The Mob Once Used Cosmetic Surgery To Remove Their Fingerprints

Being a part of the mob wasn't necessarily something that was hidden in Old Hollywood, but it wasn't something everyone wanted tied to their name. However, it was usually only a problem if they were caught breaking the law. For years, criminals ruled the streets of the US as they took the law into their own hands and decided who got to live - and who had to lose their lives.

Of course, taking people's lives wasn't the only thing the mob did, but getting caught being a part of any crime could be enough to see them spend a hefty amount of time behind bars. That's why the mob once used cosmetic surgery to remove their fingerprints. After all, no fingerprints, no proof, right?

Joseph Moran earned a reputation for helping the mob remove their fingerprints

When it comes to the mob, most people wanted to ensure they stayed on their right side and didn't do anything that could come back to bite them. So what about being asked to use cosmetic surgery to remove their fingerprints? While it might sound crazy, many mobsters realized if they didn't have fingerprints, then there was a good chance they could get away with their crimes. After all, fingerprints have been used to link criminals to crimes for years and are one of the key pieces of evidence in many cases. That's where Joseph Moran stepped in. The physician ran an underground practice that saw him alter Alvin Karpis and Fred Barker's fingerprints. To top it off, he would also remove bullets and stitch up mobsters in need. 

Talking too much meant Joseph Moran was on the wrong side of the mob

Although the world now knows the mob once used cosmetic surgery to remove their fingerprints, it was a relatively hushed topic at the time. That was until Joseph Moran started talking a little too much. While he was vital in helping several members of the mob, the physician also started bragging about Fred Barker's surgery and how he knew all about several of his crimes. That was all the mobsters needed to make Joseph mysteriously disappear before he washed up in Ontario in 1935, ironically with no fingerprints because his hands and feet were missing.

Wilhelm Loeser helped the mob remove their fingerprints and alter their appearance

Some people believe you can put a price on anything, and it turns out $5,000 was all it took for Wilhelm Loeser to help the mob use cosmetic surgery to remove their fingerprints. The doctor worked on John Dillinger as he used hydrochloric acid to burn the skin before scraping away the prints. It was something Wilhelm had already performed on himself, but that was just the beginning. Wilhelm also used tendons from a kangaroo to remove John's famous cleft chin in an attempt to make him unrecognizable. Sadly, neither worked as John Dillinger was eventually caught and had his life ended by the FBI, with fingerprints confirming it was the mobster in question. 

Other mobsters used their own procedures to remove their fingerprints

What happened if the mob couldn't get hold of a doctor to remove their fingerprints with cosmetic surgery? No worries; some were happy to try it themselves. Some would slash at their fingers to mutilate their fingerprints, while others would use acid to try and burn them off. Unfortunately, the pain might not have been worth it. The mob often didn't remove enough layers to eradicate their fingerprints completely or would leave the outer ridges of their prints which could be enough to link them to a crime. Having partial prints, combined with other methods to catch and identify criminals, often meant the mob removing their fingerprints was all in vain.

Even though the mob once used cosmetic surgery to remove their fingerprints, it might not have had the payoff they hoped. Sure, it might have worked for some mobsters, but not everyone was skilled enough to ensure they became untouchable criminals.