We're So Sorry, Uncle Eddie

Philadelphia gangster Handsome Eddie Rafferty pulled into his brother's gas station on this date back in 1928. His niece was on hand and jumped into the back seat. Uncle Eddie had brought some grapes for her and she sat in the rear snacking away.

As Rafferty sat behind the wheel speaking with his brother a car drove by and men with shotguns and pistols opened fire. Rafferty slouched over the steering wheel. A second car containing gunmen followed up and opened fire on the already perforated gangster. Eddie fell to the floor mortally wounded. A third car drove by and also sent a burst of gunfire but missed the gangster completely instead, peppering the walls of the filling station. The niece was unhurt.

It was said that Rafferty was associated with the Eddie Reagan gang whom were supposedly responsible for the murder of a gangster named Robert Haggerty and that the latter's friends killed Rafferty in retaliation. Another theory was that Rafferty had double crossed another bootlegger named William "Hop" Reilly. Reilly was picked up but denied there was any trouble between him and Rafferty.

Handsome Eddie Rafferty