Nathan Kaplan
Encyclopedia
"Kid Dropper" Nathan Caplin or Kaplan (August 3,1891 - August 28, 1923), also known as Jack the Dropper, was an American
gangster controlling labor racketeering and extortion
in New York City
during the post-World War I
period into the early years of Prohibition
in the early 1920s.
on August 3, 1891. Kaplan began committing petty theft at an early age and later becoming a skilled sneak thief and pushcart extortionist, later becoming known for the "drop swindle
". Around 1910, Kaplan had formed his own gang (associated with the Five Points Gang
) briefly feuding with rival gang member Johnny Spanish
until his arrest the following year for robbery
and sentenced to seven years in Sing Sing prison.
Upon his release in 1918 Kaplan became involved in "labor slugging", providing muscle to either side in the strikes common in New York in that era. Kaplan quickly filled the void left by "Dopey" Benny Fein
and Joe "The Greaser" Rosenzweig
in the aftermath of the internecine battles between gangsters, organizing former Five Points members, including Johnny Spanish
.
Kaplan and Spanish, who had previously reconciled from an argument over a woman from their days in the Five Points Gang, soon began feuding again as Spanish split from Kaplan's gang. A violent war between the two soon began; fighting, particularly in the garment district, continued until Johnny Spanish was killed while leaving a Manhattan
restaurant by three men, most likely including Kaplan, on July 29, 1919.
After Johnny Spanish's death Kaplan controlled all of labor slugging operations in New York. While Kaplan worked primarily for labor unions, he occasionally provided services for employers.
By the beginning of 1923, however, Kaplan began to face increasing competition from rival newcomers Jacob "Little Augie" Orgen
, Jack "Legs" Diamond, Louis "Lepke" Buchalter
, and Gurrah Shapiro
. Kaplan and Orgen soon began fighting over protection of wet wash laundry workers in violent shootouts around New York.
On August 28, 1923, Kaplan was arrested for carrying a concealed weapon and arraigned at Essex Market Court. News of the arrest attracted a large crowd of reporters and bystanders. As Kaplan was being transferred to another court, led by a police escort, he was shot and killed by Orgen gunman Louis Kerzner
just after he entered a police car. Orgen gained control of Kaplan's operations until his death in 1927, possibly by Buchalter and Shapiro.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
gangster controlling labor racketeering and extortion
Extortion
Extortion is a criminal offence which occurs when a person unlawfully obtains either money, property or services from a person, entity, or institution, through coercion. Refraining from doing harm is sometimes euphemistically called protection. Extortion is commonly practiced by organized crime...
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...
during the post-World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
period into the early years of Prohibition
Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
in the early 1920s.
Biography
One of seven children, Kaplan was born in New York's Lower East SideLower East Side
The Lower East Side, LES, is a neighborhood in the southeastern part of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is roughly bounded by Allen Street, East Houston Street, Essex Street, Canal Street, Eldridge Street, East Broadway, and Grand Street....
on August 3, 1891. Kaplan began committing petty theft at an early age and later becoming a skilled sneak thief and pushcart extortionist, later becoming known for the "drop swindle
Drop Swindle
The drop swindle was a confidence trick commonly used during the 19th and 20th centuries. Employing a variety of techniques the con usually consists of the "dropper", who purposely drops a wallet containing counterfeit money near a potential victim. As the victim goes to pick it up the "dropper"...
". Around 1910, Kaplan had formed his own gang (associated with the Five Points Gang
Five Points Gang
Five Points Gang was a 19th-century and early 20th-century criminal organization, primarily of Italian-American origins, based in the Sixth Ward of Manhattan, New York City. Since the early 19th century, the area was first known for gangs of Irish immigrants...
) briefly feuding with rival gang member Johnny Spanish
Johnny Spanish
Johnny Spanish was an American gangster who was a rival of former partner "Kid Dropper" Nathan Kaplan during a garment workers' strike which later become known as the Second Labor Sluggers War in 1919...
until his arrest the following year for robbery
Robbery
Robbery is the crime of taking or attempting to take something of value by force or threat of force or by putting the victim in fear. At common law, robbery is defined as taking the property of another, with the intent to permanently deprive the person of that property, by means of force or fear....
and sentenced to seven years in Sing Sing prison.
Upon his release in 1918 Kaplan became involved in "labor slugging", providing muscle to either side in the strikes common in New York in that era. Kaplan quickly filled the void left by "Dopey" Benny Fein
Benny Fein
Benjamin "Dopey Benny" Fein was an early Jewish American gangster who dominated New York labor racketeering in the 1910s. With a criminal record dating back to 1900, Fein's arrest record included thirty charges from petty theft and assault to grand larceny and murder...
and Joe "The Greaser" Rosenzweig
Joseph Rosenzweig
Joseph "Joe The Greaser" Rosenzweig was a Jewish American and New York labor racketeer in the early 1900s as an ally of "Dopey" Benny Fein during the labor slugger war from 1914-1917.-Biography:...
in the aftermath of the internecine battles between gangsters, organizing former Five Points members, including Johnny Spanish
Johnny Spanish
Johnny Spanish was an American gangster who was a rival of former partner "Kid Dropper" Nathan Kaplan during a garment workers' strike which later become known as the Second Labor Sluggers War in 1919...
.
Kaplan and Spanish, who had previously reconciled from an argument over a woman from their days in the Five Points Gang, soon began feuding again as Spanish split from Kaplan's gang. A violent war between the two soon began; fighting, particularly in the garment district, continued until Johnny Spanish was killed while leaving a Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
restaurant by three men, most likely including Kaplan, on July 29, 1919.
After Johnny Spanish's death Kaplan controlled all of labor slugging operations in New York. While Kaplan worked primarily for labor unions, he occasionally provided services for employers.
By the beginning of 1923, however, Kaplan began to face increasing competition from rival newcomers Jacob "Little Augie" Orgen
Jacob Orgen
Jacob "Little Augie" Orgen was a New York gangster involved in bootlegging and labor racketeering during Prohibition.-Biography:...
, Jack "Legs" Diamond, Louis "Lepke" Buchalter
Louis Buchalter
Louis "Lepke" Buchalter was a Jewish American mobster and head of the Mafia hit squad Murder, Inc. during the 1930s. After Dutch Schultz' request of the Mafia Commission for permission to kill his enemy, U.S. Attorney Thomas Dewey, the Commission decided to kill Schultz in order to prevent the hit...
, and Gurrah Shapiro
Jacob Shapiro
Jacob "Gurrah" Shapiro was a New York mobster who, with his partner Louis "Lepke" Buchalter, controlled industrial labor racketeering in New York for two decades and established the Murder, Inc. organization.-Early years:...
. Kaplan and Orgen soon began fighting over protection of wet wash laundry workers in violent shootouts around New York.
On August 28, 1923, Kaplan was arrested for carrying a concealed weapon and arraigned at Essex Market Court. News of the arrest attracted a large crowd of reporters and bystanders. As Kaplan was being transferred to another court, led by a police escort, he was shot and killed by Orgen gunman Louis Kerzner
Louis Cohen
Louis Cohen was a New York mobster who murdered labor racketeer "Kid Dropper" Nathan Kaplan and was an associate of labor racketeer Louis "Lepke" Buchalter...
just after he entered a police car. Orgen gained control of Kaplan's operations until his death in 1927, possibly by Buchalter and Shapiro.
Further reading
- Sifakis, Carl, The Encyclopedia of American Crime: Second Edition Vol. II (K-Z), Facts On File Inc., New York, 2001.
- Downey, Patrick. Gangster City: History of the New York Underworld, 1900-1935. Barricade Books, 2004.