Squizzy Taylor

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Joseph Leslie Theodore Taylor, known as Squizzy Taylor, due to a droop in his left eye.

Joseph Leslie Theodore Taylor (Squizzy Taylor) (b. 29 June 1888 in Brighton, Victoria d. 27 October 1927) was a Melbourne based gangster. He earned the nickname 'Squizzy' due to an ulcerated, droopy left eyelid.

He began his working life as jockey on John Wren's pony circuit and at the age of 18 received his first conviction for assault. He went from petty crimes, such as pickpocketing to stand over activities such as murder and armed robbery.

He was involved in the 1915 Melbourne Trades Hall burglary in which a policeman was shot, in 1916 he was acquitted of the murder of taxi driver William Haines, and in 1919 he was a key figure in the 'Fitzroy Vendetta' gang warfare.

A spiv, Taylor enjoyed a fearsome reputation during the twenties and derived his income from prostitution, sly grog, armed robbery, cocaine dealing and protection rackets. Taylor was able to get away with most of his crimes due to his role as a protected police informer and his employee, Paddy Boardman, who rigged juries.

After release from prison Taylor continued criminal activities, but concentrated his efforts on race-tracks. Involved in selling cocaine, he came into conflict with several Sydney gangsters. He was wounded in a gunfight with one of them, John 'Snowy' Cutmore, at a house in Barkly Street, in the Melbourne suburb of Carlton, and died at St Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy, on 27 October 1927. Survived by his wife and by a daughter of his first marriage, Taylor was buried with Anglican rites in Brighton cemetery.

Squizzy Taylor was an associate of John Wren. Author Frank Hardy’s 1950 novel ‘Power Without Glory’ is based on John Wren and his empire. Squizzy Taylor is portrayed in the novel as Snoopy Tanner. A film based on Taylor's life, titled Squizzy Taylor was released in 1982.

Squizzy Taylor was also featured in Robert Newton's Runner (Penguin Books, 2005) which is set in the streets of Richmond in 1919.