THIS DAY IN (CRIME) HISTORY: FEBRUARY 9, 1932

On this date in 1932, bootlegger, kidnapper, and hitman Vincent "Mad Dog" Coll was gunned down (this would constitute "death by natural causes" in Coll's line of work). Coll had worked for Dutch Schultz, and was hired by Salvatore Maranzano to kill Lucky Luciano. Luciano, living up to his nickname, got wind of the hit and sent his own trigger-men to the scheduled meeting with Maranzano. By the time Coll showed up to do the job, Maranzano was already dead. Having no idea he was Maranzano's designated hitter, the trigger men let Mad Dog go. Luciano wasn't the only one that got lucky that day. To sweeten the deal, Coll had been paid 25K of his 50 grand fee in advance. Not bad for a day of non-work.

Coll's luck ran out seven months later. He was in a drug store phone booth. Legend has it that he was on the phone with Hell's Kitchen mob boss Owney Madden, and that Madden kept Coll on the phone until the shooter--probably working for Dutch Schultz--could get in place. The shooter put enough lead into Coll to kill a whole pack of mad dogs. Fifteen bullets were recovered from Coll's body. A bunch more went right through him. "Can you here me now?"

Wikipedia article on Coll

Vincent Mad Dog Coll's grave

Gangster City website - Photo of the phone booth where Coll was gunned down

Gangster City, by Patrick Downey (Paperback edition, coming to a bookstore near you in March 2009)