Philip "Red Phil" Davidson (1882 – date unknown) was an American criminal and underworld figure in New York City during the early 20th century.
A known associate of Jack Sirocco, a lieutenant in Paul Kelly's Five Points Gang, he was responsible for the 1912 murder of Eastman Gang leader "Big" Jack Zelig, though at the time of his arrest police were unable to find a police record.
[1] A retired Russian Jewish fruit peddler living at 111 E. Seventh Street, Davidson shot and killed New York gang leader "Big" Jack Zelig while on a Thirteenth Street trolley on October 5, 1912 following an altercation during a card game at a local cafe.
[1] New York State Judge Goff sentenced Davidson to 20 years[3] in prison after he pleaded guilty to second degree murder.
His statement, which he had first told to his cellmate, would have shown that the money used to hire the Lenox Avenue Gang came from Zelig, rather than Becker.