Apprehending Darkness in the Shadows

Two of the Killers. Philadelphia: J. Childs, 1848.

Like other cities, Philadelphia was home to many criminal gangs, including the Schuylkill Rangers and the Chockers. Here are two members of the Killers, a thieving gang that haunted the Moyamensing neighborhood; they had ties to the Moyamensing Hose Company and the Democratic Keystone Club. Reporter James McCabe said of the professional thief, “He dresses well, but flashily, and is generally plentifully supplied with money,” which is certainly true here.