All About: Rose Madden

Who was Rose Madden?

Rose Elizabeth Madden (18941967) was an American madam, speakeasy owner, and crime figure active in the New York City underworld during the early and mid-20th century.

Madden was born in New York City's Hell's Kitchen neighborhood, to Irish immigrant parents. She began her career in crime as a pickpocket and prostitute, but quickly rose through the ranks of the underworld, becoming one of the most powerful madams in New York City.

Madden owned several speakeasies and brothels, and was known for her lavish lifestyle and close ties to organized crime figures such as Lucky Luciano and Meyer Lansky. She was also a major figure in the Tammany Hall political machine, and used her influence to protect her criminal empire.

Madden was arrested numerous times, but always managed to avoid serious jail time. She was finally convicted of tax evasion in 1951, and served a short prison sentence. After her release from prison, Madden retired from crime and lived a quiet life until her death in 1967.

Madden's story is a fascinating glimpse into the world of organized crime in New York City during the early and mid-20th century. She was a powerful and influential figure, who played a major role in the city's underworld.

Rose Madden

Rose Madden was a powerful and influential figure in the New York City underworld during the early and mid-20th century. Some key aspects of her life and career include:

• Criminal empire: Madden owned several speakeasies and brothels, and was a major figure in organized crime.
• Political connections: She was a major figure in the Tammany Hall political machine, and used her influence to protect her criminal empire.
• Arrests and convictions: Madden was arrested numerous times, but always managed to avoid serious jail time.
• Retirement: After her release from prison in 1951, Madden retired from crime and lived a quiet life until her death in 1967.
• Legacy: Madden's story is a fascinating glimpse into the world of organized crime in New York City during the early and mid-20th century.

Madden's story is a reminder of the power and influence that organized crime figures can have in a city. She was able to build a criminal empire that lasted for decades, and she used her political connections to protect herself from prosecution. Her story is also a reminder of the importance of law enforcement in combating organized crime.

1. Criminal empire

Rose Madden's criminal empire was a major part of her life and career. She owned several speakeasies and brothels, and was a major figure in organized crime. This allowed her to amass a great deal of wealth and power.

Madden's criminal empire was also a major source of protection for her. She was able to use her connections to organized crime figures to protect herself from arrest and prosecution. This allowed her to continue to operate her criminal empire for many years.

The connection between Madden's criminal empire and her personal life is complex. On the one hand, her criminal empire gave her a great deal of wealth and power. On the other hand, it also exposed her to a great deal of danger. Ultimately, Madden's criminal empire was a major part of her life and career, and it had a profound impact on her personal life.

2. Political connections

Rose Madden's political connections were a major part of her life and career. She was a major figure in the Tammany Hall political machine, and used her influence to protect her criminal empire.

Tammany Hall was a powerful political machine that controlled New York City politics for much of the 19th and 20th centuries. Madden was able to use her connections to Tammany Hall to protect her criminal empire from arrest and prosecution. She was also able to use her influence to obtain favorable treatment from the police and the courts.

Madden's political connections were essential to her ability to maintain her criminal empire. Without her connections, she would have been much more vulnerable to arrest and prosecution. Her connections also allowed her to expand her criminal empire and to become one of the most powerful crime figures in New York City.

The connection between Madden's political connections and her criminal empire is a reminder of the power of political corruption. Political corruption can allow criminals to operate with impunity and to expand their criminal empires. It can also lead to a loss of faith in government and in the rule of law.

3. Arrests and convictions

Rose Madden was arrested numerous times throughout her career, but she always managed to avoid serious jail time. This was due in part to her political connections and her ability to pay off judges and police officers. It was also due to the fact that she was a woman, and the courts were often reluctant to send a woman to prison.

Madden's ability to avoid serious jail time was a major factor in her success as a crime figure. It allowed her to continue to operate her criminal empire for many years, and to become one of the most powerful crime figures in New York City.

The connection between Madden's arrests and convictions and her success as a crime figure is a reminder of the power of corruption. Corruption can allow criminals to operate with impunity and to expand their criminal empires. It can also lead to a loss of faith in government and in the rule of law.

4. Retirement

After her release from prison in 1951, Rose Madden retired from crime and lived a quiet life until her death in 1967. This marked a significant change from her previous life as a powerful and influential crime figure. There are several factors that may have contributed to her decision to retire, including:

• Age and health: Madden was in her late 50s when she was released from prison. She may have been feeling the effects of age and ill health, and may have decided that it was time to retire from her life of crime.
• Prison experience: Madden's experience in prison may have convinced her that she did not want to return to a life of crime. Prison can be a very difficult and dangerous place, and Madden may have decided that she did not want to risk going back.
• Change of heart: It is also possible that Madden simply had a change of heart. She may have realized that her life of crime was not what she wanted anymore, and may have decided to retire to live a quiet life.

Whatever the reasons for her retirement, Madden's decision to leave behind her life of crime is a reminder that it is never too late to change. Even after a long and successful career in crime, Madden was able to turn her life around and live a quiet and peaceful life.

5. Legacy

Rose Madden's story provides a unique and valuable perspective on the world of organized crime in New York City during the early and mid-20th century. As a powerful and influential crime figure, Madden was intimately involved in the city's underworld, and her story sheds light on the inner workings of organized crime during this period.

• Madden's criminal empire: Madden owned and operated several speakeasies and brothels, and she was a major figure in the city's organized crime scene. Her story provides insights into the structure and operation of organized crime in New York City, as well as the methods used by crime figures to maintain their power and influence.
• Madden's political connections: Madden was closely connected to the Tammany Hall political machine, and she used her influence to protect her criminal empire and advance her own interests. Her story highlights the close relationship between organized crime and politics in New York City during this period, and the ways in which crime figures were able to use their political connections to their advantage.
• Madden's legal troubles: Madden was arrested numerous times throughout her career, but she always managed to avoid serious jail time. Her story provides insights into the criminal justice system of the time, and the ways in which crime figures were able to manipulate the system to their advantage.
• Madden's retirement: After her release from prison in 1951, Madden retired from crime and lived a quiet life until her death in 1967. Her story provides insights into the motivations of crime figures who decide to leave behind their life of crime, and the challenges they face in making this transition.

Rose Madden's story is a complex and fascinating one, and it provides a valuable glimpse into the world of organized crime in New York City during the early and mid-20th century. Her story is a reminder of the power and influence that organized crime figures can have in a city, and the challenges that law enforcement faces in combating organized crime.

FAQs about Rose Madden

This section provides answers to frequently asked questions about Rose Madden, a powerful and influential crime figure in New York City during the early and mid-20th century.

Question 1: Who was Rose Madden?

Answer: Rose Madden was an American madam, speakeasy owner, and crime figure active in the New York City underworld during the early and mid-20th century.

Question 2: What was Rose Madden's criminal empire like?

Answer: Madden owned several speakeasies and brothels, and was a major figure in organized crime. She used her connections to corrupt politicians and law enforcement to protect her empire.

Question 3: How did Rose Madden avoid serious jail time despite her criminal activities?

Answer: Madden used her political connections and wealth to pay off judges and police officers. She also benefited from the fact that she was a woman, as the courts were often reluctant to send women to prison.

Question 4: Why did Rose Madden retire from crime?

Answer: Madden retired from crime after her release from prison in 1951. She may have been motivated by her age, health, and a desire to leave behind her life of crime.

Question 5: What is Rose Madden's legacy?

Answer: Madden's story provides a fascinating glimpse into the world of organized crime in New York City during the early and mid-20th century. Her story is a reminder of the power and influence that crime figures can have in a city, and the challenges that law enforcement faces in combating organized crime.

Summary

Rose Madden was a complex and fascinating figure who played a major role in the world of organized crime in New York City during the early and mid-20th century. Her story provides valuable insights into the structure and operation of organized crime during this period, as well as the relationship between organized crime and politics. Madden's story is also a reminder of the power of corruption and the challenges that law enforcement faces in combating organized crime.

Transition to the next article section

The next section of this article will explore the impact of organized crime on New York City during the early and mid-20th century.

Conclusion

Rose Madden's story provides a fascinating glimpse into the world of organized crime in New York City during the early and mid-20th century. She was a powerful and influential figure who used her political connections and wealth to build a criminal empire that lasted for decades. Madden's story is a reminder of the power and influence that organized crime figures can have in a city, and the challenges that law enforcement faces in combating organized crime.

Madden's story also highlights the close relationship between organized crime and politics in New York City during this period. Madden was able to use her political connections to protect her criminal empire and advance her own interests. This relationship between organized crime and politics allowed crime figures to operate with impunity and expand their criminal empires.

Rose Madden's story is a complex and cautionary tale. It is a reminder of the dangers of organized crime and the importance of law enforcement in combating organized crime. It is also a reminder of the power of corruption and the importance of holding public officials accountable.