The New York City Police Department offered Mary job security, a very decent salary, the promise of a pension, plus she truly enjoyed the work. Being a police officer was much more exciting than anything she'd done before and she was good at it.
Once she began, there was no going back.
Things got even better in 1934 when policewomen were permitted to carry guns. On average, Mary hit the target 89 out of a possible 100.
Mary spent her early years arresting nudists at Coney Island and assisting in undercover sting operations designed to crack down on gypsy fortune tellers. On one occasion Mary was instructed by Judge Louis Brodsky to make sure 60-year-old gypsy Marie Katherina took a bath and fined the woman $10 for soap but it was still dangerous work.
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| Mary, 1937 |
On March 8, 1935, Mary tried to arrest a masher at the Savoy Theatre on 34th Street and was shoved down a flight of stairs. The damage was a sprained left ankle, abrasions of the left knee and a possible fracture of the left arm.
On October 1, 1950 while arresting a man who Mary said was molesting women at Radio City Music Hall, she was punched in the mouth and she grappled with the suspect until 2 ushers jumped in to assist.
Mary really came into her own when, in September of 1935, she was one of four women assigned to The Pickpocket Squad. In addition to Mary Shanley, the squad welcomed Bertha Recht, Anna Orr and Helen Faulheiber.
As that department's Captain William J. Raftis explained, "Detecting pickpockets is an art. There are only a few types of persons capable of doing it successfully. The detective must be on the alert every minute yet act naturally enough not to attract attention."
Mary had a photographic memory, patience, determination and a keen eye for suspicious behavior so she truly excelled. She could quickly spot colorful repeated offenders such as Chinatown Charlie, Tillie Light-Fingers and Greenhorn Clara.
Mary spent her days patrolling the department stores all along Fifth Avenue, subway stations, churches and movie theaters. Basically, any place were people would be so absorbed in what was going on around them that they became prime targets for pickpockets aka "dips" and "seat-tippers." Seat-tippers are thieves who ply their trade at movie houses. The thief sits a row behind seats containing unattended pocketbooks and they use their feet to tip back the seats, causing the pocketbooks to drop down to the floor.
Often, as a way to better blend in with the crowds, Mary would bring her young niece with her. While this kind of move would be frowned upon today, back then it was considered ingenious. Mary looked like a mother shopping with her young daughter.
Mary made several high profile arrests throughout her career and the press couldn't get enough, which makes her an easier person to research.
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| Mary - New York World-Telegram, 1937 |
In no particular order, here are a few of the highlights -
Finally, Mary approached the two men and announced they were under arrest. Neither of them took Mary seriously until she brandished her badge and weapon.
They went without a struggle and allowed themselves to be transported by cab to the stationhouse. Mary's instincts proved right. John Finegold and Stanley Warzyusky had formed a friendship while inmates together in West Virginia and they admitted that they had been planning to commit robbery but hadn't decided on a target. The newspapers and police department praised Mary for her courage, intuition and determination.
At their arraignment, the charges against Finegold and Warzyusky were dropped from carrying concealed weapons to loitering in crowds, an act forbidden to known criminals. They were sentenced to 100 days in the Workhouse.
Once West Virginia authorities were notified of Finegold's NY arrest, Finegold's parole was revoked and he was ordered to serve out the remaining three years of the 8 year sentence he had received in 1930 for breaking and entering.
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| Conti, Shanley and Greenberg on their way to court - Library of Congress photo |
One of Mary's most celebrated arrests happened when she was off-duty.
On June 8, 1937, Mary noticed two suspicious characters, James Conti and Jack Greenberg, in a subway station and decided to follow them to the street level. According to Mary, "I just didn't like their looks."
At the corner of 8th Ave and 45th St, Mary announced she was a police officer and told them they were under arrest.
Conti surrendered without a struggle but Greenberg made a run for it so Mary fired two shots over his head. A passing fireman escorted Greenberg back to Mary. The charge for both was attempted grand larceny. Mary was right to think they were worth keeping an eye on. Between them, Conti and Greenberg had 81 arrests and 43 convictions.
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| Mary with Mayor LaGuardia |
There was no rebuke for discharging her firearm on a crowded street. In fact, 9 days after the incident, Mary received a commendation from Mayor LaGuardia and was promoted from Third Grade Detective to Second Grade.
This promotion increased her annual salary by $180.00.
This promotion increased her annual salary by $180.00.
Conti and Greenberg were sentenced to 60 days in the Workhouse, fined $50.00 each and Judge William A. Farrell advised them to leave the state once they were released. "You may go west young men, to the dust bowls, where there are few crowds and no pockets worth picking."
By 1939, Mary Shanley was one of the department most respected female officers and in January of that year she was assigned to travel to London to assist in what she referred to as a diamond-switch case. As Mary explained to a reporter, "That's when a dealer shows a woman good diamonds and delivers bad ones. This was a four thousand dollar job." It was the first time a female detective had been sent to Europe on a case.Mary made the most of the opportunity too. She told Associated Press reporter Joan Durham, "I gained 25 pounds on my trip to Europe. Did I take any time off in Europe? Sure. Two days. I went up from London to see the house where my mother was born in Ireland."
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| Mary in Southampton, preparing to board the liner Europe and return to NY - Getty Images |
The experience and whatever knowledge Mary gained on that assignment served her well because just months later Mary was instrumental in recovering a portion of gems stolen during a Philadelphia abduction and robbery.
On February 28, 1939, in Philadelphia, Margaret Breyer, the wife of William J. Breyer, Jr. and her mother-in-law Edith Breyer (of the ice cream Breyers) were on their way home from a night at the opera when their car was set upon at a stoplight by three masked men.
The Breyer's chauffeur Emil Konrad was knocked unconscious by blows to the head. One of the assailants took over the wheel and drove the Breyer's car to a remote location. The women were robbed at gunpoint of their jewelry and ermine furs. The value of these items range from $88,000 to $250,000, depending upon with report you read. The thieves apparently expressed their disappointment at not find a celebrated $75,000 pearl necklace on the neck of the older Mrs. Breyer.
The three men were picked up by a fourth man driving a getaway car.
Ultimately charged with the robbery were Dominic Accobacco, James Cummings, Charles Kligerman and John Sharpe.
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| NY Daily News photo - December 23, 1945 |
The stolen jewelry was tracked to New York and Mary spent 42 days working undercover as a buyer. Mary was so convincing that a suspicious and law-abiding vendor reported her inquisitiveness to the police at the Old Slip Station (now home to the New York Police Museum). Officers were assigned to trail Mary, not realizing she was an NYPD detective.
On May 12, 1939, Mary arrested five New Yorkers involved in fencing the stolen gems.
Her investigation finally lead to Robert "Chicago Bob" Nelson aka "The Walking Pawnshop" and she found $3,500.00 worth of stolen gems in Nelson's possession. Mary was credited with having recovered $73,500,00 worth of property from this robbery.
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| Mary and Robert Nelson, 1939 - photo from the Akron Beacon Journal - July 2, 1939 |
Mary, who wore a double silver fox stole to the arraignment, told reporters "The worst part of the job was wearing those old clothes but I was posing as an installment saleswoman in the gem trade, down in the Bowery and Maiden Lane, and I had to look the part. I couldn't get cleaned up. I was away from home for six weeks, every minute of the time."
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| Daily News - May 14, 1939 |
Mary's efforts were rewards; she earned herself another promotion.
Mary Shanley was now a Detective First Grade and her annual salary was $4,000.00. In today's money (because who doesn't love that), that would be roughly $72,000.
Mary's "stop or I'll shoot" method of making an arrest was the stuff of legend. As she said, "You have the gun to use, and you may just as well use it."
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| Mary - New York World-Telegram, 1937 |
Times Square (1937), Jamaica Avenue in Queens (1950), on the steps of St. Patrick's Cathedral (1953) or the Capitol Theatre at Broadway and 51st (1955).
She never actually shot anyone but you have to wonder where those bullets ended up.
The only time Mary got in trouble for using her weapon was at the Spanish Rail bar in Jackson Height, Queens on March 24, 1941.
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| Mary and Jiggs, photo capture from "Sleuthing Mary Shanley" |
Mary was living in the neighborhood at the time and had stopped in at the tavern with her pet dog Jiggs around 3 AM. The bartender refused to serve her despite Mary showing her badge and asking "Don't you know who I am?" Then another patron, John Hoejus, said something disparaging about the Irish so Mary pulled her gun and fired a shot into the lower part of the bar. She would later testify that Hoejus had made a move towards his pocket and she that thought he was reaching for a weapon.
Mary was immediately demoted from detective to policewoman and headlines proclaimed "Lady Sleuth Shoots $1,000 Off Her Own Pay."
Mary was assigned to work as a police matron, fined five days pay and placed on a year's probation.
Mary was assigned to work as a police matron, fined five days pay and placed on a year's probation.
In April 1942, Police Commissioner Valentine restored Mary to her former position and she was back patrolling department stores, movie theaters and St. Patrick's Cathedral, which apparently was a hotbed of criminal activity because Mary made multiple arrest there over the years. Some of the criminals were easy to spot because they were repeat offenders.
A favorite arrest of mine is one Mary made on April 13, 1954 while working with fellow detective Margaret Kearney. Mary and Margaret were assigned to St. Patrick's Cathedral, they were working 10 hours shifts, keeping an eye open for pickpockets and along came 31-year-old Audry Dryer. Audry had an arrest record dating back to 1944. As Mary hustled her out of the church she asked, "Where ya been Audry? I've been expecting you since Lent started."
Audry replied "I've been sick. I had an operation at Wickerhsam Hospital and just got out."
The police verified this with the hospital and while it was true Audry had been a patient there, it was under an assumed name. She had used a stolen Blue Cross medical card to pay for the hospitalization.
The police verified this with the hospital and while it was true Audry had been a patient there, it was under an assumed name. She had used a stolen Blue Cross medical card to pay for the hospitalization.
Things didn't go quite so smoothly for Mary the year before.
It was September 20, 1953. Mary had been assigned to St. Patrick's Cathedral after six churchgoers reported thefts totaling over $1000.00.
Mary tried to take down a two person team of pickpockets as they exited the building following the 10 AM High Mass. All three were on the steps of the church when Mary grabbed ahold of 26-year-old Estella Diaz Gonzalez with one hand and aimed her gun at the male accomplice. "If he runs I'll shoot him" was the warning. Estella threw herself at Mary to protect her boyfriend and a struggle ensued. Mary squeezed off two shots at the man as he ducked back into the church and made his getaway.
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| Mary with Estella - 1953 AP Wire photo |
On February 5, 1955, Mary Shanley was looking for seat-tippers inside the Capitol Theatre when she saw a familiar face. It was Henry Orlando Martin, a man she'd arrested twice before and he didn't let her down. Mary caught Henry in the act and told him "You're under arrest Henry. Kneel down, I'm going to put on the cuffs."
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| John Duffy - Daily News - Feb 5, 1955 |
Henry was a little less compliant this time. He punched Mary in the chest with both his fists, she staggered backwards and Henry ran towards the lobby. She fired a warning shot which got everyone's attention. Mary caught up with Henry and they grappled but when
he got away from her a second time, retired cop John Duffy who was just there to see the movie, "Vera Cruz," stuck his foot out as Henry ran up the aisle. Henry landed on his ear and Duffy assisted with the arrest.
Mary and John Duffy both escorted Henry to the 47th Street Station - Duffy's old stationhouse.
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| Mary escorting Henry Orlando Martin to the stationhouse - Daily News - January 3, 1995 |
On November 18, 1950, Mary had clocked some suspicious behavior from three men who were ducking in and out of stores along Jamaica Avenue in Queens. It was in Bonds that she saw what they were up to - shoplifting size 39 men's suits and concealing them inside a box one of them were carrying.
When they exited the store, Mary announced herself and told them they were under arrest. Two of the three men ran and Mary squeezed off an ineffectual shot. She ran after and managed to snag one of the two fleeing thieves and reunited him with his partner who had stood outside the store. Apparently, he was too afraid to move.
She escorted Shee Yazemery and Carlos Villasenor down to the stationhouse and they were charged with grand larceny and possession of burglar tools.
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| Daily News - November 19, 1950 |
Specchio was mentally disturbed young man and frequent Creedmoor patient. He had been released into his father's care on January 28th of that year but ended up in Macy's Dept. Store in Jamaica on March 6, 1950 waving a gun and frightening the customers. Mary came up behind him and yelled "Drop that gun boy!" And he did.
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| photo from Brooklyn Daily Eagle - March 7, 950 |
She was 61 years old and had made over 1000 arrests in her 26 year career. Mary had even been named "Woman of the Month" by True Detective Magazine in 1954. When asked if she would do it all again, if given the chance, Mary replied "I would indeed. I have no regrets whatever."
Mary was either never married, as some websites report, or according to her niece Mary, had a short-lived union that produced no children.
Mary moved to Miller Place on Long Island following her retirement but 2 years later she was living in a trailer park in Florida and enjoying the sunshine. "I love it here but there are times when I long to be back in the middle of all that excitement."
Ultimately, Florida was not for Mary and at some point she moved back to New York.
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| Mary Shanley, 2 years into her retirement - photo from Fort Lauderdale News, March 14, 1960 |
Mary Shanley died July 3, 1989 at the age of 93 and is buried St. Charles Cemetery in Farmingdale, NY.
I highly recommend the documentary "Sleuthing Mary Shanley" by Patrick Mullins who had unlimited access to family photos, home movies and the now adult niece that would often accompany Mary Shanley on her department store stakeouts since Patrick is her son.
My only complaint is that, at 24 minutes, it's too short. I've uploaded the trailer to the As Close To Crime YouTube Channel. Here's the link - https://youtu.be/wSuPJwm1yMg
The DVD can be purchased thru www.cherrylaneproductions.com
Also of interest - In 2016, a one woman show about Mary Shanley called "Dead-Shot Mary" had a limited (6 weeks) run in NYC.My only complaint is that, at 24 minutes, it's too short. I've uploaded the trailer to the As Close To Crime YouTube Channel. Here's the link - https://youtu.be/wSuPJwm1yMg
The DVD can be purchased thru www.cherrylaneproductions.com
Mary's exploits are covered briefly by James Lardner and Thomas Reppetto in their 2001 book "NYPD: A City and Its Police." Here's an anecdote taken directly from the book - "Near the end of he career, while patrolling Fifth Avenue, she saw a beautiful blond shopper being followed by a crowd. Mary moved in and attached herself to the woman, and for the next two hours Grace Kelly shopped in safety."
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