William Poole
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William Poole, aka Bill The Butcher (July 1821 - March 8, 1855), was a member of the Bowery Boys street gang, and the U.S. political party, the Know-Nothings. He also was a known boxer in the New York area.
[edit] Birth
William Poole was born in Sussex County, New Jersey in July of 1821. His family moved from New Jersey to Manhattan in 1832 and his father opened a butcher shop in Washington Market.
[edit] Early years
Bill took over his father's shop and grew to be a respected tradesman. According to a report of his death in the Brooklyn Eagle he was of middling height. Other descriptions of him were that he had black hair, weighed about 200 pounds, and had a large mustache and athletic build. He sometimes worked with a local fire department. Around 1851 he started his own gang and did muscle work for the Know-Nothings.
[edit] Marriage and children
He married a Lozier (c1825-?) and had a son named Charles Poole (1856-?). His wife had a brother, Charles Lozier.
[edit] Attack at Florence's Hotel
The New York Daily Times reported on October 23, 1851 the following:
A Brutal Outrage in Broadway. We learn that at an early hour yesterday morning, two noted pugilists entered Florence's Hotel, corner of Broadway and Howard street, and without any provocation seized the bar-keeper and beat his face to a jelly. It appears that Thomas Hyer, William Poole, and several others entered the above hotel, and while one of the party held Charles Owens (the bar-keeper) by the hair of his head, another of the gang beat him in the face to such an extent that his left eye was completely ruined and the flesh of his cheek mangled in the most shocking manner. After thus accomplishing the heartless act, all of them made an effort to find Mr. John Florence, the proprietor of the hotel, with a view of serving him in the same manner, but not succeeding in their latter design, they found the hat of Mr. Florence and wantonly cut it into strips, and trampled it under their feet. The desperadoes then left the house, and in the meantime Mr. Owens was placed under medical attendance, and in the course of a short time he proceeded to the Jefferson Market Police, in company with Mr. Florence, where they made their affidavits respecting the inhuman outrage, upon which Justice Blakeley issued his warrants for Hyer, Poole, and such of the others who were concerned in the affair, and the same were placed in the hands of officer Baldwin for service. Since the above was written we have been reliably informed that the affray originated from the fact of the barkeeper having refused them drinks, after they had been furnished with them twice in succession.
[edit] Dispute with John Morrissey
Poole's archenemy, John Morrissey, was an Irish immigrant and enforcer for Tammany Hall. Morrissey was also a popular boxer and challenged Poole to a match. Poole beat Morrissey in the match which took place in July 26, 1854 at Amos Dock, New York. Though the two men being of different ethnic groups and political parties had a lot of grounds for dispute the precipitating cause was Poole having bet on an opposing contestant in a boxing match. ("Yankee" Sullivan vs John Morrisey Boston Four Corners October 12th, 1853) Results of the boxing match were under dispute and Poole was against Morrissey being paid. The New York Daily Times reported the story on July 28, 1854:
Subjoined we give an account of the brutal affair, furnished by a person who witnessed it. He says: "Yesterday morning, about 7 o'clock, an encounter took place between John Morrissey and William Poole on the pier at the foot of Amos Street, North River. For some time past Morrissey has entertained the idea of attaining the unenviable notoriety attached to a fighting man. He has frequently challenged Hyer to meet him in the ring and settle their animosities by a fisticuff battle...View Full Article at Wikisource
According to historian Mark Caldwell, during the fight Poole "bit and gouged but won only when his friends joined the fight and kicked Morrissey unconscious."
[edit] The shooting
Morrissey plotted revenge and on February 25, 1855, Lew Baker, a friend of Morrisey, shot Poole at a bar on Broadway. The New York Daily Times reported on Monday, February 26, 1855 the following:
"Terrible Shooting Affray in Broadway - Bill Poole Fatally Wounded - The Morrissey and Poole Feud - Renewal of Hostilities - Several Persons Severely Wounded. Broadway, in the vicinity of Prince and Houston Streets, was the scene of an exciting shooting affair about 1 o'clock yesterday morning, which is but a repetition of a similar occurrence that transpired a few weeks ago under Wallack's Theatre between Tom Hyer, Lewis Baker, Jim Turner and several other noted pugilists...View Full Article at Wikisource
Poole died on March 8, 1855 from the gunshot wound. He died in his home on Christopher Street. His last words were just as they were dictated in the film Gangs of New York: "I die a true American." He was buried on March 11, 1855 in Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn with no tombstone. A tombstone was added in 2004. The grave is number: 48 and 49, F/G 6(v)
Louis Baker took the brig Isabella Jewett which was headed for the Canary Islands. George Law, Sr., furnished the clipper ship Grapeshot to pursue Baker. It intercepted the Jewett on April 17, 1855. Baker was brought back and tried, but the jury failed to convict. Morrissey went on to open up several bars and accumulated $1.5 million, but was never accepted by American aristocracy. He later served as a state senator and died of pneumonia in 1878.
[edit] William Poole in fiction
He was the inspiration for the character of William "Bill the Butcher" Cutting, in Martin Scorsese's 2002 film Gangs of New York.
[edit] Timeline
- 1821 Birth in Sussex County, New Jersey
- 1832 Move to New York City
- 1840 (circa) joins Red Rover Volunteer Fire Engine Company #34, Hudson & Christopher Streets
- 1840 (circa) starts the Washington Street gang
- 1850 US Census
- 1851 Attack at Florence's Hotel
- 1854 Boxing match between Poole and Morrissey on July 27
- 1855 Living on Christopher Street in Manhattan
- 1855 Shot at Stanwix Hall, 579 Broadway, New York City, on February 25
- 1855 Death from bullet wound on March 8
- 1855 Funeral at Green-Wood Cemetery on March 11
- 2004 (circa) Tombstone added to grave
[edit] References
- Charlton T. Lewis, Harper's Book of Facts, New York, 1906
- Herbert Asbury, The Gangs of New York, New York, 1928
- Mark Caldwell, New York Night: The Mystique and Its History, New York, 2005
[edit] Selected coverage in the New York Daily Times
- New York Daily Times, Volume 1, Number 0031, Thursday, October 23, 1851, page 1 "Boxing"
- New York Daily Times, Volume 3, Number 0646, Thursday, October 13, 1853, page 1 "hotel"
- New York Daily Times, Volume 3, Number 0892, July 28, 1854, page 4 "Boxing teaser"
- New York Daily Times, Volume 3, Number 0892, July 28, 1854, page 8 "Boxing"
- New York Daily Times, Volume 4, Number 1074, Monday, February 26, 1855, page 1, "Shooting"
- New York Daily Times, Volume 4, Number 1084, Friday, March 9, 1855, page 1, "Coroner's Inquest"
[edit] Selected coverage in the Brooklyn Eagle
- Brooklyn Eagle, March 20, 1855, page 2, "The Poole murder"
- Brooklyn Eagle, March 20, 1855, page 3, "The death of bully Poole"
- Brooklyn Eagle, March 24, 1855, page 3, "Grand jury"
[edit] Selected coverage in the New York Times
The New York Times covered the events of Stanwix Hall almost every day for a month
- New York Times, March 09, 1855, page 1, "The Pugilist's Encounter"
- New York Times, March 10, 1855, page 1, "The Death of William Poole"
- New York Times, March 12, 1855, page 1, "The Stanwix Hall Tragedy"
- New York Times, March 12, 1855, page 4, "The Funeral of Poole"
- New York Times, March 13, 1855, page 1, "The Poole Murder"
- New York Times, March 17, 1855, page 1, "The Poole Murder"
- New York Times, March 19, 1855, page 1, "The Poole Murder"
- New York Times, March 24, 1855, page 3, "The Kissane Trial"
- New York Times, April 16, 1855, page 3, "The Stanwix Hall Tragedy"
- New York Times, May 16, 1855; page 1, "Baker Arrested!"
- New York Times, May 17, 1855; page 4, "The Poole Murder--What is to come of it?"
- New York Times, November 28, 1855, page 7, "The Stanwix Hall Tragedy"
- New York Times, November 29, 1855, page 3, "The Stanwix Hall Tragedy"
- New York Times, December 01, 1855, page 2, "The Stanwix Hall Tragedy"
- New York Times, December 03, 1855, page 2, "The Stanwix Hall Tragedy"
- New York Times, December 04, 1855, page 7, "The Stanwix Hall Tragedy"
- New York Times, December 05, 1855, page 3, "The Stanwix Hall Tragedy"
- New York Times, December 06, 1855, page 2, "The Stanwix Hall Tragedy"
- New York Times, December 07, 1855, page 3, "The Stanwix Hall Tragedy"
- New York Times, December 08, 1855, page 3, "The Stanwix Hall Tragedy"
- New York Times, December 10, 1855, page 2, "The Stanwix Hall Tragedy"
- New York Times, December 11, 1855, page 2, "The Stanwix Hall Tragedy"
- New York Times, December 12, 1855, page 3, "The Stanwix Hall Tragedy"
- New York Times, December 13, 1855, page 7, "The Stanwix Hall Tragedy"
- New York Times, December 14, 1855, page 1, "The Stanwix Hall Tragedy"
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- William Poole bibliography
- NY Press: William Poole
- Frances Asbury: William Poole
- History of Boxing: Poole vs Morrissey
- Findagrave: William Poole
