By shelley murphy, globe staff, 4182004 southie, as one former gangster put it, is going hollywood. In 1997, shortly after the boston globe disclosed that bulger and flemmi had been informants, weeks met with connolly, who showed him a photocopy of. By 1979, howie winter and the rest of the somerville crew were all sent to prison for fixing horse races, leaving whitey bulger and stephen flemmi as the new leaders of the winter hill gang. James whitey bulger, in a 1947 mugshot obtained by wbur s david boeri. James bulger, the older brother of university of massachusetts chief and former state senate president william bulger, was born and raised in south boston. This story ran on page b4 of the boston globe on 12101999. While the arrest of whitey bulger may seem to close the book on a significant aspect of modern boston history, lehr says its really the beginning of a new chapter. Though weeks credits me with trying to factually report on bulger s crew, he complains about media lies in his book. Gangsters life lures host of storytellers bulger coterie eyes book and movie deals. Uhlar was one of 12 jurors who found bulger guilty in a massive racketeering case, including involvement in 11 murders. How whitey bulger manipulated the fbi into locking up his.
For more than a decade, until his capture in june 2011, he was listed by the fbi as one of its 10 mostwanted fugitives. Boston gangster james whitey bulger one december as he stuffed envelopes full of cash for fbi agents he also gave out lalique crystal, cases of wine, and fancy clocks. Josh pietrantonio said he and james whitey bulger became good friends after the gangster strolled into the prisons art department and admired his work. Whitey was the citys most powerful gangster and a living legendtough, cunning, without conscience, and above all, smart. Notorious boston mob boss killed inside west virginia prison if i could, id put money in the guys canteen whoever killed him, said the son of one of bulgers victims. The bulger mystique a look at boston s famous brothers, william and whitey. By shelley murphy and kevin cullen, globe staff, 12061996 unable to lay their hands on james j. Janet uhlar sits for a photo at her dining room table with an arrangement of letters and pictures she received through her correspondence with imprisoned boston organized crime boss james whitey bulger, friday, jan. Globe writers kevin cullen and shelley murphy, who recently penned a book on reputed south boston gangster james whitey bulger, recently chatted with boston. James whitey bulger james bulger, the older brother of university of massachusetts chief and former state senate president william bulger, was born and raised in south boston. The life of americas most notorious mob boss, in which they recount the life of boston.
Some jurors grew so irate while debating the testimony of the career criminals in james whitey bulger s trial that they shouted at each other. Whitey bulger, boston crime boss and elusive fugitive, dead. Oct 30, 2018 former boston globe reporter dick lehr, who cowrote two books on bulger including black mass, which was made into a 2015 movie starring johnny depp as whitey said bulger had been a. Flemmi had recently become affiliated with another upandcoming gangster, a cunning and disciplined south boston hood named james bulger, who was known, owing to his platinum hair, as whitey. Even in prison, whitey bulger is pushing boundaries. Bulger s capture puts the story back on center stage. How whitey bulger bought boston the american conservative. Murphy, who graduated from northeastern in 1980 with a degree in political science, covered the bulger case for the boston herald and the boston globe, where she now reports on organized crime, homeland security, and legal affairs. Posing as thomas baxter, bulger bought a car in new york and traveled the country with greig. Whitey bulger jury has reached a verdict crime boss and fbi informant james whitey bulger is charged with 32 counts of racketeering, extortion, money laundering, and illegal firearms possession. This is a first hand account of how whitey bulger, and steve flemmi became part of the fbi as informants, and in turn the fbi became informants for. In the spring of 1988, boston globe reporters dick lehr and gerard oneill set out to write the story of two infamous brothers from the insular irish enclave of south boston. Carr has been among the most aggressive critics of the bulger brothers, whitey and billy, for their careers in the boston area. Boston globes cullen discusses new book on whitey bulger.
The fall and rise of ted kennedy, 20s whitey bulger. Carr explains how whitey, and his brother billy, had risen to power in two completely opposite ways. In the book, i tell the story of a guy named paul corsetti who wrote a story. This unforgettable narrative follows the astonishing career and epic manhunt for whitey bulger.
This is the definitive story of whitey bulgera masterwork of reporting. After learning of whitey bulger lsd tests, juror has regrets. Boston globe reporter who helped expose whitey bulger as an fbi. Boston under attack, the citys courageous recovery, and. Kevin cullen born may 1, 1959 is an american journalist and author. In 1988, an investigative series by the globe spotlight team was the first published report to uncover the secret alliance between whitey. The notorious crime boss james whitey bulger terrorized boston from the 1970s into the 1990s with a campaign of murder, extortion, and drug trafficking, then spent 16 years on the lam. Oneill also led the team when it was named a pulitzer finalist for investigative reporting in 1997. A wellresearched book claiming to be the first complete and authoritative account of the life of criminal james whitey bulger. Interested in learning more about reputed boston mob boss james whitey bulger. Oneills biggest quarry was whitey bulger, bostons most notorious.
James whitey bulgers life played out like any number of the violent hollywood movies it spawned, reflecting a boston that is no more, when. The boston globe whitey is the definitive word on the whole sordid saga of the bulger mob. Coauthor of the new york times bestseller, whitey bulger, a finalist for the national book critics circle award. I thought harvard had standards until they gave me a nieman fellowship. Jun 26, 20 interested in learning more about reputed boston mob boss james whitey bulger. Praise a comprehensive life and timesa fascinating psychological profile. James whitey bulger its good to live in a twodaily town. Whitey bulger killed at federal prison in west virginia. Higgins modeled a character in his final novel after reputed boston mob boss james whitey bulger.
Whitey book by globe writers honored again the boston globe. And then for 16 years, he lived on the run, trying to evade capture while on the bureaus most. She returned to her alma mater yesterday to discuss her new book, whitey bulger. The life of americas most notorious mob boss dick lehr and gerard oneill who already wrote about. Whitey eludes snares set by troopers, dea 9201988 after a while, they called themselves the losers this bunch of state troopers who spent 1980 trying to bust. Books, tv, and movies inspired by boston crime boss whitey bulger. The irish mob, the boston fbi, and a devils deal will be read by many. Americas most wanted gangster and the manhunt that brought him to justice by kevin cullen, black mass by. Former boston globe correspondents dick lehr and gerard oneill talked about their book, whitey. Norton and the boston globe bulger hailed from a large irishamerican family in south boston. During the 1980s, bulger s associates consisted of kevin weeks, kevin oneil, jim mulvey and patrick nee.
A window into whiteys brutal life and mind the boston globe. Home photo gallery whitey sightings books on whitey whitey chats links. Whitey bulger bio profiles boston s most notorious gangster reporters kevin cullen and shelley murphy, who covered bulger for years for the boston globe, have a book out about the career criminal. September 3, 1929 october 30, 2018 was an american organized crime boss and fbi informant who led the winter hill gang in the winter hill neighborhood of somerville, massachusetts, a city directly northwest of boston. With the advent of the capture of whitey bulger by the fbi in june of 2011, dick lehr and gerard oneills book, black mass. Sean flynn, boston globe this is the definitive story of whitey bulger. Whitey bulger, a fugitive for nearly two years, law enforcement authorities are stepping up efforts to seize his assets and break up his notorious network of straws. Americas most wanted gangster and the manhunt that brought him to justice kevin cullen, shelley murphy on. The authors include current and former boston globe journalists kevin. Whitey bulgers crew, from the rifleman to the executioner. Whitey bulger, the crime boss and killer who brought the fbi to its knees. Ive read several books on whitey bulger and this book is the most definitive.
Nov 02, 2018 boston crime boss james whitey bulger, after being choked and beaten to death in his prison cell, was wrapped in a blanket and placed in his bed to make it look like he was sleeping. Quotes tagged whitey bulger each of us is a book waiting to be written, and that book, if written, results in a person explained. Raised in a south boston housing project, james whitey bulger became the. Whitey bulger, notorious boston mobsterturnedfugitive. Jun 02, 20 as different as they seem, the brothers shared personality traits, said dick lehr, an author of two books about whitey bulger and a former boston globe reporter. Hes also helped with research assistance on various globe related books such as the 2009 book last lion. Whitey bulger once sent three teens a rueful letter from prison these 1953 boston police booking photos show james whitey bulger after an arrest. In late september 2019, the boston globe reported she was living in.
Whitey by dick lehr and gerard oneill the boston globe. Jun 17, 20 from nonfiction books and adapted screenplays, to television episodes and a few too many upcoming biopics, hollywood is thriving off of the image of boston mobster whitey bulger, who is currently. Whitey bulgers killers wrapped him in blanket in bid to. The winter hill gang is a structured confederation of boston, massachusettsarea organized crime figures, who are predominantly of irish and italian descent. The only twotime winner of asnes batten medal for writing about the marginalized. Whitey bulger juror says she regrets murder conviction. An instant classic, this unforgettable narrative, rich with family ties and intrigue, follows the.
On december 23, 1994, bulger fled the boston area and went into hiding. Americas most wanted gangster and the manhunt that brought him to justice, boston globe reporters kevin cullen and shelley murphy trace the trajectory of bulger. As anyone who follows current events knows, and as whitey bulger himself knew would happen, the 83yearold career criminal was convicted this week of enough murders and other crimes to send him to prison for whatever remains of his life. By the time bill bulger began his senate career in 1970 after a decade in politics, his brother whitey had been out of federal prison for five years, keeping a low profile in south boston, living at home with their mother in the old harbor project, tipping his hat to neighbors. Americas most wanted gangster and the manhunt that brought him to justice comes out on monday, feb. Americas most wanted gangster and the manhunt that brought him to justice. Americas most wanted gangster and the manhunt that brought him to. Oct 09, 2011 a whitey lookalike when bulger fled boston with greig, he had a rock solid fake identity in his pocket.
Although at times boring, it does provide a fascinating potrait of whitey. As different as they seem, the brothers shared personality traits, said dick lehr, an author of two books about whitey bulger and a former boston globe reporter. A frequent commentator on npr and the bbc, cullen has won major journalism prizes including the goldsmith prize, the george polk award, and the selden ring award. As much social documentary as riveting crime story, the book is a masterwork of reporting. From the bestselling authors of black mass comes the definitive biography of whitey bulger, the most brutal and sadistic crime boss since al capone.
Americas most wanted gangster and the manhunt that brought him to justice, the bestselling book by boston globe. Kevin cullen, a pulitzer prizewinning journalist who has written for the boston globe since 1985, was the first to raise questions about whitey bulger s relationship with the fbi. Americas most wanted gangster and the manhunt that brought him to justice, and 2014s long mile home. Raised in a south boston housing project, james whitey bulger became the most wanted fugitive of his generation. Even if you know that whitey bulger was at the top of the fbis most wanted list and had a. Whitey bulger s life on the run on the third anniversary of bulger s disappearance from boston, the globe pieced together law enforcement reports and eyewitness testimony to paint a portrait of the fugitive mobsters relentless travels across the country. The book brothers bulger was written by howie carr on how corrupt the city of boston had become in the time period where the infamous whitey bulger had ruled the streets of boston. Dennis lehane, author of live by night having first uncovered the terrible bulger story, gerard oneill and dick lehr have now brought it full circle a true circle.
In this riveting story, rich with family ties and intrigue, awardwinning boston globe reporters kevin cullen and shelley murphy follow whitey s extraordinary criminal career from teenage thievery to bank robberies to the building of his underworld empire and a string of. Globe reporter ralph ranalli chatted with readers about whitey bulger. He incorrectly reports that boston globe reporter kevin cullen fled to. Crosstown, the boston globe also talked to hotyckey, but added a second juror to the mix. Whitey bulger bio profiles bostons most notorious gangster. Americas most wanted gangster and the manhunt that brought him to justice, written by the authors of this article kevin cullen and shelley murphy, with. The bulger trial groton police report the boston globe. Their expertise infuses whitey bulger with authority, a depth and an engagement that makes it less a work of true crime than a social history. Even with all his cunning and guile there is only one reason and excon from south boston became the infamous whitey bulger. Cullen and murphy have made careers of covering whitey bulger for the boston globe. He was a member of the boston globe s 2003 investigative team that won a pulitzer prize for coverage of the sexual abuse scandal in the catholic archdiocese of boston. Oct 30, 2018 whitey bulger, boston crime boss and elusive fugitive, dead in prison at 89. A batch of bulgers prison letters, made available to the globe, offer fresh insight into bulgers state of mind by turns, wry, emotional, and. The myth of whitey bulger, the facade of the benevolent gangster, has been crumbling for years, and now globe reporters kevin cullen and shelley murphy, in their definitive whitey bulger.
Nov 02, 2018 for 30 years, james whitey bulger was a notorious south boston mobster and an f. Mar 18, 2020 whitey bulger, american crime boss who, as head of the boston area winter hill gang, was a leading figure in organized crime from the late 1960s to the mid1990s. Oct 30, 2018 for years before details of whitey bulgers criminal history became known through trials, books, newspapers and congressional hearings, popular myths in south boston portrayed him as an irish. This is the definitive story of whitey bulger a masterwork of reporting. From his boston childhood to his current home in a prison cell, boston globe reporters cullen and murphy follow their subject through every documented moment in his life bulger s crimes and. Drawing on a trove of sealed files and previously classified material, whitey digs deep into the mind of james j. James joseph whitey bulger jr was an american organized crime boss and fbi informant. Jul 25, 2019 former fbi agent john connolly surrounded by photographers as he leaves boston federal court, facing charges in his involvement with mobsters whitey bulger. How they terrorized and corrupted boston for a quarter century, howie carr, warner books, 342 pages.
Two boston globe reporters have written a new book about bulger. Its members have included notorious boston gangsters buddy mclean, whitey bulger, howie winter, joe mcdonald, johnny martorano. Anthony lukass common ground is essential to understanding bostons racial history, whitey bulger is an authoritative treatise on the citys late20thcentury underworld. Much has been written about whitey bulger in the past three decades, but in whitey. Southie, as globe reporters kevin cullen and shelley murphy note in the opening pages of their definitive whitey bulger. From nonfiction books and adapted screenplays, to television episodes and a few too many upcoming biopics, hollywood is thriving off of the image of boston mobster whitey bulger. Looking back at an unlikely acquaintance with whitey bulger. Cullen is coauthor of the new york times bestseller whitey bulger.