Was New York's most notorious gangster actually a bird-loving, war-decorated Protestant?

History · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Monk Eastman ruled the Lower East Side as a brutal gang leader, yet he spent his life listing 'bird seller' as his occupation. Often misidentified as a Jewish mobster, he was a British-descended Protestant who fought in World War I, earned a governor's pardon, and died in a petty dispute.

Born Edward Eastman in 1875, the future crime boss was raised in a family of British descent, far from the Jewish heritage often attributed to him by contemporary newspapers. His grandfather, George Parks, was a dry goods store worker, and Eastman’s own early life was marked by his father’s abandonment. Despite his eventual reputation as a violent racketeer, Eastman maintained a lifelong affinity for pigeons and operated a pet shop on Broome Street, a business he used as a cover even after achieving infamy.

Eastman’s rise to power coincided with the influence of Tammany Hall, which utilized his gang for political muscle, including voter intimidation. His reign was defined by a vicious rivalry with Five Points Gang leader Paul Kelly. The conflict escalated into a massive 1903 gun battle on Rivington Street, forcing Tammany politicians to intervene by arranging a two-hour boxing match between the two leaders to settle their differences. The truce was short-lived; Eastman was imprisoned in 1904 after a botched robbery attempt involving Pinkerton agents.

Following his release in 1909, Eastman found his power base shattered. In a surprising turn, the 42-year-old enlisted in the Army during World War I, serving in France with the 106th Infantry Regiment. His military service was so distinguished that Governor Al Smith granted him a full pardon, restoring his voting rights. However, the transition to civilian life proved difficult. Eastman returned to crime, eventually working for Arnold Rothstein. His life ended in 1920 during a confrontation with Jeremiah W. Bohan, a corrupt Prohibition agent, at the Bluebird Cafe.

Eastman’s legacy persists as a cultural archetype of the pre-Prohibition New York underworld. He has been immortalized in literature by Jorge Luis Borges and P.G. Wodehouse, and his life remains a subject of historical study regarding the intersection of immigrant street gangs and political machines. While his criminal career was undeniably brutal, his burial with full military honors at Cypress Hills Cemetery serves as a final, jarring contrast to the 'little wars' he once waged on the streets of Manhattan.

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