07/03/2026
One of the most haunting photographs of the Prohibition era shows bootlegging king George Remus hosting a lavish dinner party at his Cincinnati mansion in the 1920s. Standing beside him is his wife, Imogene. Within a few years, he would murder her.
Imogene Remus was far more than a gangster's wife. Before marrying George, she worked as his legal secretary in Chicago. Their relationship began while he was still a prominent attorney, and after both divorced their spouses, they married in 1920.
When Prohibition took effect, George built one of the largest bootlegging empires in America, amassing an estimated $40 million fortune. The couple lived in the extravagant "Marble Palace," where their legendary parties featured orchestras, crystal chandeliers, and lavish gifts for guests.
To protect his wealth from government seizure, George placed much of his fortune in Imogene's name—a decision that would later prove disastrous.
In 1925, George was imprisoned for violating Prohibition laws. While incarcerated, he unknowingly revealed details of his finances to fellow inmate Franklin Dodge, an undercover Prohibition agent. After leaving government service, Dodge began a romantic relationship with Imogene. Together, they sold off much of Remus's empire and moved assets beyond his reach. Historians still debate Imogene's motives. Some believe she was escaping an increasingly controlling husband, while others argue she willingly helped dismantle his fortune. The truth was likely more complicated.
On October 6, 1927, as Imogene traveled to finalize their divorce, George chased down her taxi through Cincinnati's Eden Park. She fled on foot, but he caught up to her and shot her in broad daylight. She died later that day.
Despite numerous eyewitnesses, George Remus was found not guilty by reason of insanity after a trial that captivated the nation. He spent only a few months in a psychiatric hospital before being released.
The famous dinner-party photograph now serves as a chilling reminder that behind the glamour of the Jazz Age lay betrayal, obsession, and one of Prohibition's most infamous murders.
