Slaughter House Gang
Encyclopedia
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.
The Slaughter Housers, known for their violent mugging
s and murder
, were infamous for luring an unsuspecting victim into a local dive bar
where he would be robbed
and sometimes murdered. However, if the victim refused to enter, the gang would follow the victim until passing a window where a woman would dump a bucket of ash, blinding the victim, and he would be attacked and pushed into a cellar door. The victim would then be robbed of everything of value, including his clothes, and thrown onto the street. The leading member of the gang was George Leese
, a known river pirate
and mugger involved in staging Fourth Ward illegal bare-knuckle
prize fights. The Slaughter Housers remained the dominant gang in the Fourth Ward until after the American Civil War
when police finally managed to drive the gang from the neighborhood.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
's Fourth Ward during the late 1840s to the mid 1860s.
The Slaughter Housers, known for their violent mugging
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....
s and murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
, were infamous for luring an unsuspecting victim into a local 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...
where he would be robbed
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 sometimes murdered. However, if the victim refused to enter, the gang would follow the victim until passing a window where a woman would dump a bucket of ash, blinding the victim, and he would be attacked and pushed into a cellar door. The victim would then be robbed of everything of value, including his clothes, and thrown onto the street. The leading member of the gang was George Leese
George Leese
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 bars...
, a known river pirate
River pirate
A river pirate is a type of pirate who operates in a river. The term river pirate has been used to describe many different kinds of pirate groups responsible for attacks all over world.-History:...
and mugger involved in staging Fourth Ward illegal bare-knuckle
Bare-knuckle boxing
Bare-knuckle boxing is the original form of boxing, closely related to ancient combat sports...
prize fights. The Slaughter Housers remained the dominant gang in the Fourth Ward until after 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...
when police finally managed to drive the gang from the neighborhood.
Further reading
- Sifakis, Carl. The Encyclopedia of American Crime: Second Edition Vol. II (K-Z), Facts On File Inc., New York, 2001