Bernard Friery
Bernard Friery | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 17, 1844 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Died | August 17, 1866 (aged 22) New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Hanging |
| Other names | Barney Friary |
| Occupation | Saloon keeper |
| Known for | New York criminal and underworld figure who murdered Harry Lazarus in 1865. |
Bernard "Barney" Friery (February 17, 1844 – August 17, 1866) was a New York City criminal and independent gang leader during the 1850s and 1860s.
Early life
Bernard "Barney" Friery was born on February 17, 1844, in New York City to Irish parents.[1][2] At a young age, he worked at a butcher on 18th street and 3rd avenue for some years.[1][2] He also worked as an electioneer to help local ward candidates.[1] He invested his money in a saloon called "10-40 Loan" on East Houston Street and worked there as a barkeep.[1][3] He was Catholic.[1]
Murder
Along five or six others, including James Clark, James MacDonald and John "California Jack" Gallen, Friery entered the "X 10 U 8" (read: extenuate) saloon, adjacent to Friery's saloon on East Houston Street between 3 and 4 A.M. on January 3, 1865. The saloon was owned by boxer Henry "Harry" Lazarus.[1][4] One of the men, California Jack, offered a wager of $100 challenging anyone in the bar to a fight with one of the gang members. When no one responded to their offer, California Jack offered $10 to any man who could take the owner Henry Lazarus's pistol away from him. Having no pistol on him, Lazarus declined their offer.[3]
Reportedly "beastly drunk", Friery then walked toward Lazarus offering to shake his hand and, when he refused, stabbed the saloon owner in the throat with a dirk, killing him instantly.[2][3][5] He was arrested hours later at another saloon.[1]
Trial and execution
Friery was arraigned in the Court of General Sessions before Recorder of New York City John T. Hoffman and Judge Abraham Russell.[1][4][5][6] His lawyers were John McKeon, John Sedgwick, and former judge Sidney H. Stuart.[6][7] He was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to death on February 17, 1865.[1][5] He was executed by hanging at The Tombs on August 17, 1866.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Two Executions". The New York Times. August 18, 1866. p. 8. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
- ^ a b c "The Condemned at the Tombs". New-York Tribune. August 13, 1866. p. 5. Retrieved January 26, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c "The Lazarus Murder". New York Herald. January 5, 1865. p. 8. Retrieved January 26, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "On Tuesday morning..." The New York Times. January 7, 1865. p. 4. Retrieved January 26, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c "The Lazarus Homicide". New York Herald. February 18, 1865. p. 8. Retrieved January 26, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "The Lazarus Homicide". New York Herald. February 14, 1865. p. 1. Retrieved January 26, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "The Lazarus Homicide". The New York Times. September 29, 1865. p. 2. Retrieved January 26, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
Further reading
- Asbury, Herbert. The Gangs of New York. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1928. ISBN 1-56025-275-8
- Byrnes, Thomas. 1886 Professional Criminals of America. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1969.