CAPONE’S CHRISTMAS GIFT TO PEG LEG: THE ADONIS SOCIAL CLUB MASSACRE – DECEMBER 26, 1926
When Richard “Peg Leg” Lonergan stormed through the entrance of South Brooklyn’s Adonis Social Club moments after midnight on December 26, his mere presence turned a joyous Christmas night celebration into a powder keg of racial and gangland tension. The club, founded by Italians and Irish, threw dances and other social events in Brooklyn with the goal of bringing together both cultures in a safe and festive atmosphere.
Lonergan, who lead the infamous White Hand Gang and was at war with Italian mob boss Frankie Yale for control of the Brooklyn waterfront, held two other titles well-known throughout Brooklyn — virulent bigot and killer. Gangland lore alleged multiple bodies and he relished brutalizing Italian men found in the company of Irish women. Tonight, Lonergan was flanked by up to six men. His two armed henchmen, Cornelius “Needles” Ferry and Aaron Haines (Harms), stayed close to him. Lonergan also had his own pistol on hand.
The group immediately made themselves known with obnoxious slurs to the Italians present and chasing out the door any Irish women with them. Despite being outnumbered, Lonergan’s arrogance and racism made him oblivious to the conspiracy brewing around him and his crew. The liquor made his insults louder, and through it all he ignored the ominous presence of a native Brooklyn observing the theatrics.
Al Capone made a prodigal return to Brooklyn for his son’s operation and he no doubt visited family and friends on the trip. One of his most important friends was Frankie Yale, who gave Capone his underworld start in Brooklyn and later traveled to Chicago to commit two high-profile murders (Jim Colosimo and Dean O’Banion) for his former pupil. Whether planned in advance or luck, Capone now had the opportunity to return the favor.
As Lonergan sat drinking with Haines by the piano, Ferry was attacked while walking towards the bar. A gun butt split his head open. Then a gunshot pierced his chest. In the mere seconds after this took place, the lights went out. The next light that illuminated the club would come from gunfire all centered towards Lonergan and Haine’s direction.
Within 15 minutes, police arrived on the scene to discover a silent and grisly scene. Ferry, his face a crimson mask, was discovered dead outside the club. A slug-like trail of blood showed he’d been dragged out and dumped by the gutter.
Lonergan and Haines were left where they fell, curled up in fetal positions. Lonergan, full of bigoted bravado moments earlier, is in the forefront and obscures most of Haines’s body.
10 men, including Capone, were brought in for questioning in the days that followed. With no witnesses willing to cooperate, everyone walked. It has never been confirmed whether the killings were pre-planned or spur of the moment. Despite this being lost to history, one can be assured Frankie Yale enjoyed Capone’s belated Christmas gift. Lonergan and his crew did not.
Cornelius “Needles” Ferry lies dead outside the Adonis Social Club in South Brooklyn. He was bludgeoned with a gun and then shot. The trail of blood indicates his body was dragged out the club before police arrived.
Expanded view of the scene where Lonergan and Haines were slain. You can zoom in to see Haines’s body under the piano. Both men were killed instantly after the club’s lights were turned out, possibly on orders from a present Al Capone.
Homicide at Speakeasy at 154 20th Street, Brooklyn shooting of Richard(Peg Leg) Lonegan, Aaron Haines and Neil Ferry, 7890c: Courtesy of The New York Municipal Archives
Are there anymore gangsters pictures from the archives? They were incredible. The Vincent Coll pictures were insane. I’d love to see some of Maseria and Marrazano. That would be incredible. Please let everyone know if there’s anymore being released. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for checking it out, Jonathan! So Masseria and Maranzano photos remain big targets for me. My take is they have to be somewhere, just a matter of if the Archives have it or the NYPD themselves. Believe it or not, even all these decades later there’s still records the NYPD haven’t transferred over to the Archives. There’s definitely more gangster photos. The tricky thing with the searches is that a lot of times the names are completely misspelled due the officers who arrived on scene (you’ll notice this on some of the pictures as that’s how they’re listed in the Archives records). So, it’s really a grind to go through the records but so worth it when you find gems like these. Rest assured, once the pandemic slows down and the Archives are open to the public, I’ll be right back in there searching.
I cannot find the link to the photos listed in the Table of Contents…
Hi Sal, I’ll email you directly to see if we can figure it out…
Couldn’t email you directly but try this – At the bottom of the first page on the site, you should should see a list of numbers going horizontally across the page in little boxes. Each of these represents a different page with the pictures. If you’re on a mobile device, it’ll be right before title of the next article.
This is fantastic. Thank you for unearthing these brilliant images. I’ve posted a link to your site on my YouTube channel – OC SHORTZ. Thanks again.
Appreciate the support James and I absolutely loved your Youtube video! You put a big smile on my face and I’ll proudly carry that new favorite person title haha Once the pandemic slows down and the Archives reopen, I plan to get right back in there digging for more gems.
Outstanding work Ismael!!!
Appreciate all the support, Mike!
Amazing finds, it would be great of you could find some photos of Monk Eastman
Thanks, Henry! Monk would certainly be a gem. I’ll make sure to keep an eye out for him on my next trip.
Amazing pictures. Nice research Ismael. I enjoyed it including the stories that go with it. I hope you find more (Greetings from the Netherlands)
Greetings, Hendrik! Very happy to know my work reached you across the pond. Appreciate the kind words and I’m confident there’s more stuff out there to discover. Fingers crossed…
Great work keep looking as we will
You got it, Chris. The support means the world to me.
Wow, those pics are amazingly clear and smooth for their age!
Thats some great research and digging, Ismael… Coincidentally Im currently reading ‘First Family’ which centres on The Morello family so I skipped that section to avoid too many spoilers! haha
That’s awesome brother, I really enjoyed that book and it gave me confidence to do my own research. Yes, definitely avoid that Morello section until you finish the book haha Let me know what you think, I’d love a TV series on the Morellos.
Yeah its a great book man… i just got to the part (demise) of the Camorra and the Navy Street Gang etc amazing how the Camorra could have give the Mafia a real run for their money and essentially changed organised crime in the US…
Ahh, I never thought about a Morellos TV series, that would be insaaaane! That definitely needs the full HBO/Showtime, big budget, period costumes and set treatment!
I’m also very interested in the Amberg and Shapiro brothers. Have you come across any new pics or info about them?
Glad to hear it on your Amberg and Shapiro interest! I did find leads on some potential pictures from the Amberg 1926 Tombs prison breakout and potentially some of Meyer Shapiro’s murder, but alas I’ll have to wait until the Archives open back up to follow-up.
Very cool!!!.thank you.
Ismael,
These are truly incredible. The amount of work, and research that went into this is deserves recognition. I truly appreciate it, as the 1920s have always been fascinating to me so it was no problem for me to read every word and study every photo.
I was wondering if you would have access to more? Arnold Rothstein, and Legs Diamond to name a few, would be interesting crime scenes. Both went out in gangland style hits.
Anyways,
Thank you
Thanks for the kind words, Nucky! There is still plenty to go through regarding more potential findings. Before the pandemic shut everything down, I do remember seeing notes that indicate crime photos may exist of the hotel room where Rothstein was shot. Since he was rushed to the hospital and lingered a few days, anything that’s found would likely just be of the room and maybe the murder weapon that was tossed onto the street. Once we’re allowed back on site, I’ll be sure to look into what Rothstein photos have survived . The NYC records I used didn’t include Legs Diamond’s murder since it happened in Albany. If they still exist, they’d likely be at the New York State Archives which I haven’t had the pleasure of researching yet (in due time). I really appreciate your encouraging words and thanks again for reading.