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This week in Philly history: A Marine is brought in to clean up corruption during Prohibition

On Jan. 7, 1924, decorated Marine Smedley Butler officially stepped into his position as Philadelphia’s director of public safety, tasked with cleaning up the vice-infested city.

Maj. Gen. Smedley Butler, director of public safety in Philadelphia, confers with police officers and officials in 1924.
Maj. Gen. Smedley Butler, director of public safety in Philadelphia, confers with police officers and officials in 1924.Read more