by Bill Bowers
“The ‘Hook Gang’ of river-thieves is probably composed of the remnant of the successors of Saul and Howlett. Its chief spirits are Merricks, a desperate and bold thief, capable of committing any crime, Jaraes Coffee, who has served one term in State Prison, and has his likeness in the Rogues’ Album, Le Strange and Lewis, highwaymen, burglars, river-thieves, or pick pockets, as occasion may require; Preslin, a daring thief, Riley, who has just been sent to Sing Sing, and his three pale, McCracken, Gallagher and Bonner, who ‘fell’ on another racket. This choice crowd holds forth at the foot of Stanton street, across the ferry, and operates anywhere between Fourteenth street and the Battery. The week before Christmas they planned the robbery of a vessel lying at the Atlantic Dock, but for some unknown reason the job failed, and they had to look about for smaller game nearer home. The canal-boat Thomas H. Brick was lying off the foot of Fourteenth street, and shortly after midnight, on the morning of December 20, she was boarded by Sam McCracken, John Gallagher and Tommy Bonner. With pistols in their hands they confronted the captain, who succeeded in giving the alarm before he was bound and gagged. The battle was short and decisive. Officer Booz and Captain M. J. Murphy arrested them, and they are now doing three and a half ‘stretches,’ each, in Auburn State Prison. They are all very desperate characters, though Bonner, 21 years of age, is probably the most dangerous. Gallagher is only 19, and has served several times in the Penitentiary, and McCracken, 20 years of age, has been an inmate of Crow Hill Castle. Beyond a few petty dock-thieves who infest the First Ward, New York, and are kept in subjection by Captain Van Dusen and his officers, and the scoundrels who prowl along the Brooklyn piers, and whose histories are not different from those of other sneak-thieves, there is no other regular organized mob worthy of extended notice, except the Seventh Ward gang of New York, of which each man has his individual history. Of course, originally, the ‘mob’ was composed of more expert and daring thieves than it is at present. ‘Bum’ Mahoney is now the acknowledged leader, but as he is well known to the Brooklyn and New York detectives, his career on the river is gradually drawing to an end. When he and Big Dennis Brady ‘worked’ together, they were a powerful and dangerous combination.
“Brady, though only thirty-one years of age, has been connected with nearly every daring, prominent robbery in this country. It was Brady who organized the gang of masked robbers. He is one of the three men who, about two years ago, went into the Kensington Bank, of Philadelphia, tied up the two watchmen and robbed the safe of $100,000. Brady, on that occasion, was dressed in the uniform of a police officer, and for his share in the robbery received $12,000. Shortly afterward he gave out that he had ‘squared it,’ married a respectable young woman and opened a lager-beer saloon in Bayard street, but before six weeks had expired the money was all gone. Brady was ejected for non-payment of rent, and the reformed burglar became a greater thief than ever.
“‘Bum,’ or Denny Mahoney, is about twenty-four years of age, very dark complexioned, about five feet five in height, and weighs 140 pounds. He is smart, brave as a lion, and as daring a little fellow as ever lived. No river-thief is better known than ‘Bum’ Mahoney. Every policeman in the Seventh Ward and every detective in New York and Brooklyn knows him as a river-thief, and yet he has never been to State Prison. He has served two terms in the Penitentiary for dock-stealing, has his photograph in the Rogues’ Album, and claims an intimate acquaintance with the notorious Jack Perry of Water street. Perry, from being a notorious thief, has become a notorious liquor-dealer. His saloon is the resort for nearly all the Water street thieves and prostitutes, to whom he likes to tell the story of his stealing Josh Ward’s champion rowing belt, how he was captured by Sergeant Slater, convicted, sentenced to State Prison for fourteen years and six months, and escaped serving a full term on account of his political friends and his good looks. ‘Bum’ Mahoney may be found there often, particularly when about to ‘operate’ on the Long Island or North River shore. That is to protect himself in case of arrest, by proving an alibi. Nearly two years ago, ‘Bum’ was caught one night by Detectives Jarboe and Shalvey in the act of robbing a schooner at Pier 50, East River. Jarboe threw himself on his prisoner to pinion his hands, when Mahoney tried to throw him overboard. In the scuffle Mahoney made his escape, jumped into a small boat, and then he and the officers exchanged several shots from their revolvers. Two days afterward Mahoney was arrested at his home in Water street, by the same detectives, but meanwhile the schooner had gone to sea, and ‘Bum’ was there upon released, as there was no complaint against him.
“The true leader of the Seventh Ward gang of river-thieves is not ‘Bum’ Mahoney, but ‘Tommy’ Shay or Shea. He is a notorious villain. His likeness adorns the Rogues’ Gallery, and his pedigree is well known to the State Prison authorities. Shay is 36 years of age, 5 feet 9 inches in height, weight 150 pounds, is dark complexioned, and of a sullen temper. Ten years ago, as now, he was a notorious river-thief, and was implicated in killing the mate of a vessel off Bikers Island, with ‘Patsy’ Conroy and ‘Larry’ Griffin. He has served one term in Sing Sing, and is looked upon by young thieves as their beau-ideal of a murderous river-thief.
“Probably the most remarkable man of the Seventh Ward gang is ‘Jimmy’ Whalen. He is 28 years of age, 5 feet 8 inches high, dark complexioned, and weighs 160 pounds. Mr. Whalen is well known to the Brooklyn Police, and when he finds business dull in New York, may easily be found within a short distance of the Navy Yard gate. He returned from a twelve months’ sojourn in the Penitentiary only a few weeks ago, having served a term for a most remarkable crime. In company with ‘Charley’ Davis, he stole a ship’s cable, weighing eight thousand pounds. Unaided, these two men piled that immense weight of iron in a boat, and brought it from Pier 50, East River, on the New York side, to a vacant lot in Van Brunt Street, Brooklyn, near Red Hook Point. The men were arrested by detectives Shalvey and Jarboe, and the chain was recovered, and although it could not be taken to court as evidence against them, Whalen pleaded guilty and was sent to the Penitentiary for one year, which he served. Davis pleaded not guilty, was tried, convicted, and sentenced to State Prison for five years. Whalen wields a large amount of political influence, and although he had been arrested a score of times, it had always been found impossible to convict him until he stole the ship’s cable. That was found to be too heavy a load for his friends to carry, and now he knows how it is himself.
“Bob Taylor, alias ‘Shipsey,’ is properly one of the Seventh Ward gang, although he is now hiding in this city of churches, when he could and ought to be arrested, as well as his pal, John Kane, alias ‘Beeny,’ who is with him. ‘Shipsey’ was sentenced to five years in State Prison for river piracy at the foot of Pike street, New York, where he robbed a schooner and shot at the captain. He made his escape at Sing Sing, nearly three months ago, since which time he has made his headquarters near the Navy Yard. ‘Beeny,’ his pal, is also wanted nearer home, and well he knows it. He is a smooth-looking scoundrel, light complexioned, about 5 feet 61/2 inches in height, and weighs nearly 160 pounds. He has a round, full, rather good-looking face, and is continually preaching about his honesty. He has served in the Penitentiary, and having been unfortunate in a wheat speculation, he bids fair to reach that institution again within a very few days.
“James Wallace, alias ‘Nigger,’ is another one of this select crowd. He is about five feet ten inches, weighs 175 pounds, and is called ‘Nigger’ on account of his dark, swarthy complexion. He is a fresh arrival from Sing Sing, where he did the State five years’ good work for a very clever river job. He sticks closely to the pier at the foot of Jackson street, New York, where he can be found with ‘Johnny’ Kirby, a young river-thief, twenty-four years of age, five feet eight inches in height, very light complexioned, and weighs about 130 pounds. Occasionally these two gentlemen, representing the blonde and brunette styles of beauty, make a tour of the watering places, as they call them. No. 275 Water street, kept by George Christoph
er and ‘Long Mary,’ is their Saratoga, ‘Ann Sauk’s’ dance house is their Newport, ‘Kate Carroll’s’ is their Long Branch, ‘Gallus Mag’s’ is their Coney Island, and the ‘Flag of our Union’ and ‘Liverpool Mary Ann’s’ are respectively Jerome Park and Fleetwood. They are first-class beats when not in funds, and take great delight in being considered lady-killers and cheek-charmers.
“Excepting ‘Tony’ Gillespie, who is ‘wanted’ for a job, the rest of the gang are where they can do but little harm. Tony is a lively young fellow, who has served one term in State Prison and two in the Penitentiary. His particular pal was Michael Noles, alias ‘Piggy.’
“‘Piggy’ is now in the Penitentiary for stealing a boat and its contents. Though a nice young man, ‘Piggy’ has visited the Penitentiary four times in all, and his ‘Moll’ thinks it’s ‘a great shame, and he such a pivoter.’
“One of the ‘best men’ of the gang is one of the most unfortunate. Edward Sullivan, an accomplished river-thief and burglar, the bosom friend of ‘Bum’ Mahoney and ‘Tommy’ Shay, has again been torn away from the family circle. Sullivan is 26 years of age. Six years ago he was a terror, but one night he fell into the hands of a ‘flatty cop’ and was given ‘five stretches’ for a very badly executed river job. He served every day of his time, and returned to his old associates a short time ago, determined hereafter to do his work ashore and not afloat. In other words, he changed from a river-thief to a burglar. While practising he again fell, and last week he was sentenced to two years at his old quarters.
“Kings County Penitentiary contains only two of these choice spirits from the Seventh Ward of New York. They are ‘Old Tom’ Flaherty and James Smith. Smith is an ordinary river-thief and sneak, but ‘Old’ Flaherty belongs to a fine family. The old man has lived half a century, while Smith has yet to celebrate his twenty-second birthday. They would steal a boat from the New York side and then make for South Brooklyn; then they would work up stream, robbing farm-houses, hen-roosts, canal-boats, or anything else that came in their way.
“At length they fell into the hands of the Brooklyn Police, and were sentenced to the Penitentiary for five years. Flaherty’s family has recently become somewhat divided. His wife, a notorious thief and shop-lifter, has been in the State Prison, and is now in the Penitentiary, Blackwell’s Island. Their eldest son is serving a ten years’ sentence in the Illinois State Prison for burglary, and their youngest son is in Sing Sing, where he was Bent for highway robbery and garroting. He will be fifteen years older when he next visits his friends.”
15
Abraham Lincoln’s Remarkable Case (1841)
Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865) was an attorney long before he was a Congressman from Illinois and then president of the United States. He was also an excellent writer, and penned this fascinating account of a case of suspected murder.
A Remarkable Case of Arrest for Murder
Abraham Lincoln
In the year 1841, there resided, at different points in the State of Illinois, three brothers by the name of Trailor. Their Christian names were William, Henry and Archibald. Archibald resided at Springfield, then as now the Seat of Government of the State. He was a sober, retiring and industrious man, of about thirty years of age; a carpenter by trade, and a bachelor, boarding with his partner in business— a Mr. Myers. Henry, a year or two older, was a man of like retiring and industrious habits; had a family and resided with it on a farm at Clary’s Grove, about twenty miles distant from Springfield in a Northwesterly direction. William, still older, and with similar habits, resided on a farm in Warren county, distant from Springfield something more than a hundred miles in the same Northwesterly direction. He was a widower, with several children.
In the neighborhood of William’s residence, there was, and had been for several years, a man by the name of Fisher, who was somewhat above the age of fifty; had no family, and no settled home; but who boarded and lodged a while here, and a while there, with the persons for whom he did little jobs of work. His habits were remarkably economical, so that an impression got about that he had accumulated a considerable amount of money.
In the latter part of May in the year mentioned, William formed the purpose of visiting his brothers at Clary’s Grove, and Springfield; and Fisher, at the time having his temporary residence at his house, resolved to accompany him. They set out together in a buggy with a single horse. On Sunday Evening they reached Henry’s residence, and staid over night.
On Monday Morning, being the first Monday of June, they started on to Springfield, Henry accompanying them on horse back. They reached town about noon, met Archibald, went with him to his boarding house, and there took up their lodgings for the time they should remain. After dinner, the three Trailors and Fisher left the boarding house in company, for the avowed purpose of spending the evening together in looking about the town.
At supper, the Trailors had all returned, but Fisher was missing, and some inquiry was made about him. After supper, the Trailors went out professedly in search of him.
One by one they returned, the last coming in after late tea time, and each stating that he had been unable to discover any thing of Fisher. The next day, both before and after breakfast, they went professedly in search again, and returned at noon, still unsuccessful. Dinner again being had, William and Henry expressed a determination to give up the search and start for their homes. This was remonstrated against by some of the boarders about the house, on the ground that Fisher was somewhere in the vicinity, and would be left without any conveyance, as he and William had come in the same buggy. The remonstrance was disregarded, and they departed for their homes respectively. Up to this time, the knowledge of Fisher’s mysterious disappearance, had spread very little beyond the few boarders at Myers’, and excited no considerable interest.
After the lapse of three or four days, Henry returned to Springfield, for the ostensible purpose of making further search for Fisher. Procuring some of the boarders, he, together with them and Archibald, spent another day in ineffectual search, when it was again abandoned, and he returned home. No general interest was yet excited. On the Friday, week after Fisher’s disappearance, the Postmaster at Springfield received a letter from the Postmaster nearest William’s residence in Warren county, stating that William had returned home without Fisher, and was saying, rather boastfully, that Fisher was dead, and had willed him his money, and that he had got about fifteen hundred dollars by it.
The letter further stated that William’s story and conduct seemed strange; and desired the Postmaster at Springfield to ascertain and write what was the truth in the matter. The Postmaster at Springfield made the letter public, and at once, excitement became universal and intense. Springfield, at that time had a population of about 3500, with a city organization. The Attorney General of the State resided there. A purpose was forthwith formed to ferret out the mystery, in putting which into execution, the Mayor of the city, and the Attorney General took the lead. To make search for, and, if possible, find the body of the man supposed to be murdered, was resolved on as the first step. In pursuance of this, men were formed into large parties, and marched abreast, in all directions, so as to let no inch of ground in the vicinity, remain unsearched. Examinations were made of cellars, wells, and pits of all descriptions, where it was thought possible the body might be concealed. All the fresh, or tolerably fresh graves at the grave-yard were pried into, and dead horses and dead dogs were disintered, where, in some instances, they had been buried by their partial masters.
This search, as has appeared, commenced on Friday. It continued until Saturday afternoon without success, when it was determined to dispatch officers to arrest William and Henry at their residences respectively. The officers started on Sunday Morning, meanwhile, the search for the body was continued, and rumors got afloat of the Trailors having passed, at different times and places, several gold pieces, which were readily supposed to have belonged to Fisher. On Mon
day, the officers sent for Henry, having arrested him, arrived with him. The Mayor and Attorney Gen’l took charge of him, and set their wits to work to elicit a discovery from him. He denied, and denied, and persisted in denying. They still plied him in every conceivable way, till Wednesday, when, protesting his own innocence, he stated that his brothers, William and Archibald had murdered Fisher; that they had killed him, without his (Henry’s) knowledge at the time, and made a temporary concealment of his body; that immediately preceding his and William’s departure from Springfield for home, on Tuesday, the day after Fisher’s disappearance, William and Archibald communicated the fact to him, and engaged his assistance in making a permanent concealment of the body; that at the time he and William left professedly for home, they did not take the road directly, but meandering their way through the streets, entered the woods at the North West of the city, two or three hundred yards to the right of where the road where they should have travelled entered them; that penetrating the woods some few hundred yards, they halted and Archibald came a somewhat different route, on foot, and joined them; that William and Archibald then stationed him (Henry) on an old and disused road that ran near by, as a sentinel, to give warning of the approach of any intruder; that William and Archibald then removed the buggy to the edge of a dense brush thicket, about forty yards distant from his (Henry’s) position, where, leaving the buggy, they entered the thicket, and in a few minutes returned with the body and placed it in the buggy; that from his station, he could and did distinctly see that the object placed in the buggy was a dead man, of the general appearance and size of Fisher; that William and Archibald then moved off with the buggy in the direction of Hickox’s mill pond, and after an absence of half an hour returned, saying they had put him in a safe place; that Archibald then left for town, and he and William found their way to the road, and made for their homes. At this disclosure, all lingering credulity was broken down, and excitement rose to an almost inconceivable height.
