history behind FLESH & STEAL

Union Station, Kansas City

During the 1920s, Kansas City's Union Station was a vital hub for rail travel and a center for civic life. The station hosted major events, like the 1921 Liberty Memorial dedication, provided essential services like shoeshining, and served as a symbol of Kansas City's status as a major American city.  
 
A Center for Rail Travel
  • A National Hub: After its 1914 grand opening, the station quickly became the country's third-largest train station, a testament to Kansas City's central location as the "Heart of America". 
  • Services for Travelers: The station offered services that reflected the importance of rail travel, including shoeshine stands that provided a measure of a man's status and a popular soda fountain for travelers and locals alike. 
A Symbol of Civic Life 
  • Gathering Place: Union Station was a popular gathering place for both locals and travelers.
  • Patriotic Significance: In 1921, the station was the site of a major civic event when all five Allied commanders attended the dedication ceremony for the Liberty Memorial.

Maps of Kansas City

Sadly, the map of the Kansas City Business District that I used during research for the books is no longer available online. This collection of maps, however, will give you a good idea of how Kansas City looked during Prohibition. The locations in the books mainly take place in Wards 1, 2, 5, and 6.

History of Whisky in Orkney, Scotland

Whisky production in Orkney, Scotland, dates back to at least the late 18th century, with the establishment of Highland Park Distillery in 1798 by Magnus Eunson, a descendant of Viking settlers, who initially operated it as an illicit still. The Scapa Distillery was founded later in the 1880s. These two distilleries are the primary producers in the region today, known for their full-bodied, smoky, and salty whiskies, shaped by Orkney's unique environment and the use of Bere Barley and heather-infused peat. 

Pinkerton in Kansas City

Given the prevalence of railroads and the Pinkerton agency's origins, their reach extended into Kansas City, which was a major hub for railroads, and was a natural area for their services. 

By the 1920s, Pinkerton operatives were also involved in investigations for insurance companies, focusing on automobile theft recovery.  John Giles Hagan, who worked for Pinkerton in Kansas City before founding his own detective agency, the Midwest Secret Service Detective Agency in 1919, learned his illicit trade during his time at Pinkerton.

The real Alistair Gage: John G. Hagan

John G. Hagan was a corrupt detective and criminal mastermind who was central to Kansas City's organized crime scene in the 1920s before the mafia and the Pendergast Machine.  After starting as an honest investigator, he led a notoriously crooked detective agency, became involved in bank robberies and a massive stolen car ring, and repeatedly evaded justice. 

  • A promising start: Hagan, the son of a lawyer, began his career at the respected Pinkerton Detective Agency before founding his own company around 1919 with a partner.
  • Hiring criminals: He soon began staffing the Midwest Secret Service with police officers who had been fired from the Kansas City Police Department (KCPD) for various offenses. This immediately raised suspicion from law enforcement.
  • An agency of thieves: In 1922, eight of Hagan's operatives were arrested for robbing businesses they were paid to protect as night watchmen. Some confessed, admitting that their superiors encouraged them to engage in corrupt practices. Hagan denied any knowledge and, again, avoided charges.

Police Probe into John G. Hagan

All of the stories from the Illicit Spirits Series are based upon real-life news articles from the major papers from the Kansas City area in the 1920s. This is an article describing the police probe into Hagan's Midwest Secret Service Detective Agency.

"If you don't know history, then you don't know anything. You are a leaf that doesn't know it is part of a tree."

Michael Creighton, Timeline