Morrissey vs. Sullivan: Fight, Then Feud

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On October 12, 1853, 23 year-old John Morrissey would meet 40 year-old “Yankee” Sullivan for the American and possibly World Heavyweight Prizefighting Championship.  Sullivan had been considered the champion since Tom Hyer, who had beaten Sullivan previously, retired instead of fighting Sullivan in a rematch.  Sullivan claimed the title and was backed by Hyer, who had made peace with Sullivan.

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Charlie Chan in Dangerous Money (1946)

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Dangerous Money (1946) is the second to last Charlie Chan film starring Sidney Toler from Monogram Pictures. After Sidney Toler’s death, Roland Winters would take over the role for nine more films. This film allows us to appreciate Toler’s portrayal of Inspector Chan for close to the last time. This film was the tenth for Monogram and his twenty-first portrayal

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Tammany Thugs Murder Bill the Butcher

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In July 1854, the World Bareknuckle Prizefighting Champion John Morrissey, who also severed as Tammany Hall enforcer, challenged William “Bill the Butcher” Poole to a no holds barred street fight.  The result was a terrible beating and several month recovery for John Morrissey.  Morrissey would have likely won a bareknuckle prizefight with Poole, a part-time prizefighter himself.  Morrissey made a

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Death of the Head Rat

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William T.”Willie” Egan took over “Egan’s Rats” on the death of his older brother Tom in 1919.  Thomas “Snake” Kinney and his childhood friend and brother-in-law Tom Egan formed St. Louis’ criminal organization in the late 1800s.  Both Kinney and Tom Egan were saloon keepers and Democratic politicians.  They employed “the Rats” for political slugging and other criminal activities. Thomas

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