago Prohibition Bureau which was disbanded with the repeal of Prohibition in 1933. This photo is a group photo of the investigators assigned to that bureau. They sat for the portrait as their bureau was being disbanded. Seated from left are: Jim Berenton, Al Aman, Gus Simons, Ray Casserly, Walter Miller. In the rear from left are: Tom Scott, Lee Donahue, Bob Ford, Ivan Caushift, Unknown, Eliot Ness, Agent Aman went on to a long career with federal law enforcement later becoming involved with the so-called "Murder, Incorporated" investigation and convictions, and many high-visibility takedowns of narcotic traffickers. He was a reserve naval officer and was activated during World War II, serving in the Pacific Theater. He died of a heart attack at his home in the Ravenswood neighborhood of Chicago in 1963. (Photo, names and background history courtesy of the Aman Family)
The Real Untouchables
The initial nine were:
Lyle Chapman: Former Colgate University football player, tactician and investigator.
Barney Cloonan: A muscular Irishman, known for his strength.
Marty Lahart: Another muscular, Irish boxer and sports enthusiast.
Tom Frie: Former Pennsylvania state trooper.
Bill Gardner: A Chippewa Indian, former athlete, former soldier, lawyer and the oldest member at age 50.
Mike King: Deceptively ordinary looking analyst and tactician.
Joe Leeson: Expert driver with a speciality for tailing suspects.
Paul W. Robsky: Short and unobtrusive wire-tapping expert. (He was the last of the Untouchables to die and authored a book "The Last of the Untouchables." Robsky was never a fan of the TV series. He often said, unlike the TV series, there was never any shooting, no one died, and "We were never in any real danger during the raids or our investigations. It was mostly routine work.")
Samuel M. Seager: A former Sing Sing death row corrections officer.
The two replacements:
Jim Seeley: A former private investigator.
Al "Wallpaper" Wolff: Transferred to Chicago from the Kentucky hills shortly after the St. Valentine’s day massacre.
Also of note:
Frank Basile: A former convict whom Ness had reformed, Basile was killed during an attempt on Ness' life. He was Ness' friend, sometime assistant, and driver. Basile was often present at the brewery raids, even though he was not an agent.
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Lyle Chapman: Former Colgate University football player, tactician and investigator.
Barney Cloonan: A muscular Irishman, known for his strength.
Marty Lahart: Another muscular, Irish boxer and sports enthusiast.
Tom Frie: Former Pennsylvania state trooper.
Bill Gardner: A Chippewa Indian, former athlete, former soldier, lawyer and the oldest member at age 50.
Mike King: Deceptively ordinary looking analyst and tactician.
Joe Leeson: Expert driver with a speciality for tailing suspects.
Paul W. Robsky: Short and unobtrusive wire-tapping expert. (He was the last of the Untouchables to die and authored a book "The Last of the Untouchables." Robsky was never a fan of the TV series. He often said, unlike the TV series, there was never any shooting, no one died, and "We were never in any real danger during the raids or our investigations. It was mostly routine work.")
Samuel M. Seager: A former Sing Sing death row corrections officer.
The two replacements:
Jim Seeley: A former private investigator.
Al "Wallpaper" Wolff: Transferred to Chicago from the Kentucky hills shortly after the St. Valentine’s day massacre.
Also of note:
Frank Basile: A former convict whom Ness had reformed, Basile was killed during an attempt on Ness' life. He was Ness' friend, sometime assistant, and driver. Basile was often present at the brewery raids, even though he was not an agent.
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