At a time when the Port of New York was ruled by lawless criminals, one hoodlum towered above the rest and secretly controlled the piers for over thirty years. Dock Boss: Eddie McGrath and the West Side Waterfront is the fascinating account of one gangster's ascension from altar boy to the leader of New York City's violent Irish Mob.Eddie McGrath's life and crimes are traced through the tail-end of Prohibition, the gang warfare of the 1930s that propelled him into the position of an organized crime boss, the sordid years of underworld control over the bustling waterfront, McGrath's involvement in dozens of gangland murders, and finally the decline of the dock mobsters following a period of longshoremen rebellion in the 1950s. Like walking into the backroom of a smoky West Side tavern, the book also features all the other unsavory characters who operated on the waterfront, including McGrath's brother-in-law, John "Cockeye" Dunn; the gang's hitman of choice, Andrew "Squint" Sheridan; racketeers such as Mickey Bowers, Timothy O'Mara, Charlie Yanowsky, Joe Butler and Albert Ackalitis; as well as a plethora of corrupt union officials, robbers, enforcers, shakedown artists, loan sharks, boss loaders, and bookies.This is the real-life story of the preeminent racketeer on Manhattan's lucrative waterfront and the bloodshed that long haunted the ports of New York City. Using newly uncovered primary sources, this extensively researched book also features the following:* An eight page insert containing rare photographs.* Previously unpublished picture charts of New York City's waterfront gangs.* A complete history of New York City's Irish Mob after Owney Madden and before the Westies.* A never-before-discussed 1930s gang war for control over the West Side of New York City's waterfront, which resulted in eleven murders, six near-killings, and dozens of shootings.* Details of the FBI's secret twenty-year investigation into the International Longshoremen's Association and the shadowy mobsters that manipulated the union's affairs.* The story of the sensational murder trial that almost brought down McGrath and his gang.* The complete and authoritative history of Eddie McGrath-- one the longest serving Irish Mob bosses in American history.
✔ Author(s): Neil G. Clark
✔ Title: Dock Boss: Eddie McGrath and the West Side Waterfront
✔ Rating : 4.3 out of 5 base on (120 reviews)
✔ ISBN-10: 1569808139
✔ ISBN-13: 9781569808139
✔ Language: English
✔ Format ebook: PDF, EPUB, Kindle, Audio, HTML and MOBI
✔ Device compatibles: Android, iOS, PC and Amazon Kindle
Readers' opinions about Dock Boss by Neil G. Clark
Lucy Garraway
This book is a work of art. The language, the imagery, the symbolism - everything came together beautifully to create a memorable reading experience.
Sarah Franklin
The plot was so well-paced that I lost track of time while reading. I was completely immersed in the story, eagerly turning the pages to uncover the next twist.
Rosa Bax
This is a book I'll cherish and recommend to everyone. It touched my soul and made me reflect on life's profound mysteries.
