Lew Baker
Encyclopedia
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Lewis "Lew" Baker (born c. 1825, date of death unknown) was a patrolman in the New York Police Department who was simultaneously employed as a "slugger" for Tammany Hall
. He was involved in voter intimidation and election fraud during the 1840s and 50s. A close friend and associate of Irish mob
boss John Morrissey
, Baker frequently battled supporters of the nativist Know-Nothing movement for over a decade. He is most remembered however as the assassin of William "Bill the Butcher" Poole
. Baker shot and killed Poole in a Broadway
saloon during a brawl. Both Baker and Morrissey were placed on trial for murder, but were acquitted.
sometime around 1840 where he became an officer with the New York Police Department. It was during this time that he became acquainted with John Morrissey
while he was an immigrant runner and later joined him as a "slugger" for Tammany Hall
. He soon became involved in violent fighting against the many nativist organizations of the period, in particular, the Bowery Boys
. In January 1855, Baker and Jim Turner
entered Platt's Hall and became involved in a verbal altercation with prizefighter Tom Hyer
"calling the fighter vile names". The argument escalated until Turner drew his pistol and shot Hyer in the neck. Hyer fired back but missed hitting the wall instead. Putting away his weapon, Hyer attacked his assailants and dragged Baker out into the street but the fight came to an end when a police officer arrived. The fight was broken up, but no charges were brought against the three.
A second version according to retired police chief George W. Walling, Turner and McLaughlin had a more active role in the fight. It was McLaughlin, he claimed, who challenged Poole to a fight spitting in his face each time he refused. All three were reportedly drunk, Baker having recently been dismissed from the NYPD, and the still sober Poole was dismissive towards his taunts but offered $100 that he could beat any of the three men. Turner then pulled out a pistol to fire at Poole, using the hollow of his left arm as a rest, but instead shot himself in the arm. Like Baker, he was supposed to have fired the second shot that hit Poole in the leg. Poole then staggered towards Baker who drew his own revolver and shot him twice and leaving the bar.
were accused as accessories to the murder, the latter suspected of helping Baker escape the city, but neither men were ever indicted. Baker hid out in New Jersey
for a time before fleeing the country altogether. Authorities managed to catch up to Baker, using the clipper yacht
Grapeshot provided by George Law
, and took him into custody less than 100 miles west of the Canary Islands
; another version claims that he was captured after arriving at Tenerife
with the police having arrived two hours ahead of Baker. Brought back to New York, Baker stood trial and twice appeared before the state supreme court before his acquittal by a Tammany Hall judge in 1856.
Lewis "Lew" Baker (born c. 1825, date of death unknown) was a patrolman in the New York Police Department who was simultaneously employed as a "slugger" for Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall, also known as the Society of St. Tammany, the Sons of St. Tammany, or the Columbian Order, was a New York political organization founded in 1786 and incorporated on May 12, 1789 as the Tammany Society...
. He was involved in voter intimidation and election fraud during the 1840s and 50s. A close friend and associate of Irish mob
Irish Mob
The Irish Mob is one of the oldest organized crime groups in the United States, in existence since the early 19th century. Originating in Irish American street gangs of the 19th century — depicted in Herbert Asbury's 1928 book The Gangs of New York — the Irish Mob has appeared in most...
boss John Morrissey
John Morrissey
John Morrissey , also known as Old Smoke, was an Irish bare-knuckle boxer and a gang member in New York in the 1850s and later became a Democratic State Senator and U.S. Congressman from New York, backed by Tammany Hall...
, Baker frequently battled supporters of the nativist Know-Nothing movement for over a decade. He is most remembered however as the assassin of William "Bill the Butcher" Poole
William Poole
William Poole , also known as Bill the Butcher, was a member of the New York City gang the Bowery Boys, a bare-knuckle boxer, and a leader of the Know Nothing political movement.-Early life:...
. Baker shot and killed Poole in a Broadway
Broadway (New York City)
Broadway is a prominent avenue in New York City, United States, which runs through the full length of the borough of Manhattan and continues northward through the Bronx borough before terminating in Westchester County, New York. It is the oldest north–south main thoroughfare in the city, dating to...
saloon during a brawl. Both Baker and Morrissey were placed on trial for murder, but were acquitted.
Early life and Tammany Hall
Born in 1825, Baker immigrated to the United States from WalesWales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
sometime around 1840 where he became an officer with the New York Police Department. It was during this time that he became acquainted with John Morrissey
John Morrissey
John Morrissey , also known as Old Smoke, was an Irish bare-knuckle boxer and a gang member in New York in the 1850s and later became a Democratic State Senator and U.S. Congressman from New York, backed by Tammany Hall...
while he was an immigrant runner and later joined him as a "slugger" for Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall, also known as the Society of St. Tammany, the Sons of St. Tammany, or the Columbian Order, was a New York political organization founded in 1786 and incorporated on May 12, 1789 as the Tammany Society...
. He soon became involved in violent fighting against the many nativist organizations of the period, in particular, the Bowery Boys
Bowery Boys
The Bowery Boys were a nativist, anti-Catholic, and anti-Irish gang based north of the Five Points district of New York City in the mid-19th century. They were primarily stationed in the Bowery section of New York, which was, at the time, extended north of the Five Points...
. In January 1855, Baker and Jim Turner
Jim Turner (criminal)
James "Jim" Turner was an American criminal figure, pugilist and "slugger" for Tammany Hall. Turner was one of several men under Captain Isaac Rynders who committed voter intimidation and election fraud for Tammany Hall during the 1850s...
entered Platt's Hall and became involved in a verbal altercation with prizefighter Tom Hyer
Tom Hyer
Tom Hyer was an American bare-knuckle boxer. He was a champion of boxing in America from September 9, 1841 to 1851....
"calling the fighter vile names". The argument escalated until Turner drew his pistol and shot Hyer in the neck. Hyer fired back but missed hitting the wall instead. Putting away his weapon, Hyer attacked his assailants and dragged Baker out into the street but the fight came to an end when a police officer arrived. The fight was broken up, but no charges were brought against the three.
Murder of William Poole
On the night of February 25, 1855, Baker entered the Stanwix Hall saloon with Jim Turner and Paudeen McLaughlin to confront Poole having threatened Morrissey with a gun during an argument only hours before. Walking up to Poole, Baker spat in his face and then pulled a Colt revolver but accidentally shot himself in the arm as he stepped back to draw the weapon. Dropping to the floor, he did manage to fire a second shot hitting Poole in the leg and similarly incapacitating him. Both men eventually got up from the floor, however Baker managed to get to Poole first and pistol whipped him back to the ground. Baker then shot Poole twice, once in the stomach and the second in his chest, and left the saloon.A second version according to retired police chief George W. Walling, Turner and McLaughlin had a more active role in the fight. It was McLaughlin, he claimed, who challenged Poole to a fight spitting in his face each time he refused. All three were reportedly drunk, Baker having recently been dismissed from the NYPD, and the still sober Poole was dismissive towards his taunts but offered $100 that he could beat any of the three men. Turner then pulled out a pistol to fire at Poole, using the hollow of his left arm as a rest, but instead shot himself in the arm. Like Baker, he was supposed to have fired the second shot that hit Poole in the leg. Poole then staggered towards Baker who drew his own revolver and shot him twice and leaving the bar.
Capture and trial
By the time Poole died two weeks later, a massive search for Baker took place. Morressey and Dan KerriganDan Kerrigan
Daniel Kerrigan was an American pugilist, sportsman and politician. He was part owner of the Star and Garter, a popular Sixth Avenue saloon, and was a longtime political organizer and "fixer" for Tammany Hall...
were accused as accessories to the murder, the latter suspected of helping Baker escape the city, but neither men were ever indicted. Baker hid out in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
for a time before fleeing the country altogether. Authorities managed to catch up to Baker, using the clipper yacht
Clipper
A clipper was a very fast sailing ship of the 19th century that had three or more masts and a square rig. They were generally narrow for their length, could carry limited bulk freight, small by later 19th century standards, and had a large total sail area...
Grapeshot provided by George Law
George Law (financier)
George Law an American financier, b. in Jackson, Washington Co., N.Y., 25 October 1806; d. in New York city, 18 November 1881.- Early life :George Law was born in Jackson, New York and his only early education had been obtained in a winter night school. At age of eighteen he left his father's farm...
, and took him into custody less than 100 miles west of the Canary Islands
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...
; another version claims that he was captured after arriving at Tenerife
Tenerife
Tenerife is the largest and most populous island of the seven Canary Islands, it is also the most populated island of Spain, with a land area of 2,034.38 km² and 906,854 inhabitants, 43% of the total population of the Canary Islands. About five million tourists visit Tenerife each year, the...
with the police having arrived two hours ahead of Baker. Brought back to New York, Baker stood trial and twice appeared before the state supreme court before his acquittal by a Tammany Hall judge in 1856.
Further reading
- Beals, CarletonCarleton BealsCarleton Beals was a radical American journalist, author, historian, and a crusader with special interests in Latin America.-Early years:...
. Brass-knuckle Crusade: The Great Know-Nothing Conspiracy, 1820-1860. New York: Hastings House Publishers, 1960. - Lewis, Alfred Henry. Nation Famous New York Murders. New York: G.W. Dillingham Company, 1914.