ITEM DESCRIPTION:

This real photo postcard is not a mugshot but the information on the back is what makes it interesting. The top reads "John Lapaglia murdered at 18 Tunnel St." (Suspected murderer John La Paglia was apparently connected to the mob as a bootlegger and was killed with a hatchet while sleeping in his apartment above his candy store in Pittsburgh on 10/19/1924.) The next line is "Jemma Demino" (the woman in the photo on the front of the card). The next six lines read "alias Mrs. Jno. Morin alias Mrs. Jno. Aliberti alias Mrs. Arthur Ambrose". (Jemma married John LaPaglia and changed her name to Viola Morin aka Mrs. John Morin. The Aliberti name was just another alias that she used. She was briefly married to Arthur Ambrose.) The card notes that someone was "doing time at Atlanta Prison". I don't know if this refers to Jemma or Arthur. There is an address of #712 Wylie Ave. beneath the words "post card" but the card was never mailed or addressed properly. Maybe her last known address? This card was found in the box of mugshots Bruce bought. Jemma is wearing a knee-length dress and sitting on the arm of a Mission-style bench. Since this card was found with mugshots from the Pittsburgh Police Dept, I guess it's safe to say she was on their radar. The edges have some roughness and there are a few minor bends. The card displays well.