Paul Kelly (criminal)

Paul Kelly
Paul Kelly in early 1900s
Born	Francesco Paolo Antonio Vaccarelli December 23, 1876 Pietrapertosa, Italy
Died	April 3, 1936 (aged 59) New York City, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Gangster, boxer
Conviction(s)	Assault and robbery

Paul Kelly (born Francesco Paolo Antonio Vaccarelli;^[1] December 23, 1876 – April 3, 1936) was an Italian-born American mobster, who founded the Five Points Gang in New York City. He had started some brothels with prize money earned in boxing. Five Points Gang was one of the last dominant street gangs in New York history. Kelly recruited young, poor men from the ethnically diverse immigrant neighborhoods of Lower Manhattan. The Five Points Gang included some who later became prominent criminals in their own right, including Johnny Torrio, Al Capone, Lucky Luciano, Meyer Lansky and Frankie Yale.^[2]

At the peak of his criminal career, Kelly was ranked by The New York Times in 1912 as "perhaps the most successful and the most influential gangster in New York history".^[3] Kelly was said to support election of Democratic Tammany Hall politicians with his gang's activities at elections.

After open street warfare with the Eastman Gang in the early twentieth century, which also had ties with Tammany Hall, Kelly and Eastman were ordered by the politicians to end their competition with a boxing match. It ended in a draw. Tammany Hall politicians finally withdrew protection for Eastman, who was convicted and imprisoned on larceny charges in 1904. Kelly lost support when politicians wanted to clean up the Bowery. Gradually he became involved in rackets of the longshoremen's union.

Known for his high culture and gentle manners, Kelly is considered the first in the United States to organize crime on a business model. He cultivated a distinguished and sophisticated image, in contrast to the brutish attitude of his peers. Jay Robert Nash refers to him as "the real father of organized crime in America" and "the first modern-day underworld boss".^[4]