Jersey. The bank messenger was robbed by the two men while travelling to the Stevens floating battery. After knocking him "senseless" with a sandbag, they jumped into a boat in waiting and rowed back to New York. Their escape was short-lived as they were quickly apprehended by Hoboken Police Chief Charles A. Donovan. A subsequent investigation found that Mahoney and Broderick had rented rooms across from the bank and watched the messenger for weeks waiting for the perfect opportunity to make their move. Due to the messengers injuries, he was unable to identify his assailants and Mahoney and Donovan were discharged. A year later, he was convicted with Denis Brady and Thomas Cummings for nearly beating to death local merchant Albert Bornowsky. Mahoney's political influence with Tammany Hall resulted in a mere six-month prison sentence. By early 1873, Mahoney was the leader of a gang of railroad thieves in the Fourth Ward. On April 5, Mahoney assaulted Peter R. Corson while boarding a Third Avenue street car with his small son. Mahoney, with two other gang members, blocked the front platform and then grabbed him by the neck and stole a pocketbook which had $45. The gang leader was later arrested and brought before the Court of General Sessions later that month. Assistant District Attorney Horace Russell prosecuted the case and said, in his opening statement, that Mahoney was "one of a class of villains who should be taught that the railroads of the City were intended for the conveyance of honest citizens, and not for the operations of gangs of thieves". Russell and his team vowed to "spare no pains" in bringing these men to justice. Mahoney was found guilty by Recorder John K. Hackett and sentenced to 20 years imprisonment at the New York State Prison. Prior to his conviction, John Keefe and Abe Coakley used "every underhanded effort" to save Donovan from incarceration but were prevented in their efforts by District Attorney Benjamin K. Phelps. References Further reading Penhaligon, Tom. The Impossible Irish. London: George Routledge & Sons, 1935. Year of birth missing Year of death missing American people of Irish descent American gangsters of Irish descent Criminals from New York City People from Manhattan