The Eastman Gang was the last of New York's street gangs which dominated the cities underworld during the late 1890s until early 1910s. Along with the Five Points Gang under Paul Kelly, the Eastmans succeeded the long dominant Whyos as the first non-Irish street gang to gain prominence in the underworld during the 1890s, and marked the beginning of a thirty to forty-year period of the Jewish-American mob's dominance of organized crime in New York City. The Five Points Gang was a 19th-century Criminal organization based in the Sixth Ward ( The Five Points) of New York City. Paul Kelly (1876 - 1936 was a New York criminal who founded the Five Points Gang, one of the last dominant street gangs in New York history and recruited The Whyos, a collection of the various post- Civil War street gangs of New York, was the city's dominant street gang during the late 19th century Largely originating from the immigration from Eastern Europe during the late-19th and early 20th centuries Jewish-American organized crime (sometimes referred to as the Kosher
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Early years
Originally formed under Monk Eastman, a well known bouncer and hired thug, he would spend the next decade establishing a criminal empire in Manhattan's Lower East Side through criminal activities, including prostitution and illegal gambling (specifically operating stuss games) as well as later establishing political connections through Tammany Hall. Monk Eastman (c1873-1920 was a New York brawler who founded and led one of the most powerful street gangs in New York City at the turn of the Twentieth Century the Eastman Stuss is a card game a variant of faro. In this version (played in house games back rooms and saloons the cards are dealt from the dealer's hand not from a shoe Tammany Hall was the Democratic Party Political machine that played a major role in controlling New York City politics and helping immigrants (most notably
Eventually, the gang became involved in a rivalry with the Five Points Gang warring over both territory and work as political sluggers for Tammany Hall. The Five Points Gang was a 19th-century Criminal organization based in the Sixth Ward ( The Five Points) of New York City. The Eastmans dominated the gang war during the first year as gang members rallied under Monk Eastman in pitched battles in the streets of New York reminiscent of the gangs of the previous century. Eastman's charismatic leadership, who often lead his men into battle, caused many members of the Five Pointers to defect to the Eastmans including Richie Fitzpatrick and Max "Kid Twist" Zwerbach among others. Richard "Richie" Fitzpatrick (1880-1904 was a top gunman in the Monk Eastman gang as well as a former member of the Five Points Gang, during the late 1890s Max "Kid Twist" Zwerbach born as Maxwell Zwerbach or Zweifach ( March 14, 1884 - May 14, 1908) was an American However, as the gang war began to escalate, the gang leaders were forced by Tammany politicians to agree to a truce before losing control of the situation.
Reign of Kid Twist
After Monk Eastman's arrest for a street mugging in 1904, the gang threatened to disintegrate among warring factions all looking to assume leadership of the gang. and by the end of the year, the gang was split between former Eastman lieutenants Max Zwerbach and Richie Fitzpatrick.
Threatened by civil war during their war with the Five Pointers, Zwerbach and Fitzpatrick agree to meet for a truce in late 1904. However, possibly while attending a peace conference, Fitzpatrick was found shot to death at a local neighborhood saloon near Sheriff-Chrystie Street on November 1, 1904. Sheriff Street ( known by locals as " Sheriffer," is a small area in the north inner city of Dublin, Ireland, lying between East Wall Events 996 - Emperor Otto III issues a deed to Gottschalk Bishop of Freising which is the oldest known document using the name Ostarrîchi Year 1904 ( MCMIV) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year starting on
With the elimination of the remaining members of the Fitzpatrick faction by Zwerbach lieutenant Vach "Cyclone Louie" Lewis several weeks later, would leave the aptly named "Kid Twist" Zwerbach to assume leadership of the Eastmans.
He would continue his war against the Five Points Gang on and off during his four year reign however, Paul Kelly was eventually able to arrange the deaths of Zwerbach and Lewis using an altercation with underling Louis "Louie the Lump" Pioggi to set them up for an ambush on May 14, 1908. Louis "Louie the Lump" Pioggi (born 1889 &ndash date of death unknown was a New York criminal and member of the Five Points Gang, known most prominently for the Events 1264 - Battle of Lewes: Henry III of England is captured in France making Simon de Montfort the Year 1908 ( MCMVIII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year
Zelig and the final years
Following the deaths of Zwerbach and Lewis, "Big" Jack Zelig took over what remained of the Eastmans. "Big" Jack Zelig ( May 13, 1888 - October 5, 1912) was a New York gangster and one of the last leaders of the Monk Eastman Gang Dividing the gang into three separate factions, with the other two operating as satellite gangs under saloonkeepers Jack Sirocco and Chick Tricker, the two eventually turned on Zelig leaving him behind for the police during a failed armed robbery. Jack Sirocco (1882 - 1954 was a New York gangster involved in labor Racketeering and Strikebreaking. Chick Tricker was an early New York gangster who as a member the Eastman Gang, served as one of its last leaders alongside Jack Sirocco.
The two factions were involved in gun battles throughout the city during the next year and, while a failed attempt on Zelig's life at the hands of Julie Morrell resulted in the assassins death in December 1911, both Sirocco and Tricker would assume control of what was left of the Eastmans after Zelig was killed by "Red" Phil Davidson shortly before his testimony against Charles Becker on October 5, 1912. Julie Morrell or Jules Morello (d December 2, 1911) was a freelance gunman associated with the Eastman Gang during the turn of the century Charles Becker ( July 26, 1870 - July 30, 1915) was a New York City police officer in the 1890's and 1910's and who was tried convicted and Events 869 - The Fourth Council of Constantinople is convened to decide about what to do about Patriarch Photius of Constantinople Year 1912 ( MCMXII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year starting
References
- Asbury, Herbert. Herbert Asbury ( September 1, 1889 — February 24, 1963) was an American Journalist and Writer who is best The Gangs of New York. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1928. ISBN 1-56025-275-8
External links
- Gangs of Manhattan
- Mafia-International - The Five Points & Eastman Gangs (Early Gangland in New York)
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