11 Facts About Herbert Asbury

Herbert Asbury was an American journalist and writer best known for his books detailing crime during the 19th and early-20th centuries, such as Gem of the Prairie: An Informal History of the Chicago Underworld, The Barbary Coast: An Informal History of the San Francisco Underworld, Sucker's Progress: An Informal History of Gambling in America and The Gangs of New York.

When he was in his early teens, he and his siblings Mary, Emmett and Fred Asbury became disenchanted with the local Southern Methodist church.

Herbert Asbury was later promoted to sergeant and then to second lieutenant.

Herbert Asbury served in France until his lungs were severely damaged in a gas attack.

Sales of the recently founded Mercury boomed, and Herbert Asbury became a celebrity.

Herbert Asbury then focused his attention on a series of articles debunking temperance crusader Carrie Nation.

Herbert Asbury continued working as a reporter for various newspapers including The Atlanta Georgian, the New York Sun, the New York Herald and the New York Tribune.

Herbert Asbury was involved in screenwriting and wrote several plays which appeared on Broadway.

Herbert Asbury married Edith Evans Herbert Asbury in 1945, a journalist ultimately employed by The New York Times, where she spent most of her career as a reporter.

Herbert Asbury died on February 24,1963, at the age of 71 from a chronic lung disease.

Herbert Asbury is credited with several crime-thriller screenplays for Columbia Pictures, which he co-wrote with Fred Niblo Jr :.