In what was an elaborate set-up, New York gangster and labor racketeer Nathan "Kid Dropper" Kaplan was shot down by a killer gunning for rival gangster Jacob "Little Augie" Orgen while leaving court on August 28, 1923.
Earlier in the month a number of Orgen's men were wounded in a drive-by orchestrated by the Dropper.
When questioned by the police, Orgen confederate Jacob Shapiro said that Kaplan was behind the shooting and so the gang leader was picked up. Knowing that Kaplan would have to face Shapiro in court they set it up so gang hanger on Louis Cohen would be waiting for the Dropper to exit the court house.
The time came and Kaplan was ushered into the court to face Shapiro who recanted his testimony and refused to identify the gang leader. Kaplan was escorted out to a waiting taxi cab which was going to take him to another court to face a different charge. After the gang leader slid into the back seat of the taxi, Cohen slipped through the cordon of police. He ran up and, climbing on the rear bumper, shot through the back window mortally wounding the Dropper.
Nathan "Kid Dropper" Kaplan
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