Lew Baker

Lew Baker
Born	Lewis Baker c. 1825 Wales, United Kingdom
Residence	New York City, New York, United States
Nationality	Welsh-American
Occupation	Police officer
Employer	Tammany Hall
Known for	Tammany Hall "slugger" and murderer of William "Bill the Butcher" Poole.

Lewis "Lew" Baker (born c. 1825, date of death unknown) was a patrolman in the New York Police Department who was simultaneously employed as a "slugger" for Tammany Hall. He was involved in voter intimidation and election fraud during the 1840s and 1850s. A close friend and associate of Irish mob boss John Morrissey, Baker frequently battled supporters of the nativist Know-Nothing movement for over a decade. He is most remembered however as the assassin of William "Bill the Butcher" Poole. Baker shot and killed Poole in a Broadway saloon during a brawl. Both Baker and Morrissey were placed on trial for murder, but were acquitted.

Born in 1825, Baker immigrated to the United States from Wales sometime around 1840 where he became an officer with the New York Police Department. It was during this time that he became acquainted with John Morrissey while he was an immigrant runner and later joined him as a "slugger" for Tammany Hall. He soon became involved in violent fighting against the many nativist organizations of the period, in particular, the Bowery Boys. In January 1855, Baker and Jim Turner entered Platt's Hall and became involved in a verbal altercation with prizefighter Tom Hyer "calling the fighter vile names". The argument escalated until Turner drew his pistol and shot Hyer in the neck. Hyer fired back but missed hitting the wall instead. Putting away his weapon, Hyer attacked his assailants and dragged Baker out into the street but the fight came to an end when a police officer arrived. The fight was broken up, but no charges were brought against the three.

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