Page "Hudson Dusters" Paragraph 1

The gang, now a dominant force in New York, included members such as " Red " Farrell, Mike Costello, " Rubber " Shaw, Rickey Harrison, and " Honey " Stewart.

The gang soon became involved in election fraud as they were hired out by Tammany Hall politicians in exchange for political protection.

A colorful member by the name of Ding Dong organized a push cart theft ring whereby he had a group of apprentice gang members toss packages to him from a passing wagon, distracting the police.

Soon the gang began to be noticed by the press as reporters met members in Greenwich Village taverns hangouts becoming glamorized by the city.

They came to represent the bohemian spirit of the area.

According to author Luc Sante, activist Dorothy Day, by her own admission, spent much of her youth partying with the Dusters in Greenwich Village.

Many of the gangs members, including most of its leaders, had become drug addicts and were known for their wild " cocaine parties " in which the gang wandered the city afterwards in a drugged state committing violent acts.

One victim of these attacks was Gopher member Owney Madden who was shot six times outside the Arbor Dance Hall on November 6, 1914, resulting in the deaths of three of the gang members less than a week later.

With the gang's political connections to Tammany Hall, the police remained inactive.

However, the gang frequently moved its headquarters to avoid police raids by " strong arm squads ".