George Remus

The lawyer who turned Prohibition into a $40 million empire before shooting his wife in front of park onlookers.

George Remus was a German-born American lawyer who became the 'King of the Bootleggers' during the early days of Prohibition. Born in Landsberg, Germany, on November 13, 1876, he arrived in the United States in 1882 and eventually moved to Chicago before settling in Cincinnati. Leveraging his legal expertise, Remus memorized the Volstead Act to find loopholes that allowed him to buy distilleries and pharmacies for medicinal liquor production. He then orchestrated the hijacking of his own shipments to sell them illegally. Within less than three years, he amassed a fortune of $40 million, employing about 3,000 people and owning famous establishments like the Fleischmann Distillery.

Quick Facts

Born: 14 November 1878
Birthplace: Landsberg, Bavaria, German Empire
Died: 20 January 1952
Place of death: Covington, Kentucky, U.S.
Resting place: Riverside Cemetery
Education: Chicago College of Pharmacy; Illinois College of Law, later acquired by DePaul University
Citizenship: American
Other names: King of the Bootleggers

Lore & Background

Remus's operation centered on Cincinnati, where he bought up most whiskey manufacturers within a 300-mile radius. He utilized the 'Death Valley Farm' at 2656 Queen City Ave, distilling alcohol in an attic and moving it via dumbwaiter to a basement tunnel entrance. His lavish lifestyle included parties at his 'Marble Palace' mansion; at a June 1923 gathering of fifty guests, he gifted each woman a brand new car. However, his empire collapsed due to betrayal. While imprisoned for two years in Atlanta Federal Penitentiary, he confided in inmate Franklin Dodge, an undercover prohibition agent. Dodge resigned, began an affair with Remus's wife Imogene Holmes, and helped her liquidate the multimillion-dollar assets, leaving Remus with only $100 upon his release.

Reader's Guide

George Remus is historically significant as a figure who inspired characters like Jay Gatsby in 'The Great Gatsby,' though Arnold Rothstein is also cited. In popular culture, he was portrayed by Glenn Fleshler on HBO's 'Boardwalk Empire' starting in its second season, where the character famously refers to himself in the third person. Real-life Remus was known for this quirk as well. After his release from the institution in Lima, he moved to Covington, Kentucky, living modestly with his third wife, Blanche Watson, until a stroke in August 1950 left him bedridden. He died on January 20, 1952, at age 75, and is buried beside his third wife at Riverside Cemetery in Falmouth, Kentucky.

Did You Know?

Remus pioneered the 'transitory insanity' defense, which evolved into the modern 'temporary insanity' defense.
Remus was acquitted of murder after a jury deliberated for only nineteen minutes.