Ninety years ago today the body of Thomas Boyle, member of the "Gold Coast" gang, was found in a ditch in Philadelphia. Unlike most gangland victims who are nonchalantly tossed from a moving auto, Thomas was laid out with a folded blanket under his head and a daisy placed in this hand.
Boyle had been arrested for his part in a $20,000 jewelry theft at an Atlantic City hotel and was out on bail at the time of the murder. A year or so earlier a friend of his, Dutch McClaren, was found in the same area, also with his head resting on a folded blanket, but instead of a daisy, Dutch was clutching a bouquet of weeds. Guess Tommy ranked better.
"He must have done something. They don't kill you for nothing." - Chicago Gangster Ted Newberry. Rubbed out January 7, 1933
4 comments:
Tommy got the Silver Package. Dutch only got the Bronze. (The Gold Package comes with a dozen roses and a bag of Cool Ranch Doritos.)
Those boys in Philly really know how to send a fellow off.
Just think 100 years earlier criminals were publicly displayed with pennies over their eyes. Progress.
Pennies eh, time to break out the metal detector.
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