Barney goes down for the count

Barney Solomon immigrated to the USA from England around 1908 and became a boxer under the moniker of Barney Smith. Following his career in the sweet science, he became a starker, hiring out goons to bust heads during clothing strikes.

Rival gangsters wanted Solomon out of the way and gave him a beating as a warning. Being a boxer Solomon had received many fist to the head and was undeterred in his gooning affairs. Their first warning unheeded, Solomon's rivals decided that Barney should go the way of the dinosaur.

 Following a night of drinking, Barney was found on a lower east side curb ninety-four years ago this morning suffering from gun shot wounds. He was taken to the hospital but threw in the towel during surgery. Solomon Goons was out of business.

Be thankful

You think the economy stinks now? Take a gander at this photo from 1931. Things were so bad during the Depression that Death himself had to moonlight as streetwalker just to make ends meet. You can share this little tidbit with the kiddies at the Thanksgiving table.