Johnny Dolan

"Dandy" Johnny Dolan (c. 1849 – April 21, 1876) was a New York City murderer and reputed leader of the Whyos street gang.

According to Herbert Asbury's book The Gangs of New York, Dolan led the Whyos during its glory years of the post-Civil War era.

According to Asbury, Dolan designed a copper eye gouger to be worn on the thumb and used it both in criminal activities and in battles with other gangs.

Dolan himself allegedly owned a personally designed pair of boots with sections of a sharp axe blade embedded in the soles, which he used to stomp a downed victim.

After Noe collapsed, the burglar was even "considerate enough to provide a pillow for the bleeding, mangled head," using rags found on the floor, the Times wrote.

The Times describes Dolan as about 26, 5'7+1⁄2" tall, dark complexioned, "with a brutal face and that singular and massive jaw which led to his detection."

According to underworld lore, Dolan later presented his victim's gouged eyes before other members of the Whyos and was apprehended after he was connected to the stolen watch and chain and the finding of a specialized cane hidden at the crime scene.

Times reports make no mention of gouged eyes or Whyos, but do say that Dolan was arrested after pawning a watch that belonged to Noe.

Represented by attorney William F. Howe, Dolan made lengthy efforts to prevent the sentence being carried out and gained several stays of execution.