Smugglers, Bootleggers, and Scofflaws: Prohibition and New York City

176 Pages·2013·21.949 MB·English

by  Ellen NicKenzie Lawson

SmugglerS, BootleggerS,
and ScofflawS
“Smugglers, Bootleggers, and Scofflaws is a thorough and informative
look at New York in the Prohibition era enlivened by new research in
previously unexploited records. Fans of Boardwalk Empire will love it,
while social and maritime historians will find much of interest.”
— Ronald H. Spector, author of At War at Sea:
Sailors and Naval Combat in the Twentieth Century
“Prohibition looms large in our national imagination. Yet, as Ellen
Lawson has found, the central role of smuggling has been less studied. By
mining National Archives records of vessels seized by the Coast Guard,
Lawson gives us a vivid and fresh examination of the rum-running era in
New York City’s history.”
— Field Horne, Chair (2001–2012),
Conference on New York State History
SmugglerS, BootleggerS,
and ScofflawS
Prohibition and new York city
Ellen NicKenzie Lawson
ee
excelsior editions
State University of New York Press
Albany, New York
Published by State University of New York Press, Albany
© 2013 State University of New York
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Lawson, Ellen NicKenzie.
  Smugglers, bootleggers, and scofflaws : prohibition and New York City / Ellen
NicKenzie Lawson.
       pages cm
  Includes bibliographical references and index.
  ISBN 978-1-4384-4816-9 (paperback : alkaline paper)
 1. Prohibition—New York (State)—New York—History—20th century.
2. Crime—New York (State)—New York—History—20th century. 3. Criminals—
New York (State)—New York—History—20th century. 4. Smugglers—New York
(State)—New York—History—20th century. 5. New York (N.Y.)—Social
conditions—20th century. I. Title.
HV5090.N7L39 2013
  363.4'109747109042—dc23 2012044468
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
In honor of Mary and Paul Mangelsdorf

contentS
List of Illustrations ix
Author’s Note xi
Preface xv
Chapter 1. Rum Row 1
Chapter 2. Along the Shore 19
Chapter 3. Landfall Manhattan 39
Chapter 4. The Broadway Mob 59
Chapter 5. Scofflaw City 75
Chapter 6. Repeal 93
Chapter 7. Manahactanienk 109
Appendix: Selected Primary Documents 117
Notes 129
Bibliography 145
Index 151

IlluStratIonS
Figure 1.1. Nautical Chart of Rum Row 2
Figure 1.2. Cat and Mouse on Rum Row 9
Figure 1.3. Rum Radio Operator 11
Figure 1.4. Rum Submarines in the Hudson River? 13
Figure 1.5. Queen of Rum Row 15
Figure 1.6. Capone’s Namesake 16
Figure 2.1. Nautical Chart of Long Island 20
Figure 2.2. Halted in Long Island Sound 27
Figure 2.3. Bootleggers at Leisure 35
Figure 2.4. Boss of a Manhattan Bootleg Gang 37
Figure 3.1. Liberty and Prohibition 42
Figure 3.2. Rum Fishing Boat Docked at Ellis Island 48
Figure 3.3. Hidden Compartment for Liquor 49
Figure 3.4. Booking at the Barge Office 51
Figure 3.5. Rum Captain 53
Figure 4.1. Manhattan’s Underworld King 61
Figure 4.2. Temptation 66
Figure 5.1. Typical Dock Scene in Scofflaw City 76
ix