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Who was Mad Dog Coll?
Vincent “Mad Dog” Coll was an Irish-American mob hitman and gang leader in the 1920s and early 1930s in New York City. He was born in County Donegal, Ireland, in 1908 and emigrated to the U.S. with his family when he was less than a year old. He grew up in the Bronx, where he joined a street gang called The Gophers and became involved in petty crimes and violence. He later worked as an enforcer for Dutch Schultz, a powerful bootlegger and racketeer, but soon rebelled against him and formed his own gang. He earned his nickname “Mad Dog” for his ruthless and reckless behavior, which included kidnapping, torture, and murder. He was also notorious for the accidental killing of a five-year-old boy during a botched kidnapping attempt in 1931.
How did Mad Dog Coll die?
Mad Dog Coll’s cause of death was a bullet wound to the head. He was shot by two gunmen on February 8, 1932, while he was making a phone call in a drugstore in Manhattan. The gunmen were allegedly hired by Lucky Luciano, a rival mob boss who wanted to eliminate Coll because he was causing too much trouble for the organized crime syndicate. Coll was 23 years old when he died.
What was the impact of Mad Dog Coll’s death?
Mad Dog Coll’s death marked the end of his brief but violent career as a gangster. He left behind a legacy of fear and infamy, as well as a trail of blood and bodies. His life and death inspired several books, movies, and songs, such as the 1961 film Mad Dog Coll, the 1993 novel Billy Bathgate by E.L. Doctorow, and the 1996 song “Mad Dog Coll” by Mark Knopfler. He also became a symbol of the lawlessness and corruption of the Prohibition era, which ended shortly after his death.
Conclusion
Mad Dog Coll was one of the most notorious gangsters of his time, who lived and died by the gun. His cause of death was a result of his own actions, as he made many enemies and provoked many conflicts in the underworld. His story is a fascinating and tragic example of how crime does not pay.
