Born: 1892
Died: 1965

Transplanted as a child to a tough New York neighborhood, Madden soon earned the nickname, “the Killer, “ because of his reputation as a cold-blooded killer. While violence came back to haunt many of his hot-headed associates, Madden lived quietly—and very comfortably—until the age of seventy-three.

A youthful gopher

Madden was born in Liverpool, England, in 1892. After his father died, the eleven-year-old moved to New York City to live with his aunt in a poor and violent neighborhood known as Hell’s Kitchen. Shortly after his arrival he became a member of a violent street gang called the Gophers. As a young gangster, Madden earned a reputation as a violent and dangerous criminal. He committed muggings—using various weapons, including brass knuckles, a sling shot, and a lead pipe wrapped in newspaper—and fought with members...