Louis "Louie the Lump" Pioggi [Poggi] (born 1889 – date of death unknown) was a New York criminal and member of the Five Points Gang, known most prominently for the murder of Eastman Gang leader Max "Kid Twist" Zwerbach and Vach "Cyclone Louie" Lewis. Year 1889 ( MDCCCLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The Five Points Gang was a 19th-century Criminal organization based in the Sixth Ward ( The Five Points) of New York City. The Eastman Gang was the last of New York's street gangs which dominated the city's underworld during the late 1890s until early 1910s Max "Kid Twist" Zwerbach born as Maxwell Zwerbach or Zweifach ( March 14, 1884 - May 14, 1908) was an American Vach "Cyclone Louie" Lewis (d May 14, 1908) was an early New York gangster and member of the Eastman Gang under Max "Kid Twist" Zwerbach
Although newspaper accounts report Pioggi (spelled Poggi) was employed as a clerk in a Coney Island hospital with no criminal record, Pioggi apparently became associated with members of the Five Points Gang during their decade-long gang war with the Eastman Gang. Coney Island is a Peninsula, formerly an island in southernmost Brooklyn, New York City, USA with a Beach on the Atlantic Ocean
On the night of May 14, 1908, Pioggi was confronted by Max Zwerbach and Vach Lewis over a Coney Island dance hall girl, Carrol Terry and eventually forced to jump out the first story window of a saloon. 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 After returning to rival Five Points Gang leader Paul Kelly, Pioggi returned to the saloon and lured the two into the street where they were ambushed by members of the Five Points Gang and gunned down. 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
During his trial, Pioggi claimed that Zwerbach and Lewis had confronted him with members of their gang at his hotel with the intentions of murdering him. Forced out into the street, he went on to say that he then shot both of them before they were able to get out their pistols. His lawyer, John S. Bennett, issued a statement to the court that for the safety of his client, Pioggi would choose not to stand trial and plead guilty to manslaughter as his testimony might incriminate certain figures of the cities underworld. Bennett's claims were further supported by Edward Reardon, formerly of the District Attorney's office, and Thomas Fitzpatrick, brother of slain gangster Richie Fitzpatrick, however apparently neither man appeared at the trial. 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
Pioggi was later sentenced to one year at Elmira Reformatory, and following his release, he was later charged with violation of the Sullivan Law in April 1912 and jumped bail. Elmira Correctional Facility, known otherwise as " the Hill " is a maximum security Prison located in New York in the USA The Sullivan Act, also known as the Sullivan Law, is a controversial Gun control law in New York State. Shortly after this, one of Pioggi's friends, Charley Torti, was accused of shooting arch-rival Jack Zelig on the steps of the Tombs on Pioggi's orders in June 1912. "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 On the run for three years, Pioggi was eventually arrested in Times Square by detectives of the District Attorney’s office on July 28, 1915. Times Square is a major intersection in Manhattan, New York City at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretching from West Events 1540 - Thomas Cromwell is executed at the order of Henry VIII of England on charges of Treason. Year 1915 ( MCMXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year At his arraignment, he was imprisoned in the Tombs without bail to await his trial. " The Tombs " is the colloquial name for the Manhattan Detention Complex a Jail in Lower Manhattan at 125 White Street as well as the popular name However, he disappeared from public record thereafter.
References
- "In Fear Of Death, Poggi Pleads Guilty". New York Times 06 Oct. 1908
- "Louis Poggi Surrenders, Gangster Who Jumped Bail in 1912 to Get Lighter Sentence. New York Times 29 Jul. 1915
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