Origins & Early Life

Louis Buchalter, known as Louis Lepke, Lepke Buchalter or Judge Louie, (February 6, 1897 – March 4, 1944), was a Jewish-American organized crime figure and head of the Mafia hit squad Murder, Inc., during the 1930s. Buchalter was one of the premier labor union racketeers in New York City during that era. Charles Birger, Dominic Benigno, and Buchalter are the only National Crime Syndicate bosses to be executed after being convicted of murder. Buchalter was executed using the infamous "Old Sparky" electric chair after being sent "up the river" to Sing Sing Correctional Facility.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Buchalter was born on February 6, 1897, into a large Ashkenazi Jewish family on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. His parents emigrated separately from the Russian Empire and married in 1893 in New York, where they had three sons together. His mother called Louis, their second son, "Lepkeleh" ("little Louis" in Yiddish), which later became "Lepke". His father, Barnett (Berl) Buchalter, had been a widower from Pruzhany (now Belarus) who immigrated to the United States in 1890 with three daughters. He was a machinist who operated a hardware store on the Lower East Side.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

His mother, Rose (Reisel...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• 1897 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1897
• February 6 (02-06) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on February 6
• 1944 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1944
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