Harry Horowitz

Harry Horowitz

Lefty Louis Rosenberg and Gyp the Blood with their captors
Cause Death
Alias(es) Gyp the Blood
Charge(s) Murder
Conviction(s) Burglary, robbery, murder
Occupation Gang leader

Harry Horowitz (1889 – April 13, 1914), also known as Gyp the Blood,[1] was a Jewish-American[2] underworld figure and a leader of the Lenox Avenue Gang in New York City.

Contents

Biography

Harry Horowitz was born in 1889. He served prison terms for burglary and robbery.[2] On 16 July 1912[3] he and three accomplices murdered gambler Herman Rosenthal outside the Metropole Hotel. The four shot Rosenthal to death, possibly on orders from Police Lieutenant Charles Becker, who was enraged that Rosenthal was talking to anyone who would listen about Becker's ties to criminals and gambling houses. Becker was arrested soon after the Rosenthal killing.[4] Two of the killers were arrested immediately after the killing, but Horowitz and 'Lefty' Louis Rosenberg were not. There was a massive hunt for the missing two, who were found and arrested on 14 September 1912 in an apartment in Glendale, Queens, where they had been hiding for months.[5]

Horowitz and his three accomplices, Rosenberg, Joseph Sidemschner (aka Whitey Lewis), and Francisco Carofico (aka Dago Frank) were convicted in November 1912.[6] There were rumours that an attempt to rescue the criminals would be made during their transfer to Sing Sing Prison after the trial. Sheriff Julius Harburger, responsible for transporting the prisoners, received a number of anonymous notes, among which was one that said:

Sheriff Harburger—watch out when you take Gyp and his gang up the long steps at Ossining. Kitty the Second and his bunch will be there hiding in the rocks to shoot you up and rescue them. A WELL-WISHER.[7]

Their case before the New York Court of Appeals was denied in February 1914, although Becker was granted a new trial.[8] They produced additional witnesses on 11 April, 1914, who swore to their innocence, but New York Supreme Court Justice Goff did not find them credible.[9] Horowitz gave a last statement to the press on 13 April, 1914, stating:

We all knew that the result was decided against us just as soon as we heard Justice Goff was in the case. We had given up expecting mercy either from Justice Goff or District Attorney Whitman.[10]

They were put to death in the electric chair in Sing Sing on 13 April 1914.[11] The next year, Becker also was executed for the crime.[12]

Anecdotes

A story quoted by Herbert Asbury states that on a small bet from one of his colleagues, Horowitz, only 5 foot, 4 and 3/4 inches and 140 pounds,[2] would grab passers-by and break their backs over his knee.[13]

References

  1. ^ "Sullivan was there When Rosenthal Shot Down". New York Times: 1. 27 July 1912. 
  2. ^ a b c "Three of the Men Hunted as Rosenthal's Slayers". New York Times: 2. 25 July 1912. 
  3. ^ "Gambler Who Defied Police is Shot Dead: Rosenthal Killed in Front of Hotel Metropole Early this Morning". New York Times: 1. 16 July 1912. 
  4. ^ "Civic Bodies Find Police are Lax". New York Times: 3. 31 July 1912. 
  5. ^ "'Gyp' and 'Lefty' Caught at Last, Here in Town". New York Times: 1. 15 September 1912. 
  6. ^ "Gunmen Ask Delay: Want Argument on their Appeals Put Over Till October". New York Times: 1. 6 June 1913. 
  7. ^ "Gunmen Hear To-Day The Death Sentence; Sheriff Will Take Them to Sing Sing at Once, Guarding Against Attack". New York Times: 24. 26 November 1912. 
  8. ^ "Becker Wins New Trial on Errors; Gunmen to Die". New York Times: 1. 25 February 1914. 
  9. ^ "Fresh Testimony not Worthy of Credence, Says Justice Goff". New York Times: 1. 12 April 1914. 
  10. ^ "Last Statements Made by Three of the Gunmen". New York Times: 1. 13 April 1914. 
  11. ^ "Glynn Silent on Confession: Governor also Refuses to Discuss the Executions". New York Times: 1. 14 April 1914. 
  12. ^ "Egoism of Becker Led Him to Murder: Gave His Life as the Price He Had Put on Place and Power Among His Fellows". New York Times: 3. 31 July 1915. 
  13. ^ Asbury, Herbert (1 July 2008). The Gangs of New York: An Informal History of the Underworld. Random House. ISBN 978-0-307-38898-8. http://books.google.com/books?id=ceY_ISKGRIsC. Retrieved 24 September 2011. 

Further reading

External links