Robert 'Big Bob' McCullough

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Mr. Robert Lawrence McCullough, Hot Springs, Arkansas April- May 1926.

(Photo by kind courtesy of Patrick McCullough)

One of the many storied characters that stand out in the Capone era is definitely Robert Larry McCullough. Bob was a tough man who was a torpedo for the Capone mob. He was untouchable, which meant he came out of the era untouched by the law, and died of old age. That is considered a major feat in itself!

Born on February 6, 1892, in Chicago to George (from Ohio) and Agnes (from Scotland) May McCullough. Robert's father would pass away in the early part of the 1900's, and his mother would remarry a man named Peter J. Walsh.

As a teen McCullough got into trouble for stealing. In 1909, he was sent to Bridewell for 4 months with a charge of burglary.

In 1912, that charge was stricken off the records leaving McCullough squeaky clean.

McCullough was tough, and had dabbled in boxing for a short while before working for the Chicago American newspaper later being in charge of delivery via horse and buggy.McCullough had butt heads with some of the supervisors at the newspaper and left his delivery settlling to selling papers at a stand to make ends meet.

One day in early 1920, John Torrio was chauffered by a henchman who decided to stop by to pick up a newspaper. The Torrio driver gets out, looks at the tall lankey young man, takes the newspaper and decides not to pay. McCullough quickly assails the hood in front of Torrio for not paying the newspaper that he just lifted. Torrio was so impressed by the young tough who didn't let the transgression ride, that he he offered him a job on the spot to work for his organisation. He gladly accepted the job on the spot.

Robert McCullough was now one of John Torrio's musclemen. At 5' 11" and a 170 pounds, he was good with his fists, and he could punch a speed bag like no other.

Torrio put McCullough in charge of taking care of a newcomer joining the organization that had just arrived in Chicago. His job was to show the newcomer around town and show him in the in and outs of the business. McCullough worked in roadhouses, bartending and bouncing at these establishments. That newcomer arriving was none other than Alphonse Capone from Brooklyn.

Capone settled in and developed a friendship with McCullough. Both loved boxing and golf. As soon as Capone made it up the ladder after Torrio had given up the throne, McCullough was right there as part of Al's entourage. He even had a a room at the Lexington hotel right on the same floor where Capone was headquartered.

McCullough did not intermingle with the other Italian gangsters gravitating around Al. As a matter a fact, he tended to stay solo.

From 1925 - 26, McCullough was put in charge of guarding shipments of Capone beer being delivered around Chicago.

On January 24, 1926, at 7:40 pm as McCullough was stepping into his car in front of 6746 South Halstead, two men hurriedly approached his car and fired 6 shots at Big Bob. Both had fired from only a few feet of their prey, but only three shots connected. One hit him in the back, another went right through his right hand, and one nipped his right leg. What saved his life was poor marksmanship and defective cartridges. Taken to St Bernard hospital, McCullough refused to answer any questions police had for him. Police found him holding no legitimate occupation through paperwork, yet were baffled to see a bejeweled and slick dressed man driving an expensive automobile.

One of the suspects was described simply as tall with a gray hat and overcoat.

On the evening of April 27,1926, State's Assistant Prosecutor William H. McSwiggin is killed while out drinking with his gangster pals. The gangsters he hung around with that evening were rivals of Capone's Chicago Outfit.

As they were standing near their automobile outside the Poney Inn at 5613 West Roosevelt road, another automobile sped by with a machine gun muzzle poking out of the lowered passenger curtained window cutting loose and killing McSwiggin along with two of his childhood gangster friends. The dead were McSwiggin, James J. Doherty and Thomas Duffy. There was nothing malicious about McSwiggin being there that night. He went there to try and collect some missing bullet proof vests taken from a prominent business man named Alexander Dunlap.

Many speculations as to who was in that hit car when the evil deed was done. Capone and McCullough were the main suspects. They along with Frank Rio, and Frank Maritote were named by McSwiggin's father. Feeling the heat, Capone and McCullough high tailed it out of Chicago heading to Hot Springs, Arkansas until things in Chicago cooled down. Meanwhile, gansgter Willie Heeney was also sought in connection with the crime.

Hot Springs, Arkansas April- May 1926. Bob McCullough is second from right.

(Photo by kind courtesy of Mr. Randall Lipschultz)

No one was ever convicted of the triple killing. With no witnesses and weapons directly connected to the crime, on July 29,1926, Capone and those connected to him all got off scot free.

Robert McCullough at the Hawthorne Kennel Club in 1928. Note the shirt and diamond monogram.

McCullough had participated in a big diamond heist with Al, thus the diamond shape monogram was a nod to that event.

This shirt was purchased by Al in 1927, at Marshall Fields when he had himself and a few of his henchmen custom fitted for clothes.

(Photo by kind courtesy of Patrick McCullough)

"Robert Larry McCullough, known associate of Ralph Capone, Frank Nitti,

Paul Ricca, Charles and Rocco Fischetti, and at one time reputedly strongarm

and terrorist for the Capone organization, has found Miami Beach

as well as Chicago a good source of income."

1950 Virgil W. Peterson

Chicago Crime Commission

Robert Lawrence McCullough's mugshot

McCullough was suspected of multiple murders, but never arrested or convicted for any of them below.

1925 - Mike Genna and policeman in a gang shootout

1926 - William McsSwiggin, James Doherty and Thomas Duffy

1950 - William J. Drury

To be continued....................


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(Photo by kind courtesy of Patrick McCullough) One of the many storied characters that stand out in the Capone era is definitely Robert Larry McCullough. Bob was a tough man who was a torpedo for the Capone mob. He was untouchable, which meant he came out of the era untouched by the law, and died of old age. That is considered a major feat in itself! Born on February 6, 1892, in Chicago to George (from Ohio) and Agnes (from Scotland) May McCullough. Robert's father would pass away in the early part of the 1900's, and his mother would remarry a man named Peter J. Walsh. As a teen McCullough got into trouble for stealing. In 1909, he was sent to Bridewell for 4 months with a charge of burglary. In 1912, that charge was stricken off the records leaving McCullough squeaky clean. McCullough was tough, and had dabbled in boxing for a short while before working for the Chicago American newspaper later being in charge of delivery via horse and buggy.McCullough had butt heads with some of the supervisors at the newspaper and left his delivery settlling to selling papers at a stand to make ends meet. One day in early 1920, John Torrio was chauffered by a henchman who decided to stop by to pick up a newspaper. The Torrio driver gets out, looks at the tall lankey young man, takes the newspaper and decides not to pay. McCullough quickly assails the hood in front of Torrio for not paying the newspaper that he just lifted. Torrio was so impressed by the young tough who didn't let the transgression ride, that he he offered him a job on the spot to work for his organisation. He gladly accepted the job on the spot. Robert McCullough was now one of John Torrio's musclemen. At 5' 11" and a 170 pounds, he was good with his fists, and he could punch a speed bag like no other. Torrio put McCullough in charge of taking care of a newcomer joining the organization that had just arrived in Chicago. His job was to show the newcomer around town and show him in the in and outs of the business. McCullough worked in roadhouses, bartending and bouncing at these establishments. That newcomer arriving was none other than Alphonse Capone from Brooklyn. Capone settled in and developed a friendship with McCullough. Both loved boxing and golf. As soon as Capone made it up the ladder after Torrio had given up the throne, McCullough was right there as part of Al's entourage. He even had a a room at the Lexington hotel right on the same floor where Capone was headquartered. McCullough did not intermingle with the other Italian gangsters gravitating around Al. As a matter a fact, he tended to stay solo. From 1925 - 26, McCullough was put in charge of guarding shipments of Capone beer being delivered around Chicago. On January 24, 1926, at 7:40 pm as McCullough was stepping into his car in front of 6746 South Halstead, two men hurriedly approached his car and fired 6 shots at Big Bob. Both had fired from only a few feet of their prey, but only three shots connected. One hit him in the back, another went right through his right hand, and one nipped his right leg. What saved his life was poor marksmanship and defective cartridges. Taken to St Bernard hospital, McCullough refused to answer any questions police had for him. Police found him holding no legitimate occupation through paperwork, yet were baffled to see a bejeweled and slick dressed man driving an expensive automobile. One of the suspects was described simply as tall with a gray hat and overcoat. On the evening of April 27,1926, State's Assistant Prosecutor William H. McSwiggin is killed while out drinking with his gangster pals. The gangsters he hung around with that evening were rivals of Capone's Chicago Outfit. As they were standing near their automobile outside the Poney Inn at 5613 West Roosevelt road, another automobile sped by with a machine gun muzzle poking out of the lowered passenger curtained window cutting loose and killing McSwiggin along with two of his childhood gangster friends. The dead were McSwiggin, James J. Doherty and Thomas Duffy. There was nothing malicious about McSwiggin being there that night. He went there to try and collect some missing bullet proof vests taken from a prominent business man named Alexander Dunlap. Many speculations as to who was in that hit car when the evil deed was done. Capone and McCullough were the main suspects. They along with Frank Rio, and Frank Maritote were named by McSwiggin's father. Feeling the heat, Capone and McCullough high tailed it out of Chicago heading to Hot Springs, Arkansas until things in Chicago cooled down. Meanwhile, gansgter Willie Heeney was also sought in connection with the crime. Hot Springs, Arkansas April- May 1926. Bob McCullough is second from right. (Photo by kind courtesy of Mr. Randall Lipschultz) No one was ever convicted of the triple killing. With no witnesses and weapons directly connected to the crime, on July 29,1926, Capone and those connected to him all got off scot free. Robert McCullough at the Hawthorne Kennel Club in 1928. Note the shirt and diamond monogram. McCullough had participated in a big diamond heist with Al, thus the diamond shape monogram was a nod to that event. This shirt was purchased by Al in 1927, at Marshall Fields when he had himself and a few of his henchmen custom fitted for clothes. (Photo by kind courtesy of Patrick McCullough) "Robert Larry McCullough, known associate of Ralph Capone, Frank Nitti, Paul Ricca, Charles and Rocco Fischetti, and at one time reputedly strongarm and terrorist for the Capone organization, has found Miami Beach as well as Chicago a good source of income." 1950 Virgil W. Peterson Chicago Crime Commission Robert Lawrence McCullough's mugshot McCullough was suspected of multiple murders, but never arrested or convicted for any of them below. 1925 - Mike Genna and policeman in a gang shootout 1926 - William McsSwiggin, James Doherty and Thomas Duffy 1950 - William J. Drury To be continued....................