Irish New York “The White Hand” Gang

[Extortion]

We always hear about Irish gangsters in New York such as Mickey Spillane and Jimmy Coonan much later in the 20th Century. I was reading the early early history of the LCN in NYC when I came across The White Hand Gang. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Lovett

The earliest version I believe of the Irish mob in NYC? I know there is that movie Gangs of New York which does have some historical relevance but were they all Irish?

[maxiestern11]

We always hear about Irish gangsters in New York such as Mickey Spillane and Jimmy Coonan much later in the 20th Century. I was reading the early early history of the LCN in NYC when I came across The White Hand Gang. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Lovett

The earliest version I believe of the Irish mob in NYC? I know there is that movie Gangs of New York which does have some historical relevance but were they all Irish?

The English came before the Irish. And were very prejudice to the Irish because they were CATHOLIC at a time when there weren’t a lot of Catholics around. So I think the gangs of the day were maybe a mix of English, German, Irish, etc.... from Northern Europe. Then came the Jews and Italians..... and so on.

[Villain]

Al Capone was brought back to NY in 1925 I think and made a prequel of the St Valentine's day massacre by eliminating Lonergan and two of his associates in a similar fashion...so that was the end of the White Hand

[Pogo The Clown]

The book Under the Clock by William Balsamo has a lot on them. Though it is riddled with errors and fabricated dialogue. It is entertaining if nothing else.


Pogo

[lennert]

Under the Clock not only has a lot of fabricated dialogue, but also al lot of fabricated persons and events. For instance, the so called Stauch Dance Hall Massacre described in the book, in which several Yale gang members and innocent bystanders were shot, never happened. Most of Yale's henchmen named in the book never exsisted, and there was never really a war between Yale and the so called "White Hand gang." If my memory serves me right, the only skirmish between Yale and Irish was the 1925 of Lonergan. And that appears to have been nothing more than an argument in a dancing hall that got out of hand. True, the book is an entertaining read, but 99% of it is pure fiction.

[Pogo The Clown]

Thanks. Had no idea about the fabricated characters and events. So I guess the book is more historical fiction. I got to say though that this was my favorite mob book when I first got into the mob. The portion on the Frankie Yale-White Hand War was a really entertaining read.


Pogo

[Antiliar]

As an example of the fraud that is any book by William Balsamo, look at this photoshopped Capone photo that he claimed was authentic and part of his personal collection.

Capone crazy eyes (Balsamo).jpg

[bert]

As an example of the fraud that is any book by William Balsamo, look at this photoshopped Capone photo that he claimed was authentic and part of his personal collection.

Capone crazy eyes (Balsamo).jpg

That's the goofiest looking photo shop ever done. Authors can get away with anything, especially if they are writing about people no longer alive since they can't be sued. Most readers want entertainment over fact anyway.

[motorfab]

I hate this guy. Whenever I see his face in a doc I want to throw something on my screen for him to shut up.

[Villain]

As an example of the fraud that is any book by William Balsamo, look at this photoshopped Capone photo that he claimed was authentic and part of his personal collection.

Capone crazy eyes (Balsamo).jpg

I'm rolling over

[motorfab]

There is a pretty famous photo with the suspects of the shooting of "Adonis Social Club". Except Capone & Agoglia I never knew who the others were. Can someone tell me more about them?


Stand : George Carrozza, Frank Piazza, Joe Howard, Andrew Desso, Capone
Sit : John Maloney, Sylvester Agoglia, James Ralph D'Amato, John Stabile