There’s Danger Here

The Queen of Fences


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Fredericka Mandelbaum immigrated from Prussia to the US with her husband and small child. Peddlers in Prussia, the Jewish couple began feeling the effects of the growing anti-semitism movement. In the US they moved to "Little Germany". Marm learned to peddle quickly both legitimate and illegitimate wares.  Opening her own haberdashery to front her fence. She lived and worked in the area until the 1880's when reform finally caught up with her by the hands of the Pinkerton Agency. Even after she was caught, she paid bail and then absconded to Canada. There she, oldest son Julius, and Herman stayed until Marms death.  

 

Sources:

  1. North Conway. Queen of Thieves. The true story of “Marm” Mandelbaum and her gangs of New York. 2014
  2. https://www.mcny.org/story/extraordinary-mother-mandelbaum

    https://www.wnyc.org/story/the-story-of-a-gilded-age-jewish-crime-boss-women-behaving-badly/

    https://www.timesofisrael.com/how-a-jewish-german-woman-in-ny-became-americas-first-major-crime-boss-in-1859/

    https://www.vegaspbs.org/blogs/community-events/march-11-the-queen-of-thieves-the-jewish-mother-who-built-americas-first-criminal-empire/

    https://providenceathenaeum.org/media-archives/the-talented-mrs-mandelbaum/

    https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-life-and-crimes-of-old-mother-mandelbaum-71693582/

    https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/community/articles/marm-mandelbaum-queen-fences

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    There’s Danger HereBy Leilani Barnes

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