Whyos
Encyclopedia
The Whyos, a collection of the various post-Civil War
street gangs of New York, was the city's dominant street gang during the late 19th century. The gang controlled most of Manhattan
from the late 1860s until the early 1890s, when the Monk Eastman
Gang defeated the last of the Whyos. The name came from the gang’s cry, which sounded like a bird or owl calling, "Why-oh!"
street gangs following the NYPD campaigns against gang activity, particularly from 1866–1868. Originally forming from members of the Chichesters
, the gang soon began absorbing other former rivals and soon dominated New York's Fourth Ward, an Irish slum notorious for its crime, by the early 1870s.
The Whyos had several leaders, but longest reigning were Danny Lyons
(arrested for the murder of gangster Joseph Quinn
), his girlfriend ("Pretty" Kitty McGowan) and Danny Driscoll
(hanged at Tombs Prison for the death of Beezy Garrity during a gunfight with rival Five Points
gangster Johnny McCarthy
).
The members were predominantly Irish, but unlike the Irish gangs of the past, victimized anyone - not just white Anglo-Saxon Protestants. Driscoll and Lyons eventually decreed that in order to be a real Whyo, the person must have killed at least once. They were so powerful that most of the other gangs at the time had to ask their permission to operate.
dive known as The Morgue. The tavern was the scene of at least 100 violent murders in its early years, as hour long gunfights between drunken gang members would frequently occur.
During the 1870s, the gang would include some of the most notorious gangsters of the era, including Red Rocks Farrell
, Slops (also sometimes known as Clops) Connolly, "Big" Josh Hines
, Hoggy Walsh, Piker Ryan, Dorsey Doyle, Bull Hurley, Fig McGerald, and Googy Corcoran.
Many of the gangsters were among the first to use present day methods that would later be adopted by rival gangs, and eventually organized crime organizations in the early twentieth century. One notable example is Josh Hines, often seen wearing a pair of pistols, who would regularly arrive at illegal gambling dens and faro games demanding a percentage of the night's profits from the owners. While being questioned by a police detective regarding the extortion activities, possibly when several owners complained, Hines was said to have replied "Those guys must be nuts ! Don't I always leave 'em somethin' ? All I want is me fair share."
Another prominent member, "Dandy" John Dolan, is noted for inventing several unique gang weapons including a set of shoes in which pieces of an ax blade were embedded and a copper eye gouger (worn on the thumb), first used in a robbery in the summer of 1875. As he attempted to rob a local jewelry store, the owner James H. Noe attempted to stop Dolan and was beaten with an iron crowbar. Dolan then proceeded to use the eye gouger on Noe, taking the eyes with him. Often showing them off to friends, the eyes were found in Dolan's possession while being interrogated by Police Detective Joseph M. Dorsey. He would eventually be convicted of murder and hanged at Tombs Prison on April 21, 1876.
who began moving the gang into extortion, prostitution, and murder for hire (although this had been practiced earlier by members such as "Big" Josh Hines, "Dandy" John Dolan, and Piker Ryan). McGloin also implemented one requirement for prospective members to commit at least one murder stating in 1883 "A guy ain't tough until he has knocked his man out!"
Aside from committing many crimes, the Whyos also offered specific criminal services for a price. The following list was found on Piker Ryan when he was arrested by the NYPD in 1884.
In 1884, McGloin was arrested for the murder of saloon owner Louis Hanier and hanged at Tombs Prison on March 8 of that year. Danny Driscoll and Danny Lyons would eventually jointly lead the gang by 1887, however they would both be executed in 1888 for separate murders and hanged on January 23 and August 21 respectively.
and the Five Points Gang
came to prominence in the mid-1890s, many gangs began working with Tammany Hall
providing considerable political protection. However, the Whyos continued their violent activities ending in their last great battle between fellow Whyos as members Denver Hop and English Charley began fighting over shares of a recent robbery. As they began shooting at each other, a major gunfight involving at least 20 other members began. No one was injured however, as all had been intoxicated, as the press reported the Morgue's owner had felt the gangs had been silly to think they would hit anything after drinking his liquor. The last of the Whyos would eventually be broken up by the Monk Eastman Gang, who would maintain control over Manhattan for the next decade.
The Whyos were featured, although in a fictionalized version, in Elizabeth Gaffney
's 2005 novel Metropolis.
's most current Moon Knight
series.
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...
street gangs of New York, was the city's dominant street gang during the late 19th century. The gang controlled most of 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...
from the late 1860s until the early 1890s, when the Monk Eastman
Monk Eastman
Edward "Monk" Eastman was a New York City Gangster who founded and led one of the most powerful street gangs in New York City at the turn of the Twentieth Century, the Eastman Gang. His other aliases included Joseph "Joe" Morris, Joe Marvin, William "Bill" Delaney, and Edward "Eddie" Delaney...
Gang defeated the last of the Whyos. The name came from the gang’s cry, which sounded like a bird or owl calling, "Why-oh!"
Origins
Consisting largely of criminals ranging from pickpockets to murderers, the Whyos were formed from what remained of the old Five PointsFive Points, Manhattan
Five Points was a neighborhood in central lower Manhattan in New York City. The neighborhood was generally defined as being bound by Centre Street in the west, The Bowery in the east, Canal Street in the north and Park Row in the south...
street gangs following the NYPD campaigns against gang activity, particularly from 1866–1868. Originally forming from members of the Chichesters
Chichesters
The Chichesters were an early Five Points street gang during the mid 19th century in New York. The gang began stealing from stores and warehouses and selling the stolen goods to local fences in 1820s, later becoming involved in illegal gambling and robbery...
, the gang soon began absorbing other former rivals and soon dominated New York's Fourth Ward, an Irish slum notorious for its crime, by the early 1870s.
The Whyos had several leaders, but longest reigning were Danny Lyons
Danny Lyons
Danny Lyons was, along with Danny Driscoll, the leader of the Whyos street gang during the 1870s and 1880s.A prominent member of the Whyos, a New York City street gang, Lyons led the gang with Danny Driscoll at their height during the late nineteenth century...
(arrested for the murder of gangster Joseph Quinn
Joseph Quinn
Joseph Quinn was a New York clerk, amateur wrestler and murder victim of Danny Lyons, a co-leader of the Whyos street gang.-Early life:...
), his girlfriend ("Pretty" Kitty McGowan) and Danny Driscoll
Danny Driscoll
Daniel "Danny" Driscoll was an American criminal and co-leader of the Whyos with Danny Lyons. The two held joint control over the street gang following the death of Mike McGloin in 1883, however both men were executed for separate murders only months apart from each other...
(hanged at Tombs Prison for the death of Beezy Garrity during a gunfight with rival Five Points
Five Points, Manhattan
Five Points was a neighborhood in central lower Manhattan in New York City. The neighborhood was generally defined as being bound by Centre Street in the west, The Bowery in the east, Canal Street in the north and Park Row in the south...
gangster Johnny McCarthy
Johnny McCarthy
John Joseph McCarthy is an American former basketball player and coach. A 6'1" guard, he played collegiately at Canisius College, and was selected by the Rochester Royals in the 1956 NBA Draft. He played a total of six seasons in the NBA — two for the Royals, three for the St...
).
The members were predominantly Irish, but unlike the Irish gangs of the past, victimized anyone - not just white Anglo-Saxon Protestants. Driscoll and Lyons eventually decreed that in order to be a real Whyo, the person must have killed at least once. They were so powerful that most of the other gangs at the time had to ask their permission to operate.
Early years
The headquarters shifted many times throughout the years: "Dry Dollar" Sullivan’s Chrystie Street saloon, a churchyard at Prince and Mott Streets, and its original headquarters the notorious BoweryBowery, Manhattan
Bowery , commonly called "the Bowery," is a street and a small neighborhood in the southern portion of the New York City borough of Manhattan...
dive known as The Morgue. The tavern was the scene of at least 100 violent murders in its early years, as hour long gunfights between drunken gang members would frequently occur.
During the 1870s, the gang would include some of the most notorious gangsters of the era, including Red Rocks Farrell
Red Rocks Farrell
John "Red Rocks" Farrell was an American criminal, thief and member of the Whyos, a prominent New York street gang during the mid-to late 19th century. One of the more colorful members of the gang at the height of its power, he spent nearly half his life in correctional institutions...
, Slops (also sometimes known as Clops) Connolly, "Big" Josh Hines
Josh Hines
"Big" Josh Hines was a gangster from the early part of the 20th century who was a member of the Whyos street gang. Gang chroniclers Herbert Asbury and Luc Sante credit Hines as being the first man to hold up a stuss parlor.-Further reading:*Ettinger, Clayton James. The Problem of Crime. New York:...
, Hoggy Walsh, Piker Ryan, Dorsey Doyle, Bull Hurley, Fig McGerald, and Googy Corcoran.
Many of the gangsters were among the first to use present day methods that would later be adopted by rival gangs, and eventually organized crime organizations in the early twentieth century. One notable example is Josh Hines, often seen wearing a pair of pistols, who would regularly arrive at illegal gambling dens and faro games demanding a percentage of the night's profits from the owners. While being questioned by a police detective regarding the extortion activities, possibly when several owners complained, Hines was said to have replied "Those guys must be nuts ! Don't I always leave 'em somethin' ? All I want is me fair share."
Another prominent member, "Dandy" John Dolan, is noted for inventing several unique gang weapons including a set of shoes in which pieces of an ax blade were embedded and a copper eye gouger (worn on the thumb), first used in a robbery in the summer of 1875. As he attempted to rob a local jewelry store, the owner James H. Noe attempted to stop Dolan and was beaten with an iron crowbar. Dolan then proceeded to use the eye gouger on Noe, taking the eyes with him. Often showing them off to friends, the eyes were found in Dolan's possession while being interrogated by Police Detective Joseph M. Dorsey. He would eventually be convicted of murder and hanged at Tombs Prison on April 21, 1876.
Rise to power
The Whyos, at their peak by the late 1870s and early 1880s, were led by Mike McGloinMike McGloin
Mike McGloin was a 19th century criminal and leader of the Whyos, a New York City street gang.-Overview:An early member of the Whyos, Michael McGloin would rise to become leader of the gang by the late 1870s...
who began moving the gang into extortion, prostitution, and murder for hire (although this had been practiced earlier by members such as "Big" Josh Hines, "Dandy" John Dolan, and Piker Ryan). McGloin also implemented one requirement for prospective members to commit at least one murder stating in 1883 "A guy ain't tough until he has knocked his man out!"
Aside from committing many crimes, the Whyos also offered specific criminal services for a price. The following list was found on Piker Ryan when he was arrested by the NYPD in 1884.
- Punching $1
- Both eyes blacked $3
- Nose and jaw broke $7
- Jacked out (knocked out with a Blackjack) $15
- Ear chewed off $15
- Leg or arm broke $19
- Shot in the leg $20
- Stab $21.50
- "Doing the big job" (murder) $100 and up
In 1884, McGloin was arrested for the murder of saloon owner Louis Hanier and hanged at Tombs Prison on March 8 of that year. Danny Driscoll and Danny Lyons would eventually jointly lead the gang by 1887, however they would both be executed in 1888 for separate murders and hanged on January 23 and August 21 respectively.
Decline
With the deaths of Driscoll and Lyons, the gang never regained its former status as its members were eventually imprisoned or killed. As Monk EastmanMonk Eastman
Edward "Monk" Eastman was a New York City Gangster who founded and led one of the most powerful street gangs in New York City at the turn of the Twentieth Century, the Eastman Gang. His other aliases included Joseph "Joe" Morris, Joe Marvin, William "Bill" Delaney, and Edward "Eddie" Delaney...
and 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...
came to prominence in the mid-1890s, many gangs began working with Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall, also known as the Society of St. Tammany, the Sons of St. Tammany, or the Columbian Order, was a New York political organization founded in 1786 and incorporated on May 12, 1789 as the Tammany Society...
providing considerable political protection. However, the Whyos continued their violent activities ending in their last great battle between fellow Whyos as members Denver Hop and English Charley began fighting over shares of a recent robbery. As they began shooting at each other, a major gunfight involving at least 20 other members began. No one was injured however, as all had been intoxicated, as the press reported the Morgue's owner had felt the gangs had been silly to think they would hit anything after drinking his liquor. The last of the Whyos would eventually be broken up by the Monk Eastman Gang, who would maintain control over Manhattan for the next decade.
The Whyos were featured, although in a fictionalized version, in Elizabeth Gaffney
Elizabeth Gaffney
Elizabeth Gaffney is an American novelist. She graduated from Vassar College and holds an MFA in fiction from Brooklyn College. She is also the editor at large of the quarterly magazine A Public Space and was a staff editor of The Paris Review for sixteen years, under George Plimpton. She has...
's 2005 novel Metropolis.
In Pop Culture
A contemporary version of the Whyos appear in issues #16 and #23 of MarvelMarvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
's most current Moon Knight
Moon Knight
Moon Knight is a fictional character, a mercenary-turned-superhero appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character exists in the Marvel Universe and was created by Doug Moench and Don Perlin...
series.