Whittemore Gang
Encyclopedia
The Whittemore Gang was a group of bank robbers active in the Mid-Atlantic and Eastern United States
during the mid 1920s. Led by Richard Reese Whittemore (1898 – August 11, 1926), the gang went on a year-long crime spree committing payroll, bank and jewelry robberies in Maryland
and New York
before their capture in 1926.
The gang committed its first armed robbery, only four days after Whittemore's prison escape, when they ambushed a Western Maryland Dairy payroll shipment in Baltimore. The driver and a guard were shot during the robbery and the gang escaped with $16,034 in cash. Three weeks later, the gang robbed Baltimore bank messenger J. Wahl Holtzman of $8,792 in broad daylight, beating him unconscious and then stealing the money he was carrying.
where they could start again. On April 5, they robbed the Metro Sacks jewelry store on West 125 Street taking an estimated $16,000 in cash and precious stones. On May 9, the gang held up Manhattan
jeweler Jacques Ross on Grand Street and took $25,000 in diamonds from him. A month later, they also hit Buffalo
when, on June 1, they raided the Levy Jewelry Company and stole $50,000 worth of jewelry.
Weeks later, they were back in Manhattan where they robbed Stanley's jewelry shop on July 16 escaping with another $50,000 in jewelry. On September 14, the gang stole a similar amount at David Brick's jewelry store on Third Avenue. On October 5, they stole an estimated $30,000 from Linherr's jewelry store on Sixth Avenue
and, two weeks later, robbed salesman John Sandford, employed by Laster & Son, as he parked his car on Broadway. Whittemore and his gang got away with $25,000 worth of watches and jewelry.
Although it is unclear whether the Whittemore Gang was responsible for the Buffalo robbery, their leader made the news that same month for altogether different reasons when Whittemore allegedly attempted to kill bootlegger Edwin Spike Kinney. Whittemore confronted Kinney at a Baltimore roadhouse on Halloween
, accusing him of having an affair with his wife Margaret, and shot him. Kinney later identified Whittemore as his assailant to police.
The gang rested up for the next week or two before striking again. On January 11, 1926, they robbed Belgian diamond merchants Albert Goudris and Emanuel Veerman on West 48th Street in Manhattan. This was their most successful haul yet, having gotten $175,000 in gems, however this was also to be their last robbery. They spent the next nine weeks celebrating, spending much of their loot, According to federal watchdog Harry Anslinger, many, if not all, of the gang were using heroin by this time. Their drug use may have been the contributing factor for their capture when the New York Police Department were able to arrest eight of the surviving gang members on March 19, without firing a shot.
on April 27, 1926, and a mistrial was declared. Although the charges were dropped, Whittemore was extradited to Maryland where he was charged with the murder of prison guard Robert Holtman. He was convicted on May 21, condemned to death on June 10, and hanged on August 11, 1926. Two other members of the gang were convicted on robbery charges and sentenced to 40 years each in a New York prison.
Eastern United States
The Eastern United States, the American East, or simply the East is traditionally defined as the states east of the Mississippi River. The first two tiers of states west of the Mississippi have traditionally been considered part of the West, but can be included in the East today; usually in...
during the mid 1920s. Led by Richard Reese Whittemore (1898 – August 11, 1926), the gang went on a year-long crime spree committing payroll, bank and jewelry robberies in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
and New York
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...
before their capture in 1926.
Early years in Maryland
Richard Whittemore, a longtime career criminal, escaped from the Maryland state penitentiary on February 20, 1925, after killing prison guard Robert Holtman. He reunited with his wife Margaret "Tiger Lil" Whittmore and began recruiting a team of stick up artists and hold up men such as Bernard Mortillaro, Pasquale Chicarelli, Joseph Ross, Morris "Shuffles" Goldberg, Anthony Paladino and brothers Jake and Leon Kramer. Whittemore and his gang would then a series of bank robberies in two states during a 12-month period.The gang committed its first armed robbery, only four days after Whittemore's prison escape, when they ambushed a Western Maryland Dairy payroll shipment in Baltimore. The driver and a guard were shot during the robbery and the gang escaped with $16,034 in cash. Three weeks later, the gang robbed Baltimore bank messenger J. Wahl Holtzman of $8,792 in broad daylight, beating him unconscious and then stealing the money he was carrying.
Arrival in New York
These robberies soon attracted the attention of authorities and Whittemore decided to move the gang to 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...
where they could start again. On April 5, they robbed the Metro Sacks jewelry store on West 125 Street taking an estimated $16,000 in cash and precious stones. On May 9, the gang held up 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...
jeweler Jacques Ross on Grand Street and took $25,000 in diamonds from him. A month later, they also hit Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
when, on June 1, they raided the Levy Jewelry Company and stole $50,000 worth of jewelry.
Weeks later, they were back in Manhattan where they robbed Stanley's jewelry shop on July 16 escaping with another $50,000 in jewelry. On September 14, the gang stole a similar amount at David Brick's jewelry store on Third Avenue. On October 5, they stole an estimated $30,000 from Linherr's jewelry store on Sixth Avenue
Sixth Avenue (Manhattan)
Sixth Avenue – officially Avenue of the Americas, although this name is seldom used by New Yorkers – is a major thoroughfare in New York City's borough of Manhattan, on which traffic runs northbound, or "uptown"...
and, two weeks later, robbed salesman John Sandford, employed by Laster & Son, as he parked his car on Broadway. Whittemore and his gang got away with $25,000 worth of watches and jewelry.
Buffalo hijacking and assaulting Spike Kenny
On October 29, 1925, six unidentified gunmen hijacked an armored truck en route to the U.S. Federal Reserve. Once stopping the truck, they killed both the driver and guard then escaped with $93,000 in cash. The robbery made headlines across the country as Harry Harris and his gang were initially identified by witnesses. Eventually Whittemore was arrested on unrelated charges and became the prime suspect in this robbery. Dutch Andersonn was also named as a possible suspect, but the case eventually remained unsolved.Although it is unclear whether the Whittemore Gang was responsible for the Buffalo robbery, their leader made the news that same month for altogether different reasons when Whittemore allegedly attempted to kill bootlegger Edwin Spike Kinney. Whittemore confronted Kinney at a Baltimore roadhouse on Halloween
Halloween
Hallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
, accusing him of having an affair with his wife Margaret, and shot him. Kinney later identified Whittemore as his assailant to police.
Return to New York
By the end of the year, the Whittemore Gang had returned to New York. On December 2, 1925, they stole $75,000 in diamonds from M.G. Ernest's jewelry store on Columbus Avenue. Three weeks later, they held up Nassau Street jeweler Folmer Prip for an estimated $10,000. On Christmas Day, three days after their latest robbery, gang member Joe Ross was found shot to death in Elizabethtown, New Jersey in what is still an unsolved gangland slaying.The gang rested up for the next week or two before striking again. On January 11, 1926, they robbed Belgian diamond merchants Albert Goudris and Emanuel Veerman on West 48th Street in Manhattan. This was their most successful haul yet, having gotten $175,000 in gems, however this was also to be their last robbery. They spent the next nine weeks celebrating, spending much of their loot, According to federal watchdog Harry Anslinger, many, if not all, of the gang were using heroin by this time. Their drug use may have been the contributing factor for their capture when the New York Police Department were able to arrest eight of the surviving gang members on March 19, without firing a shot.
Imprisonment and execution
Whittemore was first tried in Buffalo for the armored car hijacking but the trial ended in a hung juryHung jury
A hung jury or deadlocked jury is a jury that cannot, by the required voting threshold, agree upon a verdict after an extended period of deliberation and is unable to change its votes due to severe differences of opinion.- England and Wales :...
on April 27, 1926, and a mistrial was declared. Although the charges were dropped, Whittemore was extradited to Maryland where he was charged with the murder of prison guard Robert Holtman. He was convicted on May 21, condemned to death on June 10, and hanged on August 11, 1926. Two other members of the gang were convicted on robbery charges and sentenced to 40 years each in a New York prison.