In the period between 1880 and 1920, five major gangs controlled the underbelly of Manhattan. These gangs were the Whyos, the Hudson Dusters, the Five Pointers, the Eastman Gang, and the Gophers.
The entirely Irish gang, the Whyos, had its territory in Manhattan. It was led by Danny Lyons (arrested) and Danny Driscoll (dead). The gang included pickpockets, sneak thieves, dive owners, and brothel and panel-house keepers. The gang died out by the mid 1890’s.
The Gophers (pronounced “goofers") is led by Mallet Murphy who uses a mallet as a weapon. They
control the middle West Side, from Fourteenth to Forty-Second Streets and from Seventh to Eleventh
Avenues; they are the kings of Hell's Kitchen. Their headquarters is a saloon on Battle Row (Thirty-Ninth
Street between Tenth and Eleventh Avenues). Their numbers include brawlers, muggers, thieves, and
freight car robbers.
The Hudson Dusters cover the Hudson side of Lower Manhattan and east to Broadway; north to Fourteenth and south to the western tip of the Battery. Kid Yorke and Circular Jack lead the Dusters. Their members are lively show-offs, rather disinterested in mayhem but loving publicity just the same. Most of them are addicted to cocaine.
The Italian gang, the Five Pointers, was based more on sentiment than location, since the actual Five Points had been destroyed by fire nearly 30 years prior. The intended emotions evoked were apprehension and dread. They are confined to a relatively small area from Fourteenth Street down to City Hall, between Broadway and Bowery. On their turf was a so-called “underworld one-stop store” which sold things such as pistols, brass knuckles, stilettos, billy clubs (the house-manufactured brand had a lead slug in the end), and blackjacks (six-inch leather bags filled with shot, ending in a rope handle). Criminal heroes may know this store and have made purchases there. The gang is led by Paul Vaccarelli, a.k.a. Paul Kelly, with principle lieutenants Biff Ellison (successful racketeer who ran the short-lived Paresis Hall on Cooper Square), Eat-‘Em-Up Jack McManus (famed mayhem artist and sheriff of both the New Brighton and McGurk’s Suicide Halls), Kid Dropper (con artist extraordinaire), and Johnny Spanish (hold-up artist). Their criminal activity is unlimited including murder for hire. Their headquarters is at the New Brighton Dance Hall on Great Jones Street. They dress as dandies, but they are very dangerous.
The Eastmans are named after their founder and leader, Monk Eastman. The Eastmans ran the business
from the Bowery and to Monroe street, which headed up to the East River. They also had smaller
conglomerates: The Cherry Street Gang (a rejuvenated form of river pirate) and the Yakey Yakes, who
roosted under the Brooklyn Bridge. Their territory included the East Side brothel district and more than a
fair share of Bowery dives, which just happened to be on the east side of the street. Their headquarters is
at a shady Chrystie Street saloon. Monk Eastman is one of the most ruthless and violent gangsters of all
time, rivaling Paul Kelly. Also attired as dandies, they are extremely violent and dangerous. They will
perform any crime.