George Leese
Encyclopedia
George "Snatchem" Leese was an American criminal, pirate, and a leader of the Slaughter House Gang
, known for pickpocketing
and river pirating and also for being a prominent personality at illegal bare-knuckle prize fighting
held in New York City
's infamous Forth Ward and Five Points
dive bar
s during the 1840s and 50s, most notably at Kit Burns
' Sportsman's Hall. He was the bouncer
and often appointed the official "bloodsucker" in prize fights which called for him to suck the blood from wounds suffered by competitors so the bout could continue for as long as possible. This office made Leese an important figure at these fights.
Leese considered himself as a person who never had an equal in America. He was well known by the New York Police for several years, and was proud of the level of notoriety he had achieved. Leese had also been a gambler in Ann Street
and Broadway
, and was successful at it according to his own account. He had also claimed that he was capable of "preaching the bloody gospil against any minister in New York", and that he knew all the hymns written by Isaac Watts
.
Leese was also employed by John Allen
at his Water Street
dance hall
. He was often armed with two revolvers in his belt and a knife worn on his boot top, and "a bludgeon in his huge fist". Leese described himself as a "rough-and-tumble-stand-up-to-be-knocked-down-son-of-a-gun" and a "kicking-in-the-head-knife-in-a-dark-room fellow" although he was described in less flattering terms by a contemporary journalist as "a beastly, obscene ruffian, with bulging, bulbous, watery blue eyes, bloated face and a coarse swaggering gait".
Slaughter House Gang
The Slaughter House Gang, known as the Slaughter Housers, were a prominent street gang in New York's Fourth Ward during the late 1840s to the mid 1860s....
, known for pickpocketing
Pickpocketing
Pickpocketing is a form of larceny that involves the stealing of money or other valuables from the person of a victim without their noticing the theft at the time. It requires considerable dexterity and a knack for misdirection...
and river pirating and also for being a prominent personality at illegal bare-knuckle prize fighting
Bare-knuckle boxing
Bare-knuckle boxing is the original form of boxing, closely related to ancient combat sports...
held in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's infamous Forth Ward and Five Points
Five Points, Manhattan
Five Points was a neighborhood in central lower Manhattan in New York City. The neighborhood was generally defined as being bound by Centre Street in the west, The Bowery in the east, Canal Street in the north and Park Row in the south...
dive bar
Dive bar
A dive bar is a type of bar or pub. Dive bars generally have a relaxed and informal atmosphere—they are often referred to by local residents as "neighborhood bars," where people in the neighborhood gather to drink and socialize...
s during the 1840s and 50s, most notably at Kit Burns
Kit Burns
Christopher Keyburn , commonly known by his alias Kit Burns, was an American sportsman, saloon keeper and underworld figure in New York City during the mid-to late 19th century, he and Tommy Hadden being the last-known leaders of the Dead Rabbits during the 1850s and 60s.Burns also founded...
' Sportsman's Hall. He was the bouncer
Bouncer (doorman)
A bouncer is an informal term for a type of security guard employed at venues such as bars, nightclubs or concerts to provide security, check legal age, and refuse entry to a venue based on criteria such as intoxication, aggressive behavior, or attractiveness...
and often appointed the official "bloodsucker" in prize fights which called for him to suck the blood from wounds suffered by competitors so the bout could continue for as long as possible. This office made Leese an important figure at these fights.
Leese considered himself as a person who never had an equal in America. He was well known by the New York Police for several years, and was proud of the level of notoriety he had achieved. Leese had also been a gambler in Ann Street
Ann Street (Manhattan)
Ann Street is a 3-block long street located in the Financial District of the New York City borough of Manhattan just south of City Hall.- History :-Early history:...
and Broadway
Broadway (New York City)
Broadway is a prominent avenue in New York City, United States, which runs through the full length of the borough of Manhattan and continues northward through the Bronx borough before terminating in Westchester County, New York. It is the oldest north–south main thoroughfare in the city, dating to...
, and was successful at it according to his own account. He had also claimed that he was capable of "preaching the bloody gospil against any minister in New York", and that he knew all the hymns written by Isaac Watts
Isaac Watts
Isaac Watts was an English hymnwriter, theologian and logician. A prolific and popular hymnwriter, he was recognised as the "Father of English Hymnody", credited with some 750 hymns...
.
Leese was also employed by John Allen
John Allen (saloon keeper)
John Allen was an American saloon keeper and underworld figure in New York City during the early-to mid 19th century. A former religious student, Allen was considered one of the most notorious criminals in the city and was known as the "Wickedest Man in New York"...
at his Water Street
Water Street
-Canada:*Water Street, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada*Water Street, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada*Water Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada-United States:*Water Street, Boston, Massachusetts*Water Street, Eau Claire, Wisconsin...
dance hall
Dance hall
Dance hall in its general meaning is a hall for dancing. From the earliest years of the twentieth century until the early 1960s, the dance hall was the popular forerunner of the discothèque or nightclub...
. He was often armed with two revolvers in his belt and a knife worn on his boot top, and "a bludgeon in his huge fist". Leese described himself as a "rough-and-tumble-stand-up-to-be-knocked-down-son-of-a-gun" and a "kicking-in-the-head-knife-in-a-dark-room fellow" although he was described in less flattering terms by a contemporary journalist as "a beastly, obscene ruffian, with bulging, bulbous, watery blue eyes, bloated face and a coarse swaggering gait".