Mafia in West Virginia (Huntington, Parkersburg: felony, to buy, live)

[AirbornePolecat]

Originally Posted by snorpus

"Big Bill" Lias was reputed to be the kingpin in the Wheeling/Weirton area, with ties to the mob in Steubenville and Cleveland. Supposedly he was big in numbers and bootlegging.

I had the opportunity to met Big Bill when I was just a kid, he actually was very nice to me......he did have two very large dudes standing next to him while we talked. That was at the old horse track on the island.

[Nightman_Cometh]

Wheeling was called Lil Chicago and was big in the liquor running trade. Good times.

[Kat Whitmeyer]

Originally Posted by Kat Whitmeyer

I have heard stories about Mafia in Charleston, Clarksburg, Fairmont, Wheeling, etc., and also in the coalfields. However, I am most interested in organized crime in Charleston as I am researching for a book. I am a Charleston native and am looking specifically for information about events that occurred in the late 1960s and early 1970s involving organized crime figures, police officers and/or political figures.

Thanks so much for your help, but I know all the general info. I'm looking for information, specifically, about the arrest of three Charleston police officers in the early 1970s. They were tied to organized crime in the area. I think one died before he went to prison and another one died not long after he got out. I am working on a book about this interesting period in Kanawha/Fayette County history and need help. I will not reveal my sources. Although they were Charleston officers, there were ties to Smithers/Boomer. According to newspaper accounts I've read, the (young) federal agents on the case were now Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper and the late Mike Roark, formerly mayor of Charleston.

[Kat Whitmeyer]

Originally Posted by Buzz123

When I think of D. Boone the only mental image I get is of Fess Parker. Any pix of Boone exist? I have no idea what he would look like.

I was just at Fort Boonesborough State Park, near Winchester, Ky., two weeks ago. There are illustrations, and a painting of Boone there. There is also a written physical description - and it mentioned that his hair was more of the reddish-brown variety than black.

[MINITRUCK83]

Originally Posted by Kat Whitmeyer

Thanks so much for your help, but I know all the general info. I'm looking for information, specifically, about the arrest of three Charleston police officers in the early 1970s. They were tied to organized crime in the area. I think one died before he went to prison and another one died not long after he got out. I am working on a book about this interesting period in Kanawha/Fayette County history and need help. I will not reveal my sources. Although they were Charleston officers, there were ties to Smithers/Boomer. According to newspaper accounts I've read, the (young) federal agents on the case were now Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper and the late Mike Roark, formerly mayor of Charleston.

Might one of those officers initials be RC?

[usacredit]

My father was responsible for bringing down dozens of these orgainized crime figures, police officers, and poltical figures. He is still alive and well at 74 years. Their charges were brought against them in the late 70's and early 80's by the WV US Attorney. Contact me and we can discuss.

Originally Posted by Kat Whitmeyer

I have heard stories about Mafia in Charleston, Clarksburg, Fairmont, Wheeling, etc., and also in the coalfields. However, I am most interested in organized crime in Charleston as I am researching for a book. I am a Charleston native and am looking specifically for information about events that occurred in the late 1960s and early 1970s involving organized crime figures, police officers and/or political figures.

[XTMarX]

Originally Posted by David Kennedy

I do write...every night for a few hours...3 am to 5 am usually...two books in the hopper.
Theme:
Military guy gets shot...finds love interest...they live in West Virginia...over come some tragic situation...learn from it...looking for a publisher...saving up for McClain in Parsons to do it in a year or two.

As for writing about people who need privacy...will never happen.

Next one is begun...about the #9 Coal Mine in Farmington...research has been difficult as few survivors exist...the real story about that event needs to be told. Will be historical fiction just like the others...thanks for asking...
very passionate hobby and CJG/B was my best critic...I miss her a lot...North Carolina got her...one extra fine lady.

Dave, I think it's great that you are or have written a book on the the Number 9 disaster. My grandfather, Gary Martin, was one of the 3 men that were last to come out of the mine. He actually came out of the mine with two other men inside a bucket. He was the miner that was sitting on the left inside the bucket that was looking upwards. Unfortunately, he has since passed away, but I will ALWAYS remember the stories he told of the mine disaster, life in the mines, and of his fellow miners that made it out of the mines and the ones who perished. That was one event that I feel should be in all the History books.
-Travis

[David Kennedy]

Travis: That book on our work at the Farmington Mine is finished and in the can.
I'm gathering up the money for the publisher as we speak.

Gary Martin was a great friend and we spent several years playing with the Shinnston Orchestra.
He on the tuba and me on the trombone. His favorite March was "The Stars and Stripes Forever".

In his life, he gave everything to everybody...family, country and community.
Just the memory of him is a treasure.

[CTMountaineer]

Originally Posted by snorpus

"Big Bill" Lias was reputed to be the kingpin in the Wheeling/Weirton area, with ties to the mob in Steubenville and Cleveland. Supposedly he was big in numbers and bootlegging.

The Wheeling-Moundsville-Bellaire OH area was the exception to the rule. Organized crime in that area did not have direct ties to the Mafia. They had an arrangement with that group that seperated operations at the Brooke County line in West Virginia, and the Jefferson County line in Ohio. That is not to say the two groups did not cooperate with each other, but they agreed to not compete. Lias was the gambling (but not the prostitution) kingpin. He was not Italian American, but rather was of Greek descent.

[Rodeno]

Never a family, but in its day places like Huntington and Wheeling had money and where there was money to be spent there was "activity". I'm sure boys from Steubenville, Pittsburgh and Youngstown had a few things going on, probably no made guys though.