John Patrick Looney

John Patrick Looney (1865–1942) was an American political fixer and Irish mob boss based in Rock Island, Illinois during the early 20th century. At the height of his power, Looney controlled most of the illegal gambling, prostitution, bootlegging, and racketeering in Rock Island. Through his tabloid newspaper Rock Island News, he was able to blackmail and intimidate his opponents. Looney's empire came to an end when he was eventually indicted for murder after a gang war in 1922. He went on the run but was captured two years later. In 1925, he was convicted of murder and numerous other crimes. He served only eight and a half years. Looney is the inspiration for the character of John Rooney, who was played by Paul Newman in the Sam Mendes film Road to Perdition. Furthermore, Looney's family house still survives in the Highland Park Historic District in Rock Island.