Hell-Cat Maggie

A very interesting and unique gangster who operated under the Dead Rabbits was the horrific Hell-Cat Maggie, one of the few woman gangsters of the time along with Sadie Farrel. Maggie grew up an orphan and was a fighter at the ripe age of eight years old. This is where she was found by “Gentlemen Jasper” who saw her fighting to older and stronger boys and was beating them pretty well. Jasper being highly ranked in the Dead Rabbit gang decided to let her into the gang where she was turned into a robber and gang banger. Later on Maggie filed her teeth to sharp points, and she wore long artificial nails made out of brass. It is said that she was the most feared of the Dead Rabbits known for screeching her battle cry rushing, biting, and clawing into the midst of opposing gangsters. Maggie was one of the most influential “shoulder-hitter’s” which was slang for the people that were paid to persuade people to vote a certain way. Maggie as you can imagine with her sharpened teeth and nails was very good at nudging a voter to the side that she desired.

Hell-Cat Maggie in "Gangs of New York"

http://www.panhistoria.com/Stacks/Novels/Character_Homes/home.php?CharID=455

The Honeymoon Gang

The Honeymoon Gang of the mid 1800’s has been said to be one of the most brutal of all gangs in the era. This gang was so brutal and violent that even the corrupt Tammany Hall politicians who often hired gangs to get votes and give protection denied their use. The gang operated in the 18th ward of New York City, and was notorious for its brutal attacks on unsuspecting civilians. Every night the chieftain of the honeymooners would station a thug at each street corner, having him beat and mug any well dressed man that he saw. For years this gang operated with little to no resistance from authorities, knowing that it was a large risk crossing on to their turf. Therefore the neighborhood the gang resided in was labeled unsafe and was truly ruled by The Honeymooners. Their reign did end, however, when a new police chief was put in place of the district. Officers called the “Strong Arm” unit were dressed up as civilians and hid clubs under their coats looking for any gang members to pounce on their innocent prey, which would be followed by a ruthless beating, and sometimes killing of the gang member. Police continued these methods and the gang disbanded within two weeks.

http://books.google.com/books?id=ceY_ISKGRIsC&pg=PA95&lpg=PA95&dq=the+honeymoon+gang&source=bl&ots=qlOipnblg8&sig=RxS6zI5HF0AfJzkF_i2z5oSBMhY&hl=en&ei=OS9wS7yUEdPf8QbUwemNBg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CBoQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=the%20honeymoon%20gang&f=false

The Eastman Gang

The Eastman Gang of New York was one of the last of the 19th century. The Eastman’s succeeded the Whyos, and was the first dominant Jewish gang of New York. The gang was lead by notorious thug Monk Eastman, and gained money from petty crimes, gambling, working as hit men, and most importantly prostitution. The Eastman were the pimps of the era being called the, “Allen Street Cadets”(Cadets was slang for a pimp). The Eastman’s rivals were the Yakey Yakes and Five Points Gang, who were constantly battling for territory, and work as hit men for Tammany Hall, a democratic party in NY. The Eastman’s dominated their counterparts in all street fights that occurred, which caused many members of the rival gangs to switch sides including Richie Fitzpatrick and Max “Kid Twist” Zwerbach. Later on Monk Eastman was arrested for a mugging in 1896, which left the gang facing disintegration. The two new members Kid Twist and Richie Fitzpatrick would end up battling for leadership of the gang. This caused the gang to take sides, and when the gang was about to launch civil war Fitzpatrick and Kid Twist decided to make a peace treaty. However when the two met for this treaty Kid Twist planted a gun in the bathroom restaurant that the two agreed to meet in. Fitzpatrick was then of course shot and Twist took over the gang, this murder was the inspiration for the scene in The Godfather where the same act is committed. Kid Twist’s reign was short, for he was ambushed by rival Five Pointers shortly after his takeover. This incident resulted in the gang’s collapse and marked the end of the Eastman’s.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monk_Eastman_Gang

Monk Eastman