Louis Pioggi

Louis Pioggi

Louis "Louie the Lump" Pioggi ["Poggi"] (born 1889 – date of death unknown) was a New York criminal and member of the Five Points Gang, known most prominently for the murder of Eastman Gang leader Max "Kid Twist" Zwerbach and Vach "Cyclone Louie" Lewis.

Although newspaper accounts report Pioggi (spelled "Poggi") was employed as a clerk in a Coney Island hospital with no criminal record, Pioggi apparently became associated with members of the Five Points Gang during their decade-long gang war with the Eastman Gang.

On the night of May 14, 1908, Pioggi was confronted by Max Zwerbach and Vach Lewis over a Coney Island dance hall girl, Carrol Terry and eventually forced to jump out the first story window of a saloon. After returning to rival Five Points Gang leader Paul Kelly, Pioggi returned to the saloon and lured the two into the street where they were ambushed by members of the Five Points Gang and gunned down.

During his trial, Pioggi claimed that Zwerbach and Lewis had confronted him with members of their gang at his hotel with the intentions of murdering him. Forced out into the street, he went on to say that he then shot both of them before they were able to get out their pistols. His lawyer, John S. Bennett, issued a statement to the court that for the safety of his client, Pioggi would choose not to stand trial and plead guilty to manslaughter as his testimony might incriminate certain figures of the cities underworld. Bennett's claims were further supported by Edward Reardon, formerly of the District Attorney's office, and Thomas Fitzpatrick, brother of slain gangster Richie Fitzpatrick, however apparently neither man appeared at the trial.

Pioggi was later sentenced to one year at Elmira Reformatory, and following his release, he was later charged with violation of the Sullivan Law in April 1912 and jumped bail. Shortly after this, one of Pioggi's friends, Charley Torti, was accused of shooting arch-rival Jack Zelig on the steps of the Tombs on Pioggi's orders in June 1912. On the run for three years, Pioggi was eventually arrested in Times Square by detectives of the District Attorney’s office on July 28, 1915. At his arraignment, he was imprisoned in the Tombs without bail to await his trial. However, he disappeared from public record thereafter.

References

*"In Fear Of Death, Poggi Pleads Guilty". New York Times 06 Oct. 1908
*"Louis Poggi Surrenders, Gangster Who Jumped Bail in 1912 to Get Lighter Sentence". New York Times 29 Jul. 1915


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Cyclone Louie — Vach „Cyclone Louie“ Lewis († 14. Mai 1908) war ein US amerikanischer Krimineller, der heute der Kosher Nostra zugerechnet wird und hochrangiges Mitglied der Eastman Gang in der Lower East Side von Manhattan in New York City. Inhaltsverzeichnis 1 …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Vach Lewis — Vach „Cyclone Louie“ Lewis († 14. Mai 1908) war ein US amerikanischer Krimineller, der heute der Kosher Nostra zugerechnet wird und hochrangiges Mitglied der Eastman Gang in der Lower East Side von Manhattan in New York City. Inhaltsverzeichnis 1 …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Max Zwerbach — Maxwell Zweifach Born March 14, 1884(1884 03 14) Austrian Empire Died May 14, 1908(1908 05 14) (aged  …   Wikipedia

  • Max Zwerbach — Max „Kid Twist“ Zwerbach eigentlich Maxwell Zwerbach bzw. Zweifach (* 14. März 1884 in Österreich; † 14. Mai 1908 auf Coney Island, New York City) war ein US amerikanischer Mobster, der heute der Kosher Nostra zugerechnet wird. Er war ein… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • List of historical criminals of New York City — This is a list of historical criminals of New York City including underworld figures, gang members and others of the Old New York era from 1825 to 1925, many of whom were later the subject of Herbert Asbury s The Gangs of New York as well as some …   Wikipedia

  • List of Italian American mobsters — This is an alphabetical list of Italian American mobsters in the United States, regardless of the Italian place of origin of them or their families. Names without WP articles or references identifying the person as Italian American and as a… …   Wikipedia

  • Jack Zelig — Big Jack Zelig (May 13, 1888 October 5, 1912) was a New York gangster and one of the last leaders of the Monk Eastman Gang. Early years the EastmansBorn Zelig Harry Lefkowitz (or William Alberts ), as early as 6 years old Zelig became a well… …   Wikipedia

  • 1906 in organized crime — See also: 1905 in organized crime, other events of 1906, 1907 in organized crime and the list of years in organized crime . Events*Lupo the Wolf is arrested and charged with kidnapping Tony Bonzuffi, the son of an East Side banker and suspected… …   Wikipedia

  • 1908 in organized crime — Organized crime in 1908 in the U.S.:Events*A gang war breaks out between Paul Kelly s Five Points Gang and Kid Twist Max Zwerbach s Eastman Gang. *By the end of the year Johnny Torrio s two dozen Brooklyn brothels earn over $5,000 a week.… …   Wikipedia

  • 1889 in organized crime — See also: 1888 in organized crime, other events of 1889, 1890 in organized crime and the list of years in Organized Crime . EventsArts and literatureBirths*Gaetano Reina, Joe Masseria Capo *Louis Pioggi, Louie the Lump , Five Points Gang member… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”