Frank Shaeffer (also known as Grey) and Dave Bacharach were standing near a Westside bar at 2:00am on this date back in 1934 when a taxi-cab brimming with gunmen pulled up and opened fire. Frank and Burt, I mean Dave, took off running. The cab followed them and the gunmen continued shooting causing bystanders to dive to the ground or jump into doorways for cover. After a brief chase Frank pitched forward on the sidewalk and lay still while Burt, I mean Dave, kept running. With Shaeffer down the taxi took off and disappeared into the Broadway traffic.
When the coast was clear people came out of their hiding spots and crowds began to pour out of the nearby restaurants, nightclubs and other buildings. They gathered around Shaeffer and rolled him over. It appeared to them that he fell down and cut his head and was unconscious. An ambulance was called and the doctor who arrived with it informed them that what they thought was a cut was actually a bullet wound and that the man was in fact dead. An examination showed that he had also been hit under the left armpit.
Dave, I mean Bur-, I mean Dave took a superficial wound to the chest and walked to the hospital for treatment. The police were notified and took the wounded man into custody and at first he said that he was a Bronx real estate man and he didn't even know that he’d been shot until he undid his coat to get a nickel for a newspaper and found blood. After more questioning however, he broke down, identified himself then clammed up.
What Shaeffer was involved with at the end is unknown but when killed he was “shabbily dressed” and only had a few dollars on him. He had a record of fourteen arrests and five convictions and was known to the police as a forger and mail thief who in 1921 was sentenced to the Atlanta Penitentiary. In 1923 he gained a bit of notoriety when he managed to escape from there with the infamous robber Gerald Chapman. His freedom, however was short lived as he was captured a short time later.
The story of Frank Schaeffer’s escape from the Atlanta big house with Gerald Chapman is included in my next book Bad Seeds in the Big Apple: Bandits, Killers & Chaos in New York City 1920-1940 which should be released this summer.
"He must have done something. They don't kill you for nothing." - Chicago Gangster Ted Newberry. Rubbed out January 7, 1933
Monday, January 7, 2008
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Chanel No. .45 or possibly .38
After a short New Year’s respite the gangsters of New York got back to the business of killing each other. By all accounts Frank Macaluso was an upstanding member of society, he was President of the Columbia Republican Club and owned his own perfume business, but according to the police, he was also a bootlegger,(police felt that his perfume shop doubled as a alcohol drop) and it was the latter profession that probably cost him his life.
On this date back in 1932 Pietro Vello, the janitor at the Columbia Republican Club, was preparing to lock up the club for the night when Macaluso stepped outside into the cold without bothering to put on his overcoat. Since he exited sans coat he was probably going to briefly meet with someone. But a double cross lay in wait. A few moments later the perfume entrepreneur staggered into the pool hall next door, dropped himself into a chair, and whispered to the owner, “Get me a cab. I’m shot.” Detectives quickly arrived on the scene, commandeered a taxi and rushed Macaluso to the hospital where he died a few minutes later of a bullet wound in the back. Who shot him and why remains a mystery.
On this date back in 1932 Pietro Vello, the janitor at the Columbia Republican Club, was preparing to lock up the club for the night when Macaluso stepped outside into the cold without bothering to put on his overcoat. Since he exited sans coat he was probably going to briefly meet with someone. But a double cross lay in wait. A few moments later the perfume entrepreneur staggered into the pool hall next door, dropped himself into a chair, and whispered to the owner, “Get me a cab. I’m shot.” Detectives quickly arrived on the scene, commandeered a taxi and rushed Macaluso to the hospital where he died a few minutes later of a bullet wound in the back. Who shot him and why remains a mystery.
Friday, January 4, 2008
Two scoops of Desperados
Now that there is a whiff of Dillinger in the air thanks to Mann & Depp The History Channel is going to give us a taste of the Public Enemy Era with:
http://www.history.com/shows.do?action=detail&episodeId=260685
This should give a good introduction for the novice gangster enthusiast. For those who watch and get gangster fever I would suggest reading, in this order:
John Dillinger Slept Here (Parts One-Seven) By Paul Maccabbee
The Union Station Massacre by Robert Unger
Verne Miller: From Lawman to Outlaw* by Brad Smith
The Tri-State Terror: The Life and Crimes of Wilbur Underhill* by R.D. Morgan
Dillinger the Untold Story By G. Russell Girardin & William Helmer
Running with Bonnie and Clyde by John Neal Phillips
The Life and Death of Pretty Boy Floyd by Jeff King
Baby Face Nelson: Portrait of a Public Enemy By Steve Nickel & William Helmer
John Dillinger Slept Here (Part Eight - Conclusion)
* These are great books on two of the era's most overlooked outlaws. Every bit as desperate as Pretty Boy Floyd if not more so than Dillinger.
http://www.history.com/shows.do?action=detail&episodeId=260685
This should give a good introduction for the novice gangster enthusiast. For those who watch and get gangster fever I would suggest reading, in this order:
John Dillinger Slept Here (Parts One-Seven) By Paul Maccabbee
The Union Station Massacre by Robert Unger
Verne Miller: From Lawman to Outlaw* by Brad Smith
The Tri-State Terror: The Life and Crimes of Wilbur Underhill* by R.D. Morgan
Dillinger the Untold Story By G. Russell Girardin & William Helmer
Running with Bonnie and Clyde by John Neal Phillips
The Life and Death of Pretty Boy Floyd by Jeff King
Baby Face Nelson: Portrait of a Public Enemy By Steve Nickel & William Helmer
John Dillinger Slept Here (Part Eight - Conclusion)
* These are great books on two of the era's most overlooked outlaws. Every bit as desperate as Pretty Boy Floyd if not more so than Dillinger.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
New Mafia Book
No dead guys in suits today. Seems like the whole “goodwill towards men” thing rolled over to the early days of January with the gangsters of yesteryear. I have consulted my magic 8 ball however and it assured me, after three “Try Agains”, that there will indeed be some dead guys coming for the weekend.
In the meantime since you came here’s a brand new book you might be interested in checking out.
The Mafia and the MachineThe Story of the Kansas City Mob Frank Hayde
The story of the American Mafia is not complete without a chapter on Kansas City. Even Hollywood gives a nod to the "City of Fountains," in films like The Godfather, Casino, and on HBO's "The Sopranos." Events unfolding in Kansas City have affected the fortunes of all the Mafia "families," shaping the entire underworld along the way. The history of La Cosa Nostra is a web of intrigue, with Kansas City right in the thick of it. In The Mafia and the Machine, author Frank Hayde chronicles the connection between organized crime and politics that originated with the alliance between political boss Tom Pendergast, and mob boss Johnny Lazia, the "Lucky Luciano" of Kansas City. The story continues up to the present time. Hayde ties in every major name in organized crime--Luciano, Bugsy, Lansky--and highlights the corrupt Kansas City police force.
As far as I know this is the first look at the KC underworld since Tom's Town (The above mentioned Tom Pendergast) was released in the late 1940's. So should be chock full of new info covering the past 60-years.
In the meantime since you came here’s a brand new book you might be interested in checking out.
The Mafia and the MachineThe Story of the Kansas City Mob Frank Hayde
The story of the American Mafia is not complete without a chapter on Kansas City. Even Hollywood gives a nod to the "City of Fountains," in films like The Godfather, Casino, and on HBO's "The Sopranos." Events unfolding in Kansas City have affected the fortunes of all the Mafia "families," shaping the entire underworld along the way. The history of La Cosa Nostra is a web of intrigue, with Kansas City right in the thick of it. In The Mafia and the Machine, author Frank Hayde chronicles the connection between organized crime and politics that originated with the alliance between political boss Tom Pendergast, and mob boss Johnny Lazia, the "Lucky Luciano" of Kansas City. The story continues up to the present time. Hayde ties in every major name in organized crime--Luciano, Bugsy, Lansky--and highlights the corrupt Kansas City police force.
As far as I know this is the first look at the KC underworld since Tom's Town (The above mentioned Tom Pendergast) was released in the late 1940's. So should be chock full of new info covering the past 60-years.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Coming to a theater near you
For those who haven’t heard director/producer Michael Mann will start shooting Public Enemies in Chicago this March. Johnny Depp is playing Public Enemy #1 himself, John Dillinger. I like Johnny Depp and am interested in seeing his acting choices. This will be Hollywood’s first big take on Dillinger since 1973 with Warren Oates. I’m definitely looking forward to the film but have already resigned myself to the fact that in the 120 or so minutes allotted to the screenwriter (Mann) he can’t tell the full story. That’s why historians would make bad directors they would want to squeeze everything in and you’d end up with some Eric von Stroheimish six hour snoozefest for the average movie goer. High on content low on story.
The movie is based on Bryan Burrough’s book of the same name. If you haven’t read it and are the least bit interested in the public enemies of the early Thirties like Dillinger, Pretty Boy Floyd, Bonnie & Clyde etc. Then check out this book. If I had to guess, and since its my blog I will, I would think that in his preparation for his role Johnny Depp will probably read Dillinger the Untold Story by G. Russell Girardin and William Helmer. This has been one of my favorite gangster/outlaw books for about a dozen years or so. If you want to catch up on your Dillinger before the film comes out. I highly recommend this book.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
A short new year for Larry Fay
1933 lasted all of 20 and 1/2 hours for Larry Fay, who was designated New York City's Public Enemy #3, I think it was #3, let me check my book Gangster City...yes there it is pg. 258 Public Enemy #3. Anyways by the end of 1932 Larry was part owner in a night club called the Casa Blanca (he seemed to have a thing for Spanish names, a previous club was called the El Fay) Like a lot of business' during the Depression the Casa Blanca saw some financial hardships and on New Year's Eve Fay informed the staff that they would be receiving a 30% pay cut(Happy New Year!). This didn't sit well with one of the club's doormen who spent the first day of 1933 getting drunk and angry. After stewing for a number of hours the doorman did what a number of angry Americans do when they are mad at their employer. He returned that evening with a gun. He confronted Fay in the lobby of the club and demanded some money. Fay was going to comply but for some reason Mr. Drunk Angry Guy pulled his pistol and shot his boss a number of times killing him.
You can read more about Larry Fay in Gangster City: History of the New York Underworld 1900-1935
You can read more about Larry Fay in Gangster City: History of the New York Underworld 1900-1935
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