John D. "Traveling Mike" Grady (died September 30, 1880) was a New York criminal and, as leader of the
Grady Gang The Grady Gang was a New York City sneak thief gang during the 1860s. Organized by fence (criminal), fence John D. Grady, John D. "Traveling Mike" Grady following the American Civil War, the Grady Gang operated in Broadway theatre, Broadway's "Thiev ...
, financed and organized many of the major burglaries of the 19th century. One of the most prominent fences in the underworld, he was a rival of
Fredericka Mandelbaum
Fredericka "Marm" Mandelbaum (March 25, 1825 – February 26, 1894)Holub, Rona"Fredericka Mandelbaum."In ''Immigrant Entrepreneurship: German-American Business Biographies, 1720 to the Present'', vol. 2, edited by William J. Hausman. German Histo ...
.
Although a diamond broker by profession, Grady was known in New York and throughout the United States a major figure in the criminal world during the mid-to-late 19th century. He reportedly made a frequent habit of carrying a satchel which he often claimed contained valuables from watches to diamonds and jewelry which he boasted valued between $125,000-$150,000.
His body was found in his
Sixth Avenue
Sixth Avenue – also known as Avenue of the Americas, although this name is seldom used by New Yorkers, p.24 – is a major thoroughfare in New York City's borough of Manhattan, on which traffic runs northbound, or "uptown". It is commercial ...
office and, although relatives believed his death to be foul play, an autopsy reported he had died of
cardiac congestion related to his suffering from
pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of productive or dry cough, chest pain, fever, and difficulty breathing. The severity ...
during the previous months.
References
*''Banker Of The Burglars; Death Of John D. Grady, Receiver Of Stolen Goods''.
New York Times. 4 October 1880
{{DEFAULTSORT:Grady, John D.
Year of birth missing
1880 deaths
Gang members of New York City