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Abner B. Newcomb Ann Trow Lohman Anthony Comstock Peter Ellis aka Banjo Bill Gurney aka “Big detective sssssssssssabortionist postalsssssssssss inspector, moral crusader Pete aka Luther aka Big Bill” the Queersman aka asssssssssss b Pete aka Peter Emerson 1833-unknown. The son of suc- a b a b Big Bill the Koniacker 1812-78. Emigrated to 1844-1915. Founded the N.Y. So- thief counterfeit, thief, cracksman cessful parents, was writing for in her teens, married Charles Lo- ciety for the Suppression of Vice sssssssssss sssssssssss Boston newspapers by age 17, a b a b hman, freethinker and friend of and lobbied Congress to pass the Ca. 1845-unknown. Minstrel- was made editor of the Rockland Comstock Law prohibiting dis- Life dates unknown. Ran a large Chief of Police George Matsell. gang member, helped rob over Republican, and then wrote for With her husband and brother, semination of obscene material and organized gang of counter- $2.7 million from the Manhat- the New York World. In 1861 was developed a line of and information on birth control. feiters who flooded the entire made secretary for the U.S. Mar- products and abortifacients, and Sworn enemy of Madame Rest- tan Institute for Savings in 1878, country with millions of dollars shall and then Detective. After the performed . Committed ell, , Tennessee a heist funded in part by Marm in fake bills in the late 1860s and War, appointed Operative in the suicide soon after being arrested Claflin, , Emma Mandelbaum the fence. Emerson early 1870s. Gambled away his U.S. Secret Service Division, New in 1878 by Anthony Comstock. Goldman, Ida Craddock, among was acquitted at trial but finally proceeds, and was sentenced to York District, in charge of bounty Was worth over $500,000 at the many others. Admired by a young sent to prison for 10 years on oth- 10 years in Kings County Peni-

fraud cases. time of her death. J. Edgar Hoover later in life. er robbery charges. tentiary.

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Charles Williams aka Charles E. Anchisi C.P. Dan Noble detective John Murray aka Daniel Dyson D.M. sssssssssss ssssssssssspetty thief prostitute a b thief a b sssssssssssthief sssssssssss 1836-99. Fought in the Crimean sssssssssss a b a b War for the Italian Army and Lifea dates unknown. (Image bfrom Life dates unknown. A half-breed 1846-78. Began career as a pick- emigrated to the U.S. in 1861. a photograph taken under duress.) Indian and Negro woman with an pocket, and best known for steal- Life dates unknown. In and out of Worked as an agent for the Union A career sneak thief who robbed explosive temper. Incarcerated at ing $100,000 from the Royal prisons her adult life, described by Army gathering intelligence in houses in New York, Boston, and least four times, three times for Insurance Co. in broad daylight. jailers as “notoriously abandoned the South. Appointed Assistant New Jersey. Arrested and impris- theft and once for assault with a Allegedly participated in theft of and profligate.” Was nevertheless Operative in the U.S. Secret Ser- oned numerous times. Pleaded $1 million from industrialist Ru- knife. Attacked a prison guard shrewd, “with fair intellect but a vice in 1868 to break up an Italian insanity and escaped from three with a carving knife, and was fus L. Lord. Broke out of Auburn gang of counterfeiters, and as full asylums before finally being ap- prison and escaped to England total destitution of moral endow- beaten into submission with a Detective broke up criminal gangs prehended in Cambridge in pos- where he was sentenced to 20 ment.”

in the West. session of stolen pawn tickets. loaded cane. years for forgery. Died in prison.

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Edward Gearing Frank McCoy Fernando Wood George Mason George W. Matsell aka Eddie Goodie aka “Big Frank” police butcher-cart thief mayor burglar aka Oscar Decker sssssssssss sssssssssss sssssssssss burglar, forger sssssssssss a b a b a b sssssssssss a b 1812-81. Elected Mayor of New a b 1811-77. An “inveterate foe of Ca. 1848-unknown. “One of the York City in 1854 and again in Ca. 1839-unknown. Credited Life dates unknown. A confeder- thieves,” Matsell became a po- smartest thieves in America.” 1860, spent his life in politics, with originating the “butcher cart ate of notorious fence “Marm lice magistrate in 1840 and was Conducted a life-long career as a involved in and business,” robbing people on the Mandelbaum.” Decker also forged named the first thief, and drove the butcher cart serving in the House of Repre- street and escaping in a cart. Said notes on banks, obtaining $13,500 Police Commissioner in 1845. in and Chicago alone. carrying stolen loot. Was allegedly sentatives. A Copperhead, he to have stolen over $2 million in He wrote the first work of Ameri- involved in the 1878 robbery of his career. After several arrests, he With associates, he traveled to supported the South during the can slang, the Vocabulum (Rogue’s the Institute for Sav- Civil War in order to keep mak- was finally sent to a Wilmington, Europe and defrauded banks of $100,000s in London, Paris, and Lexicon), owned the National Police ings, of over $2.7 million. Eventu- ing money from a profitable cot- Delaware, jail to serve out a 10- Brussels, where he was arrested Gazette, and spent summers at his

ally sentenced to 20 years in State ton trade. year term for burglary.

Prison. and incarcerated. farm in Iowa.

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Dorcas Doyan Dr. Jacob Rosenzweig John and Willie D. George W. Walling Helen Campbell aka Dr. Ascher police aka Helen Jewett street arabs sssssssssss sssssssssssreformer sssssssssssprostitute sssssssssssabortionist sssssssssss a b a b a b a b a b Life dates unknown. Two brothers 1823-91. He worked his way up in 1813-36. High-class New York Life dates unknown. Abortionist the ranks, serving under George 1839-1918. Dedicated her life to City prostitute who grew up in who at one time ran five offices supporting an idle and abusive fa- Matsell, and gaining respect by causes and effects of poverty on Maine motherless and with an al- in New York City. Accused in the ther and younger sister as beggars. ably handling New York City’s women and children. Pioneer in coholic father. Allegedly murdered “Great Trunk Mystery” of 1871, Illiterate and often sleeping on the by regular customer, clerk Rich- of killing a woman by a botched streets in boxes, they were rescued draft riots in 1863. He became home economics and social re- Chief of New York Police in 1874 ard Robinson. The trial transfixed and attempting to ship by the Society for the Prevention former. Wrote children’s stories, the nation. Despite damning but her body to Chicago. Convicted and for his entire career sought to of Cruelty to Children and sent novels, and nonfiction chronicling circumstantial evidence, Robin- and sentenced to 7 years in Sing to the Juvenile Asylum. Fates un- rid the police force of corruption the plight of urban families. son was acquitted. Facing a public Sing, he served less than a year. from the city’s political influences. backlash, he moved to . known. The schoolsThe were closed in 1880. over 3,000 fake medical diplomas. and Livingstone University, selling Pennsylvania, of College Medical Eclectic the Univer , of American sity medical the bogus Was schools the treatises. of “Dean” medical wrote Also medicines. quack with eases dis venereal Practiced treating medicine, unknown. dates Life survive and be released. to only comrades up gave life, in later escape an during sustained wounds gunshot from wounded mortally be to himself Believing Nathan. Benjamin banker of mur der the to confessed vincingly Uncon charges. robbery on NY Notorious jewelrystore burglar extradited to 1846-unknown. Ca. a a diploma mill operator sssssssssss b sssssssssss b John Buchanan aka Old Jack John Irving quack burglar doctor b sssssssssss b sssssssssss a a - - - -

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John P. McCartney aka Jonathan Harrington Maria Whipple John “Johnny” Hope Pete McCartney aka Joe Green Madame Rand thief Woods fortune teller, pimp ssssssssssspetty thief sssssssssss sssssssssssreformed gambler sssssssssss a b a b ssssssssssscounterfeiter, forger a b a b 1856-1906. Burglar, bank robber, Life dates unknown. A vestmaker a b 1813-87. An accomplished gam- Life dates unknown. Occupied and pickpocket. Worked with his Ca. 1818-90. King of counter- second story of a tenement near by trade, arrived alone in Boston feiters and prince of queer shov- bler at a young age, gave it up father, “Old Jimmy” Hope, associ- the East River, above a cheap gro- at age 20. Took up stealing when ers. Skillfully engraved plates and in 1842 and crusaded against ate of the notorious George Leslie gambling until the end of his life. cery selling liquor to the destitute. unable to find work, and stole Gang. Arrested and convicted for passed counterfeits throughout the West. Also skilled at escaping from Helped organize the New York Claimed to tell girls of their future $1,200 in silks, furs, and other alleged part in the 1878 robbery Association for the Suppression of husbands, but sold them into pros- of the Manhattan Institute for custody. Married into a family of garments. which she pawned for counterfeiters, served 15 years Gambling and wrote prolifically titution instead. Responsible for cash. Served 2 years in prison for Savings, of over $2.7 million, he about the secrets of gambling and the disappearance of at least two spent 20 years in Sing Sing and for counterfeiting, and died in an theft. After being released, went its evils. Died penniless in Phila- young women.

was pardoned in 1890. Ohio prison at the age of 66, hav- insane.

ing passed millions in bogus bills. delphia.

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Fredericka Mandelbaum Medora Jacobs Michael Kurtz aka Mary Nathalie B-- M.B. confidence woman aka Marm or Mother petty thief sssssssssss Michael Sheehan aka Mandelbaum sssssssssssprostitute sssssssssss a b Sheeney Mike fence a b a b Life dates unknown. A native New burglar, gang leader sssssssssss Life dates unknown. A former Yorker, was collecting debts for sssssssssss a b Life dates unknown. Known as a b 1818-94. Most notorious and suc- slave who purchased his own free- her father by the age of nine. As a “the most exclusive woman of the young girl, solicited neighborhood Ca. 1845-1904. Co-founded the cessful fence of the 19th century. dom and moved north. Described underworld” during the late-19th donations for a bogus charity and Dutch mob and led a successful Oversaw international network of as “a man of great determination thieves and trafficked $1-$5 mil- century. Enjoyed influential con- spent the money on herself. As an career as a bank robber and jew- and fixedness of mind and char- elry thief. He participated in over lion in stolen goods between 1862 nections in Baltimore and New adult, presented herself as a re- acter.” Arrested for petty larceny. spectable woman, wearing stolen 150 robberies amounting to $7 and 1884. Also helped finance York. Was said to have chosen “a finery and boarding at luxurious million and was an associate of 1878 robbery of the Manhattan short life of gaiety” over “severe, Institute for Savings. Arrested in hotels without ever paying. As of notorious fence “Marm” Man- 1884, fled to Canada with $1 mil- Puritan respectability.” 1861, was serving time in Sing delbaum. Died penniless of con-

lion, where she remained. Sing. sumption in Bellevue Hospital.

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Monroe Edwards Simeon B. Benson Thomas E. Lonergan Michael Nevins slave smuggler, forger, swindler Patrick Lacey detective detective gutter snipe sssssssssss dock rat sssssssssss sssssssssss sssssssssss a b sssssssssss a b a b a b Ca. 1808-47. Son of a a b Ca. 1830-unknown. Son of a 1844-1901. Energetic officer who Ca. 1885-unknown. Half blind plantation owner, moved to Texas, Ca. 1885-unknown. One of thou- wealthy farmer, became a promi- apprehended numerous coun- and with a blood-matted head clerked for a prosperous merchant. sands of children living in urban nent lawyer in Erie, PA, joining terfeiters. Joined Union Army as wound from beatings by his father, Soon embarked on large-scale America who were rescued by the Union Army at the outset of Sergeant Major, was appointed to he was found “alive” with vermin smuggling operation, trafficking reformers. He was found by the the Civil War, gaining experience West Point, served as newspaper reporter, and then hired as Super- by the Society for the Prevention slaves internationally. Fleeing to Society for the Prevention of Cru- in the fraudulent practices of gov- intendent of the Chicago branch of Cruelty to Children. His father Europe to avoid authorities, posed elty to Children with a swollen ernment contractors. Eventually appointed to Chief Operative of of Pinkerton’s National Detective was arrested for the abuse. Fate as a wealthy veteran and abolition- left eye and two torn ears by the ist, successfully swindling $20,000 the Secret Service out of Philadel- Agency. Became Chief Operative unknown. hand of his abusive father, who from a Liverpool firm. Convicted phia responsible for the conviction in the Western Division of the served 1 year for the crimes. Fate U.S. Secret Service in 1870.

of forgery, died in prison. unknown. of over 50 criminals.

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Thomas M. Hale William Brockway William O’Brien aka William Stuart Winfield S. Goss aka “Cranky Tom” sssssssssssforger, counterfeiter “Billy” Porter aka Wil- ssssssssssscounterfeiter co-conspirator,sssssssssss victim forger, counterfeiter a b liam or “Billy Morton a b a b sssssssssss Ca. 1822-unknown. The king of burglar 1788?-unknown. Began his crimi- Unknown-1872. Unfortunate vic- a b the counterfeiters. A skilled ban- sssssssssss 1836-unknown. Orphaned at 13, a b nal life in early teens forging coins tim of his own criminal intent. knote engraver hired by banks to 1850-unknown. Member of the and passing them to adults. Sub- With brother-in-law William Ud- stole $500 from his adoptive aunt engrave plates which he copied Dutch mob, one of the best crack- as a youth. In New York, frequent- sequently passed counterfeit notes derzook faked own death to col- for himself. Arrested in 1880 for men in America. Robbed retail in the East, obtaining supplies ed Ike Weber’s lush drum, the no- lect on the $25,000 insurance forging over $200,000 worth of stores, netting tens of thousands of from counterfeiter Stephen Bur- policies. Insurance investigators torious thieves’ den. Was involved government bonds. 30-year sen- dollars. In 1883 sustained severe roughs and others. Chose women suspecting fraud, Udderzook then in making the first postal forgeries, tence suspended because he sur- gunshot wounds during gunfight and African Americans as accom- and also created counterfeit scrip. rendered all counterfeiting tools actually murdered Goss. Arrested at Shang Draper’s saloon. After plices. Served 5 years in prison and convicted, Udderzook was Jumped bail at least 23 different and bogus plates. Also gave up allegedly killing notorious gang and retired to farm life in Con- hanged in West Chester, PA, in times. In 1870 sentenced to 10 compatriots. Sentenced in 1883 to leader George Leslie, continued necticut. Wrote his autobiography years in a Pennsylvania prison. 1874. 5 years for forgery. his criminal career in Europe. at age 66. to be worth $72 million. fromtuberculosis claimed 1892, in death his of time the At 1869. of panic financial Friday” “Black ing caus market, gold the corner to attempted Also investors. not but Fiske Jim partner his and him for the Erie RR enrusing lucrative returns of director a him making by Hall politics, bribing “Boss” Tweed TammanyInvolvedin 1836-1892. a Jason “Jay” Gould sssssssssss b robber baron b sssssssssss a -