About this item
The incredible true story of the US Post Office Inspector who took down the deadly Black Hand, a turn-of-the-century Italian-American secret society that preyed on immigrants across Americas industrial heartland--featuring fascinating and never-before-seen documents and photos from the Oldfield familys private collection. Before the emergence of prohibition-era gangsters like Al Capone and Lucky Luciano, there was the Black Hand: an early twentieth-century Sicilian-American crime ring that preyed on immigrants from the old country. In those days, the FBI was in its infancy, and local law enforcement were clueless against the dangers--most refused to believe that organized crime existed. Terrorized victims rarely spoke out, and the criminals ruled with terror--until Inspector Frank Oldfield came along. In 1899, Oldfield became Americas 156th Post Office Inspector--joining the ranks of the most powerful federal law enforcement agents in the country. Based in Columbus, Ohio, the unconventional Oldfield brilliantly took down train robbers, murderers, and embezzlers from Ohio to New York to Maryland. Oldfield was finally able to penetrate the dreaded Black Hand when a tip-off put him onto the most epic investigation of his career, culminating in the 1909 capture of sixteen mafiosos in a case that spanned four states, two continents--and ended in the first international organized crime conviction in the country. Hidden away by the Oldfield family for one hundred years and covered-up by rival factions in the early 20th century Post Office Department, this incredible true story out of Americas turn-of-the-century heartland will captivate all lovers of history and true crime.
About the Author
William H. "Hammy" Oldfield is a historian, author, management consultant, and speaker/lecturer. His latest book with co-author Victoria Bruce, "Inspector Oldfield and the Black Hand Society" (Simon & Schuster/Touchstone/Atria) , became an Amazon best seller. He is the great grandson of infamous US Postal Inspector John Frank Oldfield, who was credited with taking down the first international organized crime syndicate in US history, the Society of the Banana. This ground breaking criminal case culminated in the 1910 "Trial-of-the-Century", with the federal conviction of 11 senior bosses and captains of the early Sicilian mafia. William's interesting family legacy, along with his father's exciting lessons about history and philosophy to better understand the present, fostered within him a love of all things history. He enthusiastically promotes this love of history and continues to build an extensive collection of artifacts related to early organized crime. William has been recognized as a Mafia Expert for the History Channel's "United Stuff of America", and regularly consults on Organized Crime topics for academic and entertainment researchers, family descendants of crime figures, and Criminology students in both the USA and Europe. He has lectured at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum, the Mob Museum, Historical Societies, and for fans of True Crime. He prides himself in his discretion, accuracy, and fairness when investigating and discerning truth from rumor when consulting or lecturing on sensitive organized crime topics. He has received nationwide coverage for his family story and his organized crime knowledge through the Wall Street Journal, National Public Radio, Politico, Vice, Washington Times, appeared on C-SPAN, and is a regular contributor for numerous podcasts and more. William is currently working to create an early law enforcement exhibit at the Mob Museum in Las Vegas and to develop a True-Crime television or streaming series based on the criminal case files from the career of Inspector Oldfield. His extensive archival collection is available for collaborative research and viewing by appointment. William grew up in Akron, Ohio, and currently lives in Annapolis, Maryland. He can be contacted at: williamoldfield@gmail. com, on LinkedIn at William H "Hammy" Oldfield, and on Instagram at william. ham. oldfield.
