Owney Madden

Owney "The Killer" Madden (1892-April 24, 1965) was a leading Irish gangster in Manhattan during Prohibition. Although he was never able to dominate New York's racketeering, due to Italian domination of organized crime following by the 1930s, he is however particularly noted for his early retirement from criminal activities living until an advanced age that most Prohibition gangsters rarely saw.

Related Topics:
1892 - April 24 - 1965 - Irish - Manhattan - Prohibition - Gangster

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Born in Liverpool, England to Irish-born dockworkers in 1892 and christened Owen Victor Madden, he emmigrated with his family to the United States in 1903. Settling in New York's Hell's Kitchen, Madden soon joined the Gopher Gang with his brother later that year. Described by associates as "that little banty rooster from hell", Madden quickly became a fierce fighter known for his skill with a lead pipe and gun in fights with rivals the Hudson Dusters. By 1910, at age eighteen, Madden had become a prominent member of the Gophers and suspected in the deaths of five rival gang murders. His reputation soon gained him leadership of one of the three factions of the Gophers as Madden regularly earned $200 daily from the Gophers criminal activities. One profitable operation was a protection racket in which local businessmen were forced to pay money to the Gophers who threatened to firebomb their stores.

Related Topics:
Liverpool, England - United States - 1903 - Hell's Kitchen - Gopher Gang - Hudson Dusters

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During this time Madden lived a luxurious life, often accompanied by several women, however he became known for his violent jealousy when he shot and killed William Henshaw, a store clerk who had asked out one of the girls often seen with Madden, while onboard a trolley. While Henshaw survived the attack, he later died of his wounds after identifying Madden as his attacker. Madden was arrested two weeks later however, despite Henshaw's death in front of dozen's of witnesses, the case was dismissed after no witnesses came forward.

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For the three years, the Gophers reached their height as Madden recruited gunman such as Tanner Smith, Chick Hyland, Bill Tammany, and Eddy Egan. As Madden began encroaching into the territory of rival gangs, particularly longtime rivals the Hudson Dusters, eleven members of the Hudson Dusters ambushed an intoxicated Madden outside the 52nd Street Arbor Dance Hall and shooting him eight times on November 6, 1912. Madden survived the attack however and, while recovering in the hospital, refused to identify his attackers to police stating "Nothing doing. The boys'll get 'em. It's nobody's business but mine who put these slugs in me !". Within a week of his release, six members of the Hudson Dusters had been killed.

Related Topics:
Tanner Smith - Chick Hyland - Bill Tammany - Eddy Egan - Arbor Dance Hall - November 6 - 1912 - Hudson Dusters

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In 1914, Madden became involved in a dispute with Patsy Doyle, a prominent member of the Hudson Dusters, over a woman named Freda Horner. Largely regarded as a breach of gangland ethics, Doyle informed police of Madden's operations. Following Doyle's assault on Tony Romanello, a close friend of Madden, Madden arranged for Doyle's death. Having Margaret Everdeane, a friend of Horner's, contact Doyle and relay a message to meet Horner at an 8th Street saloon, presumably for a reconciliation with Doyle. As Doyle arrived, Madden ambushed Doyle killing him on November 28, 1914. The police soon brought in Horner and Everdeane for questioning where they quickly confessed. Madden was eventually sentenced to twenty years at Sing Sing Prison.

Related Topics:
Patsy Doyle - Hudson Dusters - Freda Horner - Tony Romanello - November 28 - 1914 - Sing Sing Prison

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After serving nine years, Madden was released on parole in 1923. Finding the Gopher gang had since broken up, as well as members of his own faction in jail or working for bootlegging gangs, Madden found work as a strikebreaker for a New York taxi company. Madden, making far less then his former associates, soon found work under Dutch Schultz fighting against Jack "Legs" Diamond, Waxey Gordon, and Vincent "Mad Dog" Coll during the Manhattan Beer Wars. He would later open the Cotton Club, formerly Jack Johnson's Club Deluxe, soon becoming one of the cities most popular nightclubs. Madden would also operate legitimate laundry and coal delivery businesses and, gaining the support of Tammany Hall politician Jimmy Hines, and received considerable police protection.

Related Topics:
Dutch Schultz - Jack "Legs" Diamond - Waxey Gordon - Vincent "Mad Dog" Coll - Manhattan Beer Wars - Cotton Club - Jack Johnson - Club Deluxe - Tammany Hall - Jimmy Hines

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In 1931, shortly before Prohibition's end, Madden left Shultz's organization and entered a partnership with boxing promoters "Broadway" Bill Duffy and George Jean "Big Frenchie" DeMange. Between the three, they controlled the careers of the top five boxing champions including Rocky Marciano, Max Baer, and Primo Carnera. Managing Primo Carnera, Madden arranged fixed fights eventually gaining Carnera the NBA World Heavyweight Championship in 1933. Madden continued to arrange fights against Carnera, who held the title for nearly a year, until pressure from reporters began to raise suspicions regarding their involvement and, quickly deserting the Italian strongman, led to his defeat by Max Baer on June 14, 1934.

Related Topics:
Bill Duffy - George Jean "Big Frenchie" DeMange - Rocky Marciano - Max Baer - Primo Carnera - NBA World Heavyweight Championship - June 14 - 1934

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In 1932, Vincent Mad Dog Coll began blackmailing several mobsters including DeMange and Madden. Coll, while demanding money from Madden, was killed in a drive by shooting on February 9, 1932. After being arrested for a parole violation in 1932, Madden began facing continued harassment from police finally leaving New York in 1935.

Related Topics:
Mad Dog Coll - February 9 - 1932

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Retiring from racketeering, Madden settled in Hot Springs, Arkansas where he opened the Hotel Arkansas, a spa and casino, while becoming involved in local criminal activities. The Hotel Arkansas would later become a popular hideout for mobsters, particularly Charles Luciano who was apprehended there in 1935. Later becoming a naturalized citizen in 1943, Madden married the daughter of the city postmaster living in Hot Springs until his death in 1964. At the time of his death he was said to have $3 million in assets.

Related Topics:
Hot Springs, Arkansas - Hotel Arkansas - Charles Luciano - Postmaster

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Michael Walsh's And All the Saints is based on a fictionalized account of Madden's journal. Madden was also portrayed by Bob Hoskins in Francis Ford Coppola's The Cotton Club.

Related Topics:
Michael Walsh - And All the Saints - Bob Hoskins - Francis Ford Coppola - The Cotton Club

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