The story of Frank Lucas stands out. He was a major drug lord in Harlem. He managed to cut out the middlemen in the heroin trade by going directly to the source in Southeast Asia. He was so successful that he became extremely wealthy and had a large network of associates. His downfall came when the authorities finally caught up with him, but his story has been the subject of movies and books.
There was also the story of the Black Spades. They were one of the early and influential black gangs in New York. They were involved in petty crimes at first but later graduated to more serious illegal activities. They had a hierarchical structure within the gang, with leaders making all the important decisions. Their story is important as it shows the evolution of black gangs in New York over time.
The story of John Gotti is quite famous. He was known as the 'Teflon Don' because he seemed to avoid prosecution for a long time. He was the boss of the Gambino crime family. His flamboyant lifestyle and high - profile presence in the public eye made him a well - known figure. But in the end, the law caught up with him and he was sent to prison for life.
One well - known New York black gangster story is about the rise of the Purple Gang. They controlled a significant part of the illegal activities in Harlem in the early 20th century. They were involved in bootlegging during Prohibition, which was a very lucrative business at that time. They also had their own code of conduct within the gang, and members were extremely loyal to each other.
The tale of the Bronx Zoo's escaped animals is also well - known. People would talk about how some animals might have escaped and roamed the Bronx streets at night. This story added a sense of mystery and danger to the area. It was a story that both scared and fascinated the local residents.
The most famous might be the one related to the Merchant's House Museum. Gertrude Tredwell's ghost is said to be very active. For example, objects sometimes move on their own, and there are cold spots in the house that can't be explained easily.
The most famous is probably the case of the Black Dahlia. Although it's associated with Los Angeles mainly, it also had ties to New York. Her body was found in a really gruesome state, and it became a huge mystery that still fascinates people today. Another is the Tammany Hall corruption stories. Tammany Hall had a lot of power in New York politics and was involved in all sorts of corrupt deals.
The story of the Central Park Five is quite famous. Five teenagers were wrongly convicted of a brutal crime in Central Park. Later, it was proven that they were innocent. It shows the flaws in the criminal justice system at that time.
Another interesting story is about Broadway. It has a long history of theater productions. Many world - famous shows have premiered there. It has made New York a global center for the performing arts, with actors and actresses from all over the world coming to perform on Broadway stages.
The story of Bonnie and Clyde is quite famous. They were a couple who went on a crime spree during the Great Depression. They robbed banks and stores, and were constantly on the run from the law. Their story was romanticized in some ways, but in reality they were dangerous criminals.
The haunted mansion story is quite famous. The lady in white is often spotted near the large oak tree in the front yard of the mansion. People driving by at night sometimes catch a glimpse of her through the fog.
One famous New York gangster story is about Al Capone. He was a notorious figure in the Chicago underworld but had connections to New York gangs as well. He was involved in bootlegging during Prohibition. His power and ruthlessness made him a feared man. He was finally brought down not just for his gangster activities but also for tax evasion.