King of Heists by J. North Conway

Book Description
King of Heists is a spellbinding account of the greatest bank robbery in American history, which took place on October 27, 1878, when thieves broke into the Manhattan Savings Institution and stole nearly $3 million in cash and securities—around $50 million in today’s terms. One of the largest banks in the world, the Manhattan Savings Institution was a depository for the money, jewelry, securities, and other valuables of some of the most prominent, wealthy citizens of New York City.

In an absorbing narrative set against the colorful backdrop of New York in the Gilded Age, J. North Conway tells the story of those who plotted and carried out this infamous robbery, how they did it, and how they were tracked down and captured.

The robbery was planned to the minutest detail by the mysterious and notorious George L. Leslie—a society architect whose double life as the nation’s most prolific bank robber led him to be dubbed the “King of the Bank Robbers.” Despite his reputation, he was never caught and never spent a day in jail.

King of Heists is intertwined with a host of memorable real-life Gilded Age characters, including Fredericka “Marm” Mandelbaum, the queen of New York City’s criminals; John D. Rockefeller, president of Standard Oil; and John Roebling, who undertook a quest to build the greatest bridge in the world—the Brooklyn Bridge. It is also the story of the financial wizard “Jubilee” Jim Fisk, the man responsible for the “Black Friday” stock market crash in 1869; showgirl Josie Mansfield, Fisk’s mistress; and Boss Tweed, corrupt head of New York City’s political machine. It is about the dichotomy between the rich and the poor, the powerful and powerless, the haves and have-nots.

But mostly, King of Heists is about the Manhattan Savings Institution robbery in 1878 and two other legendary heists—each a record-setting event and each carried out under the direction of George Leslie.
A thrilling narrative, King of Heists blends all the richness of history with the thrills of the best fiction.

My thoughts
“King of Heists” by J. North Conway is the story of one George Leslie, America’s greatest bank robber. It is more than then just his life in the latter part of the 19th century, but a glimpse of what New York City and America was like during the Gilded Age. As a person fascinated with the early days of New York, I found this book to be quite informative. It is an enjoyable read for history fans.