Organized Crime Figure. He was one of the most prominent gangsters in 19th century New York. A butcher by trade who was very skilled with knives, he was a large, imposing man, and often bulling. Using bare fists or knives, he was known as one of the toughest street fighters in New York. He was a member of the gang called the Bowery Boys, who were born-in-America, anti-Catholic, and anti-Irish. In the 1850s he closed his family's butchery business, opening a bar known as the "Bank Exchange". During one of his fights, he was hit about the face with such force that he became blind in his left eye. In a rival between Bowery Boys and the new immigrants, he led a large gang of hoodlums of American descent, at the request of the Native American Political Party. Their chief rivals were Irish gangsters under John Morrissey. A violent gang war between him and Morrissey came to a climax on the night of February 24, 1855. Morrissey was severely beaten by William Poole in the Stanwix Hall, located 579 Broadway. Later that night, three members of Morrissey's gang attacked him with Lewis Baker, a New York City policeman, shooting him through the heart. Despite this, "Bill the Butcher" lived for almost two weeks. His last words were, "I think I am a goner. If I die, I die a true American." He was given one of the most impressive funerals in New York City, with 155 carriages and 6,000 mourners in the procession. Eventually, Baker was arrested for murder and in 1856 tried twice with each resulting in a hung jury, and at that point, he was brought before Judge Peabody of the New York State Supreme Court, who released Baker.
Organized Crime Figure. He was one of the most prominent gangsters in 19th century New York. A butcher by trade who was very skilled with knives, he was a large, imposing man, and often bulling. Using bare fists or knives, he was known as one of the toughest street fighters in New York. He was a member of the gang called the Bowery Boys, who were born-in-America, anti-Catholic, and anti-Irish. In the 1850s he closed his family's butchery business, opening a bar known as the "Bank Exchange". During one of his fights, he was hit about the face with such force that he became blind in his left eye. In a rival between Bowery Boys and the new immigrants, he led a large gang of hoodlums of American descent, at the request of the Native American Political Party. Their chief rivals were Irish gangsters under John Morrissey. A violent gang war between him and Morrissey came to a climax on the night of February 24, 1855. Morrissey was severely beaten by William Poole in the Stanwix Hall, located 579 Broadway. Later that night, three members of Morrissey's gang attacked him with Lewis Baker, a New York City policeman, shooting him through the heart. Despite this, "Bill the Butcher" lived for almost two weeks. His last words were, "I think I am a goner. If I die, I die a true American." He was given one of the most impressive funerals in New York City, with 155 carriages and 6,000 mourners in the procession. Eventually, Baker was arrested for murder and in 1856 tried twice with each resulting in a hung jury, and at that point, he was brought before Judge Peabody of the New York State Supreme Court, who released Baker.
Bio by: Dennis Rice
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