Michael McGloin

Case details

Michael McGloin (1862 – March 8, 1883) was a 19th century criminal and leader of the Whyos, a New York City street gang. He was an early member of the Whyos and rose to become leader of the gang by the late 1870s.

Background

McGloin continued the tactics of his predecessors “Dandy” Jim Dolan, Piker Ryan and others of the previous decade. During the last years of the 1870s, McGloin terrorized New York’s Westside, particularly Hell’s Kitchen.

The offence

On the night of December 29, 1881, four members of the Whyos (presumably including McGloin) entered a local Hell’s Kitchen tavern owned by Louis Hanier.

As one of the men asked to change a $10 bill, another man suddenly became ill and tried to get behind the bar. The men were asked to leave, and there was no further incident until around midnight when Hanier closed the bar and went upstairs to bed.

Sometime around 2:00 am, Hanier’s wife reported hearing noises coming from downstairs.

When Hanier attempted to investigate, he was shot and killed by an unidentified gunman.

Investigation

The investigation was led by NYPD police superintendent Inspector Thomas F. Byrnes.

Police were able to trace the murder weapon, a 38. caliber pistol, to a pawn shop on Ninth Avenue, which had previously been owned by McGloin.

Attempts to gain further evidence against McGloin, including assigning a woman to live with the 19 year old gang leader in the hopes of gaining a confession, proved fruitless. Further attempts proved inconclusive.

Arrest

Byrnes, accompanied by Captain Williams and six other officers, raided the Whyos headquarters.

On January 31, 1882, gang members Thomas Moran, Frederick Banfield, and Robert Morrisey were arrested.

Trial

McGloin, convinced that the other members would testify against him, admitted to breaking into the tavern and killing Hanier. He claimed self-defense, believing Hanier was armed.

On March 1, McGloin was tried alongside Moran and Morrisey.

After eleven minutes of discussion among the jury, McGloin was convicted by the General Sessions of first degree murder.

McGloin was sentenced to death.

Moran and Morrisey received eight years imprisonment for burglary.

Appeals and stay

Despite being granted a stay of execution after several pleas for appeal, McGloin was hanged in The Tombs on March 8, 1883.

Outcome

McGloin was executed by hanging in The Tombs on March 8, 1883.

Other details

Names mentioned:

• Michael McGloin (1862 – March 8, 1883), leader of the Whyos
• “Dandy” Jim Dolan, predecessor
• Piker Ryan, predecessor
• Thomas F. Byrnes, NYPD police superintendent Inspector who led the investigation
• Louis Hanier, tavern owner; shot and killed
• Hanier’s wife, who reported hearing noises coming from downstairs
• Thomas Moran, arrested January 31, 1882; convicted trial co-defendant
• Frederick Banfield, arrested January 31, 1882
• Robert Morrisey, arrested January 31, 1882; convicted trial co-defendant
• Captain Williams, who accompanied Byrnes during the raid
• McGloin, described as 19 year old gang leader in the investigation attempts

Weapon:

• a 38. caliber pistol

Places mentioned:

• Hell’s Kitchen tavern owned by Louis Hanier
• New York’s Westside
• Hell’s Kitchen
• Ninth Avenue (pawn shop)
• The Tombs

Reference works mentioned:

• Asbury, Herbert. The Gangs of New York. New York: Alfred A. Knoff, 1926.
• Sifakis, Carl. The Encyclopedia of American Crime. New York: Facts On File Inc., 1982.
• Barton, George. True Exploits of Famous Detectives (True Stories of Celebrated Crimes). New York: McKinley Stone & MacKensie, 1909.
• Carey, Arthur A. Memoirs of a Murder Man. Garden City, New York: Doubleday, Doran and Co., 1930.