Wicked Wilmington, Delaware

by Kevin McGonegal

Take a journey through crime and vice in twentieth-century Wilmington, from a Tatnall Street bawdy house to the corporate boardrooms of the DuPont Company. Visit the old New Castle County Workhouse, scene of a break-in by a lynch mob and the daring escape of a notorious murderer. A police chief trying to keep his corrupt practices under wraps, agents raiding political headquarters and a detective murdered on the street were all part of city life in the early twentieth century. In later years, stories of a professional killer pleading self-defense, hiding his connections to a mobbed-up Teamsters boss, and runaway lovers caught up in an international extortion scheme show the city's darker side. Local historian Kevin McGonegal chronicles tales of Wilmington's infamous past.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

160 pages, Paperback

Published July 26, 2021

Reviews

[Dave Tabler · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Wicked Wilmington Delaware" is a collection of five stories, each with unique perspectives on the dark underbelly of Wilmington, spanning the 20th century. The stories are tied together by Kevin McGonegal's personal connections, and average around 28 pages in length. McGonegal uses different narrative techniques, such as aftermaths, epilogues, and interwoven stories, to create a cohesive chronicle.

The first story, "Bookies, Bawdy Houses, and Chief Black," revolves around the link between police Chief Charles Black and the author's grandfather, Mike McGonegal, a bookie nicknamed "The Baron" who also coached local sports teams to stay ‘legit’. "Three Gun Wilson" focuses on Harold D. Wilson, a prohibition agent fully armed, and his dogged pursuit of bootleggers and their enablers—including Chief Black. The third story, "The Cop and the Incorrigible," is based on a saga told by the author's father John—“a storyteller of the old Gaelic firehearth mold.” John's boyhood friend, Tom Conaty, grew up to become a police detective. He was killed in the line of duty by a cold-blooded teenager who honed his evil ways while penned up in the Ferris School, a school for “socially maladjusted boys”. "Bad Choices," story number four, explores the violent life of Fred Gawronski, another street kid who landed in Ferris, and his mob hit murder ordered by notorious gangster Frank “The Irishman” Sheeran. McGonegal's final story, "Lovers, Lies & Lycra," was actually written well before the others, and served as the catalyst that inspired him to create additional stories. In this account, the author's friend Jerry Capone takes on the role of defense attorney in a high-profile 1980s trial involving Argentine lovers, an international extortion scheme, and DuPont's Lycra fabric.

McGonegal's writing style is engaging and effective, using vivid descriptions and personal anecdotes to bring the stories to life, successfully delving into the characters' survival instincts. The author's research and interviews, such as his conversation with Alice Gawronski for "Bad Choices" and his connection to the trial in "Lovers, Lies & Lycra," provide an authentic and well-rounded perspective on each story.

One of the key themes of the book is the idea that crime doesn't pay. Each story ends with justice being served, demonstrating that crime ultimately leads to consequences.

One minor drawback of the book is that some sections can feel a bit overwhelming due to the sheer amount of information presented. However, this is a minor issue that does not significantly detract from the overall experience. Readers looking for crime stories from Wilmington's earliest days may be disappointed, as the book is centered solely around the 20th-century.

"Wicked Wilmington Delaware" is a compelling and informative read that effectively explores modern era crime in Wilmington. The author's personal connections, engaging writing style, and thorough research make this book a must-read for true crime aficionados and those interested in the history of Wilmington, DE.