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The Cooley Account

The Cooley Account

By: Neal Edelstein
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About this listen

What started as research for a movie resulted in these recordings. This is the life story of Bob Cooley, a man who accomplished the impossible by decapitating Al Capone's syndicate.

In the 1970’s Bob Cooley was a young cop who decided to became a lawyer, and ultimately found himself being an insider for the Chicago syndicate. The mob controlled the city of Chicago and the state of Illinois.

This multipart conversation details the inner workings of the notorious Chicago crime syndicate called the Outfit. From politicians on the take to a corrupt court system and cold case murders, we cover it all. There are also never before revealed details about cult icon Count Dante and mob fixture Pat Marcy. If you’re intrigued by organized crime, political corruption, and other matters of deceit this story for you.

© 2025 The Cooley Account Social Sciences True Crime World
Episodes
  • Episode 1: Chicago Poor

    Episode 1: Chicago Poor
    Nov 2 2022

    Send a text and follow Neal on X @nealedelstein.

    How did Bob Cooley become the insider who destroyed the Chicago mob and the 1st Ward? We start at Bob’s youth on the South Side of Chicago, as he details his childhood struggles and the murders of both his grandfathers. Both men were cops, one ironically killed by Al Capone's hitmen.

    Questions? Comments? Find Neal on Twitter at @NealEdelstein. Thank you for listening!

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    40 mins
  • Episode 2: The Police Test

    Episode 2: The Police Test
    Nov 14 2022

    Send a text and follow Neal on X @nealedelstein.

    Bob’s scholarship at Marquette ends abruptly because of his fighting and money-making schemes. He moves back home and bounces between odd jobs before he takes the Chicago Police exam. Once on the force, he teams up with a cop who introduces him to the Chicago Machine.

    Questions? Comments? Find Neal on Twitter at @NealEdelstein. Thank you for listening!

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    1 hr and 8 mins
  • Episode 3: Left For Dead

    Episode 3: Left For Dead
    Nov 22 2022

    Send a text and follow Neal on X @nealedelstein.

    Bob becomes a Chicago cop and applies his street smarts to rise rapidly through the ranks. His encounters at the criminal courts inspire him to go to law school, but his world is shattered when he's left for dead after being run over by a patrol car. This is the third and final pillar of Bob's youth, as the foundation is set for his journey into Chicago's underworld.


    Questions? Comments? Find Neal on Twitter at @NealEdelstein. Thank you for listening!

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    1 hr and 1 min
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