Date

Description

1880

The earliest sign of James Corcoran (age 5) was at the time of the 1880 census when he was living at 23 Thompson St, in Rochester, NY, with his parents and four siblings.

1884

Johnnie Corcoran, brother of James, was killed, in Auburn, NY, in an accident where a derrick arm fell on him and killed him instantly. [1884-04-17]

1885

Corcoran's father, James Corcoran died in Auburn, NY. [1885-01-04]

1892

The widow Margaret Corcoran was living in Auburn, NY with her four remaining children. James Corcoran was employed as a clerk.

1900

James was living with his widowed mother and two younger brothers, Richard and William. They were living at 32-1/2 Parker St, just west of Fort Hill Cemetery, Auburn, NY.

Corcoran's Gambling Room

In early 1900 James Corcoran was running a gambling operation in a room above 85 East Genesee St. A dissatisfied customer, by the name of Ambrose A. Holley, of Genoa, complained to authorities that he had been “buncoed” out of $214 by Corcoran and three of his friends. The police found two of the party of gamblers but Corcoran and the fourth man were out of town. [1900-03-23]

1901

Corcoran A Witness

James Corcoran was not involved in this shooting, other than as a witness to the hearing of the shots and observing events immediately after the shooting. At the time of the shooting he was in Crawford’s Ideal Lunch room with the owner, William Crawford. This Crawford was, or soon would be, Corcoran’ father-in-law. Mamie Crawford, daughter of William and Mary Crawford was the common law wife of James Corcoran. The Corcoran family lived, for a while, just up Parker St from William Crawford’s mother. [1901-07-30]

1904

Gambling Raid at Cocoran's Place

James Corcoran was arrested after police raid a gambling room at 85 East Genesee Street early Sunday morning (Oct 9, 1904). The police took the names of everyone present and confiscated all the related equipment. Corcoran was arraigned on a charge of “keeping a gambling.” He was released on bail so that he could consult with his attorney. [1904-10-11]

1905

1905 NY Cayuga Auburn  Fam 11 IMG 00618

Mary Crawford, 43, US

James Corcoran, Son-in-law, 30, US

Mamie Corcoran, Dau, 21, US

In the 1904 obituary of his mother, Margaret, William Crawford was said to be living in Washington, DC. In the 1905 census above William’s wife, Mary, is seen to be living in Auburn without her husband.

1908

James J. Corcoran, Jr. Arrives

A son was born to Mamie Crawford and James Corcoran in May 1908. They named him James J. Corcoran, Jr.

1909

Mamie Crawford Corcoran leaves James Corcoran and married Edward Vandervoort.

Shooting at Corcoran’s Pool Hall and Lunch room at 1022 Wolf St.

 [1909-11-30a], [1909-11-30b], [1909-12-04]

2014 picture of the building at 1022 Wolf Street where James Corcoran was running his Pool Hall and Lunch Room in 1909.

1911

Mary Crawford gets custody of grandson, James J. Corcoran, Jr.

[1911-12-19a], [1911-12-19b]

1915

James Corcoran married his mother-in-law. [1915-01-01a], [1915-01-01b]

1918

Corcoran cited for “Kitty” raking.

"James J. Corcoran of (406) Wyoming st. pleaded guilty to a charge of gambling in Police Court Monday on a warrant which charged him with allowing a game of poker to be played in a room in the rear of his apartments and collecting $4 a night as rental, which was 'toiled' from the 'kitty'. Justice Shove in fining Corcoran $25 Monday for the offense said that although it was a 'neighborhood game' and all that were playing were friends, the taking of a 'rakeoff' made the offense one amendable to the statute against gambling." [1918-03-18]

1922-08-30

Corcoran's Truck Hijacked

Corcoran’s booze truck hi-jacked by men impersonating police. Sheriff and two deputies arrested but ultimately acquitted. The booze in question was never found. [1922-08-30a], [1922-08-30b]

This paper shows the headlines related to James Corcoran's missing liquor. The articles, in a readable form, can be found by following these links [1922-08-30a], [1922-08-30b] in the "Notes" section of this page.

1922-11-26

Car Slips Off Road Near Central Square

Corcoran's car slipped off the road and crashed into a ditch near Central Square. Corcoran was checking out a new car and his chauffeur was driving when it crashed into a ditch. [1922-11-26] One has to wonder if Corcoran was checking out a new faster car for his smuggling business and possibly showing a new driver the route.

1923-12-26

Corcoran's Speakeasy?

"Two places where Federal prohibition enforcement agents claim holiday liquid cheer and spirits prevail gave up two men who are being held in $1,000 bail each for arraignment Thursday before United States Commissioner Lewis C. Ryan." "James J. Corcoran, proprietor of a place at 334 Seymour st." was one of the men arrested. [1923-12-26] This was a two family house that Corcoran occupied. He might have been living in the top flat while operating the bottom flat as a "speakeasy."

1925-06-26

Gun Battle at Moore Farm

This event was instigated by Corcoran’s son, in an effort to steal some of his father’s stash of liquor at his cousin’s farm. In the end the Coast Guard and Federal agents got into a shoot out with Syracuse police officers at the Moore farm. The former thought the latter were hi-jackers and the police thought they had caught some bootleggers. It was thought that Corcoran Jr., even though he was only 16 at the time, had arranged for both groups to converge on the location. No booze was ever found. The investigation led nowhere and no one was charged. More detail on the Moore Farm Shoot Out can be found here.

1925-10-13

Corcoran Rolls Car Three Times - Passenger Dies

Corcoran rolls his car over three times, near Fairmont, on an Auburn to Syracuse run. Passenger McDonald was killed. Corcoran ultimately lost his driver’s license.

1926-10-06

Corcoran Rum Runner Meets Fiery Death

Corcoran and crew were smuggling liquor and got into a high speed chase situation north of Central Square. The truck flipped and the gasoline exploded followed by the liquor. The driver was cremated but Corcoran escaped. The investigation was finally dropped.

1930-04-13

Feds Indict Corcoran

 James Corcoran, Sr. indicted on Federal charges of smuggling

1933-06

Corcoran Is Catalyst In White Rock Inn Murder

The Short Version of the Shooting at the White Rock Inn

Corcoran rented a flat at 334 Seymour to brothers-in-law Clarence Storms and Howard Stearn. In mid-June these two went into business together and rented the “Maples” on old Liverpool Road. They changed the name to the White Rock Inn and the opening was planned for Wednesday, June 14, 1933. While in the bar, on the evening of their first day, Storms and Stearn get into a fight that started over Corcoran’s behavior and something he had said about both of their wives. Storms knock Stearn to the floor and Stearn left. He returned a short time later with two pistols and offered one to Storms, which he refused. Stearn ordered him to pick up the gun but he refused and slid it across the dance floor. Stearn then shot Storms in the head and killed him.

There was a trial and Stearn was found guilty of first degree murder and sentenced to the electric chair at Sing-Sing prison. His lawyer appealed the verdict but lost the appeal. Stearn was resigned to the fact that he was going to be executed and wasn’t going to do anything more. His wife made a personal appeal to the governor and 24 hours before the time set for his execution Stearn’s sentence was commuted to life in prison.

Initially it was thought that, outside of the fight between Storms and Stearn, in which Corcoran was a catalyst, perhaps Corcoran had a deeper involvement in this situation. However, it turned out that that wasn't the case. Prior to their partnership in the White Rock Inn, Storms had been involved in the saloon or liquor business. It was Stearn that was out of his element having spent his previous years in the construction business. 

Storms had worked on a boiler when he lived in Auburn. By early 1933 Clarence and his wife Ellen were running the Union Labor Club on South West St. Stearn had been a successful contractor before the Depression had killed off the construction industry. Stern and his wife had returned from Chicago after losing their home and moved in with his wife’s sister and her husband, Clarence Storms. Initially they lived on South West St., until they moved into Corcoran’s flat on Seymour St. Corcoran might have been the person who suggested they form a partnership and rent the old Maples roadhouse. The details of the murder and the subsequent trial can be found here.

This would have served two purposes for Corcoran. His tenants would have a source of income from which to pay him rent. Secondly, it provided another customer for Corcoran’s illegal liquor business.

Corcoran Settles Down

Shortly after the shooting at the White Rock Inn, Prohibition came to an end and with that James Corcoran seems to have settled down. At least stories about his adventures, or misadventures, no longer appeared in the newspapers of Syracuse. However, his son, James Corcoran, Jr., took his father's place on the pages of the local newspapers with stories of the results of his poor driving ability.

Need some more info on Corcoran's later antics.

1940-12-13

Mary Moore Corcoran Obit

Mrs. Mary M. Corcoran died at her home at 334 Seymour Street, on Tuesday, December 10, 1940. Burial was at St. Mary's Cemetery.

1953-09-07

James J. Corcoran Obit

James J. Corcoran, formerly of 233 W. Castle Street, died September 5, 1953. 

Burial was in St. Mary's Cemetery.

James Corcoran, Jr.

1934-09-16

A son born to James J. Corcoran and Neva Paul on September 16, 1934, 334 Seymour St.

1934-10-12

James Joseph Corcoran forecloses on Mamie Crawford Vandervort. Little Jimmy is foreclosing on his Mom. At least he waited until after Mother’s Day.

1935-01-03

Wife saves Corcoran when overcome by carbon monoxide. [1935-01-03]

1935-11-22

Corcoran pinned under the truck that he was driving when it overturned on the Onondaga Hill-Marcellus highway. [1935-11-22]

1937-02-20

A daughter born to James J. Corcoran and Neva Paul on February 20, 1937, 334 Seymour St.

1937-11-13

"James Corcoran, 334 Seymour st., in University Hospital with concussion of the brain and other injuries." Corcoran was injured when the truck he was driving "left Erie Blvd E., near the Syracuse Rendering Company plant and tipped onto its side."  [1937-11-13]

1950-09-16

Died September 15, 1950 in Onondaga General Hospital after a long illness. Age: approximately 45 years old. Corcoran had been a bus driver for the Syracuse Transit Company. He was buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery. Survivors: Wife, Mrs. Neva Paul Corcoran, a son Paul Corcoran, two daughters Eileen and Patricia Corcoran and his father James J. Corcoran. [1950-09-16]