Kidnapping the Prince of Albany

John O'Connell Kidnapping

The O'Connell clan ran Albany, New York from the 1920s through the 1950s, financed in large part by brewing both illegal, and later, legal beer. The clan was headed by Dan O'Connell, nicknamed "The King of Albany," and he kept an iron fist on the brewing of beer in the local area. He kept the criminals, mobsters, and other gangsters at bay through political maneuvers, because the clan controlled the issuance of brewing licenses and the local police. They didn't allow anyone to take "a piece of their action." O'Connell was probably responsible for other major crimes such as the killing of "Legs" Diamond, who attempted to horn in on their action. A piece of skullduggery that was later linked to the kidnapping of O'Connells nephew, known as the "Prince of Albany." Copies of the evidence and mug shots are included in the book. They answer the questions of how many were involved, how much planning took place, what happened to the ransom money and shows a junior detective how bad luck and stupid mistakes led to the demise of the kidnappers.