23 brutal photographs from the criminal underworld of New York in the last century (24 photos)

New York, like any other metropolis, is a hotbed of crime, and New York gangs and mafia showdowns are still legendary. We present a collection of photographs from New York's past, so vivid that, looking at, for example, a mass murderer calmly recounting his crimes, you involuntarily want to take a step back, away from the computer screen.

Caution! The material presented in this collection may be disturbing or frightening.







William Patrick Farrell, 25, screams and lunges at a photographer in a police van, March 3, 1955. Farrell had been arrested for the murder of student Ann Yarrow the previous month.





Edward Metelsky and Paul Semenkiewitz, arrested for the murder of a police officer. This photo was taken after they escaped from jail and were captured by police, December 18, 1935.



New York City Police Commissioner William O'Brien smashes illegal pinball machines in Brooklyn, March 30, 1945.



16-year-old Robert Nasczak and 20-year-old Ralph Iamicello are arrested on robbery charges, August 1, 1943.



Frank Lott at the 32nd Precinct, beaten by police for the murder of an officer, September 4, 1961.



New York Daily News photographer Phil Gritzer is pursued by criminals, January 19, 1955.



Police dispose of a drug shipment, April 24, 1963.



Mass murderer Harry Powers, also known as the Clarksburg Butcher, recounts the details of his murders to a detective, September 1, 1931.



Nela Bogacki, the ringleader of a call girl ring, is handcuffed to her accomplice. Both were arrested by the FBI on October 19, 1956.



A man is handcuffed and arrested for first-degree murder. He shot his wife (on her bed) with a hunting rifle on April 20, 1943.



Police officers hold what they believe to be human bones. The remains were discovered in the basement of an apartment building on December 15, 1934.



Two police officers arrest a robbery suspect who attempted to escape via a fire escape on December 19, 1964.



A shooting suspect leaves a hospital with police, November 14, 1949.



A hitman and two of his accomplices pose for a mugshot, 1938.



Police officers inspect a cache of homemade bombs, hand grenades, and bulletproof vests, 1930.



The murder scene of Janice Wiley and Emily Hoffert, 1963.



Police check on a robbery suspect after he resisted arrest, 1953.



Those accused of murdering a teacher await a judge's decision, 1942.



A face-covering witness testifies against the Mafia, 1969.



New York students pose with the stolen Fordham University mascot, 1933.



Customs officers search four crew members arrested on suspicion of smuggling opium worth $1.5 million, 1928.



15-year-old Carmen Martinez resists police during her arrest for accessory after the fact to murder, 1959.



Police examine the crime scene where Al Capone shot and killed a man, 1925.