Between 1900 and 1920, Catherine McDonald—better known as Mother Mack—was a well-known figure in Toledo's criminal underworld. An Irish immigrant, Mother Mack led what came to be known in the local papers as the "notorious Mother Mack gang."

Young John Mack, son of Kate 'Mary' Mack. Involved in a long-string of offenses, earning a reputation as a gunman, jailbreaker, safe-blower (yegg), and thief. Frequent run-ins with the Toledo police led to spending a significant portion of his youth in the Toledo Workhouse.

Ted Mack, notorious among Toledo police as a thief and highway robber with an extensive criminal record. Indicted on numerous charges for robberies, assaults, and hold-ups, he was out on bail when his life ended violently at only 21 years old. Ted Mack died in a gunfight with Toledo Motor Patrolmen.

In early Toledo, there existed a notorious district known as the “Tenderloin.” This area, located near downtown, was a hotbed of vice and indulgence, where the boundaries of the law were often blurred. It was a place where anyone seeking to satisfy their desires could find what they were looking for.