King of Heists: The Sensational Bank Robbery of 1878 That Shocked America
Search in google:
King of Heists is a spellbinding account of the greatest bank robbery in American history, which took place on October 27, 1878, when thieves broke into the Manhattan Savings Institution and stole nearly $3 million in cash and securities—around $50 million in today’s terms. One of the largest banks in the world, the Manhattan Savings Institution was a depository for the money, jewelry, securities, and other valuables of some of the most prominent, wealthy citizens of New York City.In an absorbing narrative set against the colorful backdrop of New York in the Gilded Age, J. North Conway tells the story of those who plotted and carried out this infamous robbery, how they did it, and how they were tracked down and captured. The robbery was planned to the minutest detail by the mysterious and notorious George L. Leslie—a society architect whose double life as the nation’s most prolific bank robber led him to be dubbed the “King of the Bank Robbers.” Despite his reputation, he was never caught and never spent a day in jail.King of Heists is intertwined with a host of memorable real-life Gilded Age characters, including Fredericka “Marm” Mandelbaum, the queen of New York City’s criminals; John D. Rockefeller, president of Standard Oil; and John Roebling, who undertook a quest to build the greatest bridge in the world—the Brooklyn Bridge. It is also the story of the financial wizard “Jubilee” Jim Fisk, the man responsible for the “Black Friday” stock market crash in 1869; showgirl Josie Mansfield, Fisk’s mistress; and Boss Tweed, corrupt head of New York City’s political machine. It is about the dichotomy between the rich and the poor, the powerful and powerless, the haves and have-nots. But mostly, King of Heists is about the Manhattan Savings Institution robbery in 1878 and two other legendary heists—each a record-setting event and each carried out under the direction of George Leslie. A thrilling narrative, King of Heists blends all the richness of history with the thrills of the best fiction. Publishers Weekly Conway (American Literacy) relates the engrossing tale of "the greatest bank robbery in American history." The central figure is architect George Leslie, who was 27 when he arrived in Manhattan in 1869 seeking success and adventure. With impeccable manners and good looks, Leslie led a double life, inserting himself into the Gilded Age city's most elite circles, while assembling a gang of "the cleverest criminals in New York City's underworld" to carry out a series of bank robberies. His biggest was the October 27, 1878, theft from the Manhattan Savings Institution of some $3 million in cash and securities (the equivalent of $50 million today). Conway skillfully paints a backdrop of fierce and flamboyant personalities who paraded across the Gilded Age, from Brooklyn Bridge engineer John Roebling to Marm Mandelbaum, "queen of the criminals." The author overstates his claim to be following in John Dos Passos's footsteps in quoting real newspaper headlines and stories of the period as well as song lyrics, but he capably recounts his story against a background of glitter and greed. (Aug.)Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Introduction ix1 Delmonico's-New York City 1869 12 Jubilee Jim 163 The Little Joker 334 Marm 495 The Great Escape 646 The Ocean National Bank robbery 797 Black Friday 958 The Path of the Wicked 1159 The Northampton Bank Robbery 13710 The Rufus Gang 15311 The Most Sensational Bank Robbery in the Country 17012 Memento Mori 192Bibliography 212Index 217About the Author 224
