Ephraim Snow
Encyclopedia
Ephraim Snow or Old Snow (fl.
1850-1865) was an American criminal fence
and underworld figure on New York City
during the early-to mid-19th century. He was one of the first major fences in New York and the main competitor of Joe Erich
during the 1850s and 60s, however the two had a far more friendly and cooperative relationship then the fierce rivalries of later fences such as John D. "Traveling Mike" Grady
and Fredericka "Marm" Mandelbaum. He operated from a small dry goods store
on the corner of Grand
and Allen Streets
, only a short distance from Erich's establishment in Maiden Lane
, and was well known as a dealer in "stolen property of every description". According to underworld lore, Erich once disposed of a flock of sheep that some Bowery thugs brought back with them while on vacation in Upstate New York
having stolen them from a farm in Westchester County and herded them "through the streets of the city to the shop of the fence".
He and Erich were eventually overshadowed of the rise of John Grady and Marm Mandelbaum in the post-American Civil War
era, both earning millions though financing criminal gangs in addition to dealing in stolen goods, and Snow worked with Mandelbaum in her early criminal career. Snow was eventually arrested and sentenced to five years imprisonment.
Floruit
Floruit , abbreviated fl. , is a Latin verb meaning "flourished", denoting the period of time during which something was active...
1850-1865) was an American criminal fence
Fence (criminal)
A fence is an individual who knowingly buys stolen property for later resale, sometimes in a legitimate market. The fence thus acts as a middleman between thieves and the eventual buyers of stolen goods who may or may not be aware that the goods are stolen. As a verb, the word describes the...
and underworld figure on New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
during the early-to mid-19th century. He was one of the first major fences in New York and the main competitor of Joe Erich
Joe Erich
Joe Erich was an American criminal fence and early underworld figure in New York City during the 1850s and 60s. Based from Manhattan's Maiden Lane, Erich associated with many criminals and burglars of the era including Jack Spratt, Jack Adams, Tom Gordon, Tom Kelley, Jim Brady, Bowlegged Moore,...
during the 1850s and 60s, however the two had a far more friendly and cooperative relationship then the fierce rivalries of later fences such as John D. "Traveling Mike" Grady
John D. Grady
John D. "Traveling Mike" Grady was a New York criminal and, as leader of the Grady Gang, financed and organized many of the major burglaries of the 19th century...
and Fredericka "Marm" Mandelbaum. He operated from a small dry goods store
Dry goods
Dry goods are products such as textiles, ready-to-wear clothing, and sundries. In U.S. retailing, a dry goods store carries consumer goods that are distinct from those carried by hardware stores and grocery stores, though "dry goods" as a term for textiles has been dated back to 1742 in England or...
on the corner of Grand
Grand Street (Manhattan)
Grand Street is a street in Manhattan, New York City. It runs east-west parallel to and south of Delancey Street, from SoHo through Chinatown, Little Italy, the Lower East Side to the East River....
and Allen Streets
Allen Street (Manhattan)
Allen Street is a street in the New York City borough of Manhattan which runs north-south through the Lower Manhattan neighborhood of Chinatown, and the Lower East Side. It is continued north of Houston Street as First Avenue, and south of Canal Street by Division Street and Pike Street. ...
, only a short distance from Erich's establishment in Maiden Lane
Maiden Lane (Manhattan)
Maiden Lane is an east-west street in the Financial District of the New York City borough of Manhattan. Its eastern terminus is at South Street, near the South Street Seaport...
, and was well known as a dealer in "stolen property of every description". According to underworld lore, Erich once disposed of a flock of sheep that some Bowery thugs brought back with them while on vacation in Upstate New York
Upstate New York
Upstate New York is the region of the U.S. state of New York that is located north of the core of the New York metropolitan area.-Definition:There is no clear or official boundary between Upstate New York and Downstate New York...
having stolen them from a farm in Westchester County and herded them "through the streets of the city to the shop of the fence".
He and Erich were eventually overshadowed of the rise of John Grady and Marm Mandelbaum in the post-American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
era, both earning millions though financing criminal gangs in addition to dealing in stolen goods, and Snow worked with Mandelbaum in her early criminal career. Snow was eventually arrested and sentenced to five years imprisonment.
Further reading
- Johnson, David R. Policing the Urban Underworld: The Impact of Crime on the Development of the American Police, 1800-1887. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1979.