20 Facts About Jimmy Haggerty

James "Wild Jimmy" Haggerty was an American criminal and well-known underworld mob figure in Philadelphia and later in New York City during the mid-to late 19th century.

Jimmy Haggerty was the leader of the Schuylkill Rangers, a predominantly Irish-American street gang, which terrorized the South Philadelphia waterfront, specifically its local wharves and coal yards, for over 25 years.

Jimmy Haggerty ruled over the Schuylkill Rangers throughout the 1850s and was the gang's last leader until their break up following the American Civil War by an undercover Philadelphia Police lieutenant.

Jimmy Haggerty remained one of the city's most notorious bank robbers during the post-Civil War era and later resided in New York where he spent his last years before being murdered by Reddy the Blacksmith during a bar brawl in January 1871.

James Haggerty was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to a large working-class family near the banks of the Schuylkill River; his boyhood home was located on Arch Street in the area between Eighteenth and Nineteenth Street known as "McAran's Garden".

Jimmy Haggerty's father, John Haggerty, was a "boss" drayman widely respected by the local business community "as an honest, upright and faithful servant".

Jimmy Haggerty remained free of criminal activity during his childhood, however he did not attend school and received little education.

Jimmy Haggerty continued in this profession, as well as ran a local saloon, until the start of the American Civil War in which he voluntarily enlisted in the Union Army.

Jimmy Haggerty became acquainted with a number of known criminals during this time and, returning to Philadelphia following the war, became involved in illegal bare-knuckle boxing and eventually petty theft, armed robbery and burglary.

Jimmy Haggerty was involved in the robbery of White's Dental Depot where an African-American watchman was murdered.

Jimmy Haggerty was pardoned by Governor Andrew G Curtin eight months later, in part to Haggerty's political connections and his promise to leave the country upon his release, and lived in Canada for a brief time before returning to the city to resume his criminal career.

Jimmy Haggerty remained a major underworld figure in Philadelphia until January 1869 when he was arrested on several counts of assault with intent to kill; during his arrest, he shot the arresting police officer.

Jimmy Haggerty was caught trying to escape from prison but was later released on bail and fled the city.

Jimmy Haggerty won both court cases against him, but was ordered at the second trial to return to the Eastern State Penitentiary by the District Attorney for violating the terms of his release.

Jimmy Haggerty eventually returned to New York where he resided during the last two years of his life.

Jimmy Haggerty was involved in disputes with a number of criminal figures, for example, when he and Billy Tracy were thrown out of a Bowery gambling resort by its owner Harry Hill and British lightweight boxer Billy Edwards in November 1870.

At the appearance of the patrolman walking through the saloon door, Jimmy Haggerty drew his revolver and pistol whipped him sending the officer outside.

Jimmy Haggerty's whereabouts remained unknown until early the next morning when he entered Patrick Egan's saloon.

Reddy the Blacksmith, a longtime member of the Bowery Boys, attempted to separate the two but Jimmy Haggerty confronted Reddy and demanded that he stay out of it.

Jimmy Haggerty's funeral was perhaps one of the biggest held in Philadelphia's history and took place at his mother's residence at the northeast corner of Twenty-Third and Filbert Streets, the longtime headquarters of Schuylkill Rangers, and was attended by what was thought to be one of the largest criminal gatherings of the era.