Wreck Donovan
Encyclopedia
Michael Mahoney, better known as Wreck Donovan or simply The Wreck, (fl.
1869-1873) was a nineteenth century American
sneak thief, river pirate and underworld figure in New York City
. He was a well-known criminal for hire on the New York waterfront during the post-American Civil War
era and later became a member of Patsy Conroy Gang
.
Mahoney also participated in a number of violent robberies during the early-1870s, including his time leading a group of Fourth Ward railroad thieves, although he usually escaped punishment due to his political connections to Tammany Hall
. These activities, however, would lead to his eventual imprisonment by New York District Attorneys Benjamin K. Phelps
and Horace Russell in 1873.
In the years following the American Civil War
, Mahoney established himself as a much feared criminal figure on the New York waterfront and eventually recruited by Patsy Conroy
to join his gang of river pirates
. During this period, Mahoney also worked with Thomas Cummings, Denis Brady, Joe Dollard, Martin Broderick, Sam Lake, John "Johnny the Greek" Keefe and Abe Coakley among others. He and Broderick staged the successful escape of Coakley from the state penitentiary in 1869. From the city-side of the East River
, the two men signaled a guard-boat carrying Coakley by waving handkerchiefs. The keeper, believing it was a doctor who wanted the boat, stopped to pick him up. When the boat docked, however, Mahoney and Broderick drew their revolvers and held the guard at gunpoint while Coakley jumped ashore and escaped.
Shortly afterwards, Mahoney and Broderick were involved in the robbery of a messenger boy of Stevens Bank in Hoboken, New Jersey
. The bank messenger was robbed by the two men while travelling to the Stevens floating battery
. After knocking him "senseless" with a sandbag
, they jumped into a boat in waiting and rowed back to New York. Their escape was short-lived as they were quickly apprehended by Hoboken Police Chief Charles A. Donovan. A subsequent investigation found that Mahoney and Broderick had rented rooms across from the bank and watched the messenger for weeks waiting for the perfect opportunity to make their move. Due to the messengers injuries, he was unable to identify his assailants and Mahoney and Donovan were discharged. A year later, he was convicted with Denis Brady and Thomas Cummings were nearly beating to death local merchant Albert Bornowsky. Mahoney's political influence with Tammany Hall
resulted in a mere six-month prison sentence.
By early-1873, Mahoney was the leader of a gang of railroad thieves in the Fourth Ward. On April 5, Mahoney assaulted Peter R. Corson while boarding a Third Avenue street car with his small son. Mahoney, with two other gang members, blocked the front platform and then grabbed him by the neck and stole a pocketbook which had $45. The gang leader was later arrested and brought before the Court of General Sessions later that month. Assistant District Attorney Horace Russell prosecuted the case and said, in his opening statement
, that Mahoney was "one of a class of villains who should be taught that the railroads of the City were intended for the conveyance of honest citizens, and not for the operations of gangs of thieves". Russell and his team vowed to "spare no pains" in bringing these men to justice. Mahoney was found guilty by Recorder John K. Hackett and sentenced to 20 years imprisonment at the New York State Prison. Prior to his conviction, John Keefe and Abe Coakley used "every underhanded effort" to save Donovan from incarceration but were prevented in their efforts by District Attorney Benjamin K. Phelps
.
Floruit
Floruit , abbreviated fl. , is a Latin verb meaning "flourished", denoting the period of time during which something was active...
1869-1873) was a nineteenth century American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
sneak thief, river pirate and underworld figure 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...
. He was a well-known criminal for hire on the New York waterfront during the post-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...
era and later became a member of Patsy Conroy Gang
Patsy Conroy Gang
The Patsy or Patsey Conroy Gang were a group of river pirates active along the New York waterfront of the old Fourth Ward during the post-American Civil War era. For nearly twenty years, the Patsy Conroys dominated the area of Corlears' Hook and were one of the last major waterfront gangs to remain...
.
Mahoney also participated in a number of violent robberies during the early-1870s, including his time leading a group of Fourth Ward railroad thieves, although he usually escaped punishment due to his political connections to 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...
. These activities, however, would lead to his eventual imprisonment by New York District Attorneys Benjamin K. Phelps
Benjamin K. Phelps
Benjamin Kinsman Phelps was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:...
and Horace Russell in 1873.
Biography
Michael Mahoney was born in the old Fourth Ward in New York City, New York. He began his criminal career while still a young child and became a skilled thief within a few short years. He regularly visited the underworld den known as "Slaughter-house Point", so named because of the alleged murders which occurred within the establishment, located at the corner of James Slip and Water Street. It was there that he learned his trade from such notorious criminal figures such as Johnny Dobbs, Jack Lowry, John McClosky, Soldier Brown and others. By early adulthood, Mahoney had risen from a low-level "dock rat" to a criminal whose name had "become known to every detective in the country". His portrait (No. 688) was eventually added to the "Rogue's Gallery" at Central Office of the New York Police Department.In the years following 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...
, Mahoney established himself as a much feared criminal figure on the New York waterfront and eventually recruited by Patsy Conroy
Patsy Conroy
Patrick Conway , commonly known by his alias Patsy or Patsy Conroy, was an American burglar and river pirate...
to join his gang of river pirates
Patsy Conroy Gang
The Patsy or Patsey Conroy Gang were a group of river pirates active along the New York waterfront of the old Fourth Ward during the post-American Civil War era. For nearly twenty years, the Patsy Conroys dominated the area of Corlears' Hook and were one of the last major waterfront gangs to remain...
. During this period, Mahoney also worked with Thomas Cummings, Denis Brady, Joe Dollard, Martin Broderick, Sam Lake, John "Johnny the Greek" Keefe and Abe Coakley among others. He and Broderick staged the successful escape of Coakley from the state penitentiary in 1869. From the city-side of the East River
East River
The East River is a tidal strait in New York City. It connects Upper New York Bay on its south end to Long Island Sound on its north end. It separates Long Island from the island of Manhattan and the Bronx on the North American mainland...
, the two men signaled a guard-boat carrying Coakley by waving handkerchiefs. The keeper, believing it was a doctor who wanted the boat, stopped to pick him up. When the boat docked, however, Mahoney and Broderick drew their revolvers and held the guard at gunpoint while Coakley jumped ashore and escaped.
Shortly afterwards, Mahoney and Broderick were involved in the robbery of a messenger boy of Stevens Bank in Hoboken, New Jersey
Hoboken, New Jersey
Hoboken is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population was 50,005. The city is part of the New York metropolitan area and contains Hoboken Terminal, a major transportation hub for the region...
. The bank messenger was robbed by the two men while travelling to the Stevens floating battery
Floating battery
A floating battery is a kind of armed watercraft, often improvised or experimental, which carries a heavy armament but has few other qualities as a warship.An early appearance was during the Great Siege of Gibraltar....
. After knocking him "senseless" with a sandbag
Sandbag
A sandbag is a sack made of hessian/burlap, polypropylene or other materials that is filled with sand or soil and used for such purposes as flood control, military fortification, shielding glass windows in war zones and ballast....
, they jumped into a boat in waiting and rowed back to New York. Their escape was short-lived as they were quickly apprehended by Hoboken Police Chief Charles A. Donovan. A subsequent investigation found that Mahoney and Broderick had rented rooms across from the bank and watched the messenger for weeks waiting for the perfect opportunity to make their move. Due to the messengers injuries, he was unable to identify his assailants and Mahoney and Donovan were discharged. A year later, he was convicted with Denis Brady and Thomas Cummings were nearly beating to death local merchant Albert Bornowsky. Mahoney's political influence 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...
resulted in a mere six-month prison sentence.
By early-1873, Mahoney was the leader of a gang of railroad thieves in the Fourth Ward. On April 5, Mahoney assaulted Peter R. Corson while boarding a Third Avenue street car with his small son. Mahoney, with two other gang members, blocked the front platform and then grabbed him by the neck and stole a pocketbook which had $45. The gang leader was later arrested and brought before the Court of General Sessions later that month. Assistant District Attorney Horace Russell prosecuted the case and said, in his opening statement
Opening statement
An opening statement is generally the first occasion that the trier of fact has to hear from a lawyer in a trial, aside possibly from questioning during voir dire. The opening statement is generally constructed to serve as a "road map" for the fact-finder...
, that Mahoney was "one of a class of villains who should be taught that the railroads of the City were intended for the conveyance of honest citizens, and not for the operations of gangs of thieves". Russell and his team vowed to "spare no pains" in bringing these men to justice. Mahoney was found guilty by Recorder John K. Hackett and sentenced to 20 years imprisonment at the New York State Prison. Prior to his conviction, John Keefe and Abe Coakley used "every underhanded effort" to save Donovan from incarceration but were prevented in their efforts by District Attorney Benjamin K. Phelps
Benjamin K. Phelps
Benjamin Kinsman Phelps was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:...
.
Further reading
- Penhaligon, Tom. The Impossible Irish. London: George Routledge & Sons, 1935.