Harry Lazarus
Encyclopedia
Harry Lazarus was an English-born American pugilist, saloon keeper, thief and underworld figure in New York City
during the 1850s and early 1860s. He is sometimes confused with his father, famed pugilist Israel "London Izzy" Lazarus, and was one of his three sons along with John and Izzy Lazarus, Jr. His murder by Barney Friery, and subsequent trial, in 1865 was one of the most notorious crimes in the city's history prior to the end of the American Civil War
.
. It was alleged that around this time that he had killed a man in California
, arrested then fled the state while on bail. Lazarus was enlisted in Colonel Elmer E. Ellsworth
's Fire Zouaves for a time during the American Civil War
, but returned to New York where he opened a saloon, the "X 10 U. 8" (phonetically spelled "extenuate"), on East Houston Street.
Traditional accounts, such as those of Herbert Asbury
in Gangs of New York (1928), claimed Lazarus became involved with thieves and confidence men soon after his arrival in New York. One of these acquaintances, Barney Friery, stabbed and killed him during an argument at Lazarus' saloon in the early morning hours of January 6, 1865. According to Asbury, the incident had originated from "a dispute over a plug hat full of jewelry, which London Izzy had stolen from a jewelry store after smashing the store window with a brick".
The trial was held the following month, lasting three-days, and involved Assistant District Attorney Gunning J. Bedford, Jr. and Judge John T. Hoffman
, as well as Lazarus' father Israel who testified for the prosecution. Harry Lazarus' bartender, Henry Connell served as one of the prosecution's star witnesses. Connell testified that on the night of the murder, while tending bar, Lazarus entered the saloon with five or six other men from his place of business next door. One of Friery's companions, California Jack, offered a challenge to the room betting $100 "that I've got a man here that will lick any man in the room". When no one responded, Jack turned to the owner and said "I'll bet $10 that I've got a man that will take that pistol away from you, Harry."
Lazarus answered "No you haven't, because I have no pistol" and opened both his coats to show he was indeed unarmed. A customer then ordered some cigars and Connell left to fetch them. As the bartender turned around however, he heard Friery say "You are a good little man, Harry" and saw him "drawing a knife out of Harry's neck". Connell rushed over and put a towel around his neck to stop the bleeding, but Lazarus died almost immediately. He later identified Fiery, California Jack and two other men, James McDonald and James Clark, but recognized none of the others. Connell elaborated that Fiery had threatened Lazarus several days earlier. On one of these occasions, Fiery had attacked one of his dogs, a black Newfoundland
, and used an ice pick to break out some of its teeth. The previous morning of the murder, Fiery entered had taken a knife and stuck it into the counter of Lazarus' bar and said "that knife would be the death of someone around here". This would be substantiated by an additional witnesses.
Connell, who had fallen ill, was taken to New York Hospital
following his testimony and did not participate further in the trial. Assistant District Attorney Bedford called additional witnesses however, Christopher Richards who also saw the murder and went for a police officer with John Riley. Richard Birmingham, a local coach driver, testified that he had driven the sleigh which took two of the men involved, McDonald and Clark, to Lazarus' place and then took all three away from the saloon after the murder. He also testified that these men were very intoxicated, especially McDonald and Clark, and that he overhead one of the men say "He is dead now, the son of a bitch!".
Lazarus' other bartenders, Dennis Kerwan and Thomas R. Walton, both stated that Friery had been to the saloon on previous occasions. Walton recalled an incident when Friery, admittedly drunk, broke a mustard pot after throwing it against the wall. The arresting officer, Patrolman John Dwyer, testified that he pursued the sleigh driven by Richard Birmingham and followed Friery into a saloon on 118th Street. Upon confronting the suspect inside, Dwyer claimed, Friery admitted to the killing telling him "Yes, I have killed him and I will dance at his wake". This and other evidence would result in Friery's conviction of first-degree manslaughter on February 18, 1865. He was sentenced to death on March 31, but a writ of error delayed his execution pending his appeal in June, and Friery was hanged in a public execution at The Tombs
on the morning of August 17, 1866.
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...
during the 1850s and early 1860s. He is sometimes confused with his father, famed pugilist Israel "London Izzy" Lazarus, and was one of his three sons along with John and Izzy Lazarus, Jr. His murder by Barney Friery, and subsequent trial, in 1865 was one of the most notorious crimes in the city's history prior to the end of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Biography
Lazarus came to the United States with his father and two brothers when Izzy Lazarus, Sr. fought Owen Swift in 1850. He would briefly follow in his father's footsteps, fighting a prizefight in Canada during 1857, but instead left that career to go into business in New York CityNew 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...
. It was alleged that around this time that he had killed a man in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, arrested then fled the state while on bail. Lazarus was enlisted in Colonel Elmer E. Ellsworth
Elmer E. Ellsworth
-External links:* * * * * *...
's Fire Zouaves for a time during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, but returned to New York where he opened a saloon, the "X 10 U. 8" (phonetically spelled "extenuate"), on East Houston Street.
Traditional accounts, such as those of Herbert Asbury
Herbert Asbury
Herbert Asbury was an American journalist and writer who is best known for his true crime books detailing crime during the 19th and early 20th century such as Gem of the Prairie, Barbary Coast: An Informal History of the San Francisco Underworld and The Gangs of New York...
in Gangs of New York (1928), claimed Lazarus became involved with thieves and confidence men soon after his arrival in New York. One of these acquaintances, Barney Friery, stabbed and killed him during an argument at Lazarus' saloon in the early morning hours of January 6, 1865. According to Asbury, the incident had originated from "a dispute over a plug hat full of jewelry, which London Izzy had stolen from a jewelry store after smashing the store window with a brick".
The trial was held the following month, lasting three-days, and involved Assistant District Attorney Gunning J. Bedford, Jr. and Judge John T. Hoffman
John T. Hoffman
John Thompson Hoffman was the 23rd Governor of New York . He was also Recorder of New York City and Mayor of New York City...
, as well as Lazarus' father Israel who testified for the prosecution. Harry Lazarus' bartender, Henry Connell served as one of the prosecution's star witnesses. Connell testified that on the night of the murder, while tending bar, Lazarus entered the saloon with five or six other men from his place of business next door. One of Friery's companions, California Jack, offered a challenge to the room betting $100 "that I've got a man here that will lick any man in the room". When no one responded, Jack turned to the owner and said "I'll bet $10 that I've got a man that will take that pistol away from you, Harry."
Lazarus answered "No you haven't, because I have no pistol" and opened both his coats to show he was indeed unarmed. A customer then ordered some cigars and Connell left to fetch them. As the bartender turned around however, he heard Friery say "You are a good little man, Harry" and saw him "drawing a knife out of Harry's neck". Connell rushed over and put a towel around his neck to stop the bleeding, but Lazarus died almost immediately. He later identified Fiery, California Jack and two other men, James McDonald and James Clark, but recognized none of the others. Connell elaborated that Fiery had threatened Lazarus several days earlier. On one of these occasions, Fiery had attacked one of his dogs, a black Newfoundland
Newfoundland (dog)
The Newfoundland is a breed of large dog. Newfoundlands can be black, brown, gray, or black and white. They were originally bred and used as a working dog for fishermen in the Dominion of Newfoundland, now part of Canada. They are known for their giant size, tremendous strength, calm dispositions,...
, and used an ice pick to break out some of its teeth. The previous morning of the murder, Fiery entered had taken a knife and stuck it into the counter of Lazarus' bar and said "that knife would be the death of someone around here". This would be substantiated by an additional witnesses.
Connell, who had fallen ill, was taken to New York Hospital
New York Hospital
New York Hospital or “Old New York Hospital” or “City Hospital” was the oldest hospital in New York City and the second oldest hospital in the United States.-Early History:...
following his testimony and did not participate further in the trial. Assistant District Attorney Bedford called additional witnesses however, Christopher Richards who also saw the murder and went for a police officer with John Riley. Richard Birmingham, a local coach driver, testified that he had driven the sleigh which took two of the men involved, McDonald and Clark, to Lazarus' place and then took all three away from the saloon after the murder. He also testified that these men were very intoxicated, especially McDonald and Clark, and that he overhead one of the men say "He is dead now, the son of a bitch!".
Lazarus' other bartenders, Dennis Kerwan and Thomas R. Walton, both stated that Friery had been to the saloon on previous occasions. Walton recalled an incident when Friery, admittedly drunk, broke a mustard pot after throwing it against the wall. The arresting officer, Patrolman John Dwyer, testified that he pursued the sleigh driven by Richard Birmingham and followed Friery into a saloon on 118th Street. Upon confronting the suspect inside, Dwyer claimed, Friery admitted to the killing telling him "Yes, I have killed him and I will dance at his wake". This and other evidence would result in Friery's conviction of first-degree manslaughter on February 18, 1865. He was sentenced to death on March 31, but a writ of error delayed his execution pending his appeal in June, and Friery was hanged in a public execution at The Tombs
The Tombs
"The Tombs" is the colloquial name for the Manhattan Detention Complex, a jail in Lower Manhattan at 125 White Street, as well as the popular name of a series of preceding downtown jails, the first of which was built in 1838 in the Egyptian Revival style of architecture.The nickname has been used...
on the morning of August 17, 1866.
Further reading
- Abrams, Roger I. The Dark Side of the Diamond: Gambling, Violence, Drugs and Alcoholism in the National Pastime. Burlington, Massachusetts: Rounder Books, 2008. (pg. 174) ISBN 1-57940-156-2