Lena Kleinschmidt
Encyclopedia
"Black" Lena Kleinschmidt (1835-?) was a New York criminal who, as a prominent jewel thief during the late 19th century, was an associate of fence Fredericka "Marm" Mandelbaum
and Adam Worth
. Among others in Mandelbaum's "clique", she and con artist Sophie Lyons
served as protégés early in their careers shoplifting and pick pocketing.
She was eventually arrested after being caught with Christene "Kid Glove Rosey" Mayer
attempting to steal two pieces of silk containing 108 yards with a value of $250 from the McCreery & Co. store at the corner of 11th Street and Broadway
on April 9, 1880. During their arrest, police found in their possession property recently stolen from Le Boutillier Brothers on 14th Street
.
Convicted and sentenced to five years at Blackwell's Island on April 30 Kleinschmidt fled while out on a $500 bail but was soon rearrested and returned to New York where she was convicted after pleading guilty and sentenced to four years and nine months imprisonment along with Mayer on April 30. After her sentence expired on September 30, 1883, and was subsequently released.
Lena eventually moved to Hackensack, New Jersey
, and, while posing as the wealthy widow of a South American mining tycoon, became known as a local hostess giving elaborate dinner parties in the style of Mandelbaum. Although having no visible means of support during this time, twice a week she would visit "New York replenishing her coffers." Her charade ended when a guest allegedly recognized a jeweled (or emerald) ring which she had worn during one of her dinner parties which had been previously stolen.
Fredericka Mandelbaum
Fredericka "Marm" Mandelbaum was a New York entrepreneur and operated as a criminal fence to many of the street gangs and criminals of the city's underworld, handling between $1-5 million in stolen goods between 1862 until 1884. Like her principal rival John D...
and Adam Worth
Adam Worth
Adam Worth was an American criminal. Scotland Yard detective Robert Anderson nicknamed him "the Napoleon of the criminal world", and he is commonly referred to as "the Napoleon of Crime".-Earlier life:...
. Among others in Mandelbaum's "clique", she and con artist Sophie Lyons
Sophie Lyons
Sophie Lyons was an American criminal and one of the country's most notorious female thieves, pickpockets, shoplifters and confidence women during the mid-to-late 19th century...
served as protégés early in their careers shoplifting and pick pocketing.
She was eventually arrested after being caught with Christene "Kid Glove Rosey" Mayer
Christene Mayer
Christene Mayer or Kid Glove Rosey was a New York criminal and thief during the late 19th century; her aliases including Mary Scanlon and Rosey Roder....
attempting to steal two pieces of silk containing 108 yards with a value of $250 from the McCreery & Co. store at the corner of 11th Street 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...
on April 9, 1880. During their arrest, police found in their possession property recently stolen from Le Boutillier Brothers on 14th Street
14th Street (Manhattan)
14th Street is a major crosstown street in the New York City borough of Manhattan. The street rivals the size of some of the well-known avenues of the city and is an important business location....
.
Convicted and sentenced to five years at Blackwell's Island on April 30 Kleinschmidt fled while out on a $500 bail but was soon rearrested and returned to New York where she was convicted after pleading guilty and sentenced to four years and nine months imprisonment along with Mayer on April 30. After her sentence expired on September 30, 1883, and was subsequently released.
Lena eventually moved to Hackensack, New Jersey
Hackensack, New Jersey
Hackensack is a city in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States and the county seat of Bergen County. Although informally called Hackensack, it was officially named New Barbadoes Township until 1921. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 43,010....
, and, while posing as the wealthy widow of a South American mining tycoon, became known as a local hostess giving elaborate dinner parties in the style of Mandelbaum. Although having no visible means of support during this time, twice a week she would visit "New York replenishing her coffers." Her charade ended when a guest allegedly recognized a jeweled (or emerald) ring which she had worn during one of her dinner parties which had been previously stolen.
Further reading
- Asbury, Herbert. All around the town: The Sequel to the Gangs of New York. New York: Alfred A. Knoff, 1929. ISBN 1-56025-521-8
- Eldridge, Benjamin P. Our Rival, the Rascal: A Faithful Portrayal of the Conflict Between the Criminals of This Age and The Police. Kessinger Publishing, 2004. ISBN 1417959525
- O'Kane, James M. The Crooked Ladder: Gangsters, Ethnicity and the American Dream. New Brunswick, New Jersey: Transaction Publishers, 1994. ISBN 0-7658-0994-X