Mallet Murphy

Mallet Murphy was the pseudonym of a popular American saloon keeper and underworld figure in Hell's [Kitchen, New York] during the late 1890s up until the start of the 20th century. His particular nickname was attributed to his use of a wooden mallet as a weapon against unruly customers and for defending his bar against criminals. His Battle Row saloon, located at Thirty-Ninth Street between Tenth and Eleventh Avenue, was used as the headquarters of the Gopher Gang during their early years.
Mallet Murphy has appeared in several historical novels including A Long Line of Dead Men by Lawrence Block, Cold Hit by Linda Fairstein and Michael [Walsh (author)|Michael Walsh]'s And All the Saints.