The Life and Crimes of “Old Mother” Mandelbaum: The Queen of New York’s Underworld

Fredericka Mandelbaum, known as “Old Mother” Mandelbaum, was one of the most powerful crime bosses in 19th-century America. With sharp business skills and a talent for staying one step ahead of the law, she built a criminal empire as the “Queen of Fences”—a mastermind who bought and sold stolen goods.

Her story is filled with mystery, danger, and a legacy that still fascinates historians today.

From Poverty to Power: Mandelbaum’s Early Life

Fredericka “Marm” Mandelbaum was born in 1827 in Hanover, Prussia (now Germany). She grew up in a time of hardship, where many families struggled to survive. At 23, she moved to New York City with her husband, Wolf Mandelbaum, settling in Kleindeutschland (“Little Germany”) on the Lower East Side. Life here was tough: families crammed into tiny apartments, and children worked odd jobs to help pay for food.

Mandelbaum and her husband started as street peddlers, selling rags, old clocks, and scraps of fabric. They worked 14-hour days but barely earned enough to feed their four children. Everything changed after the Panic of 1857, a financial crisis that left thousands jobless. Desperate kids turned to stealing, and Mandelbaum saw an opportunity. She began buying stolen goods—like jewelry, silk, and watches—from young thieves and reselling them for profit.

Building a Criminal Empire

By the 1860s, Mandelbaum opened a dry goods store on Clinton Street as a front for her illegal business. Behind the shop, she became the go-to “fence” for stolen items. Thieves trusted her because she paid fairly and kept their secrets. She even mentored young criminals, teaching them how to pick pockets, crack safes, and avoid police.




Mandelbaum’s success came from her smart strategies:

• Legal Knowledge: She studied law to avoid getting caught.
• Powerful Allies: She bribed police, judges, and politicians (like Tammany Hall leaders) for protection.
• Hidden Storage: She used secret warehouses and a trick chimney in her home to hide stolen goods.

Her network included famous criminals like Sophie Lyons (a con artist) and Adam Worth (the “Napoleon of Crime”). She also hired lawyers like “Big Bill” Howe to defend her allies in court.

The “Crime School” and Downfall

Mandelbaum’s boldest move was opening a crime school on Grand Street. Here, kids learned pickpocketing, burglary, and blackmail. But when a police officer’s son enrolled, she shut it down to avoid attention.

In 1884, her luck ran out. The Pinkerton Detective Agency planted an undercover agent, Gustave Frank, who tricked her into buying stolen silk. Police raided her warehouses, finding mountains of stolen goods. Mandelbaum was arrested but jumped bail and fled to Canada. She lived there as “Madame Fuchs,” running a hat shop and donating to charity—but rumors say she secretly returned to crime.

Death and Mystery

Mandelbaum died in 1894, but her death was shrouded in mystery. Some claimed her coffin was filled with rocks, and she was still alive in Canada. Others believed she faked her death to return to New York. Whatever the truth, her legacy as the “Queen of Fences” remains unforgettable.




“Old Mother” Mandelbaum’s life was a mix of ruthlessness and cleverness. From a poor immigrant to a crime queen, she outsmarted the law for decades. Her tale reminds us of the gritty reality behind New York’s Gilded Age—a world where survival often meant breaking the rules.

FAQs About “Old Mother” Mandelbaum

1. Who was Fredericka Mandelbaum?

Fredericka “Old Mother” Mandelbaum was a 19th-century crime boss known for buying and selling stolen goods. She mentored thieves, bribed officials, and became one of New York’s most powerful criminals.

2. How did Mandelbaum become a crime boss?

Starting as a poor immigrant, Mandelbaum built connections with street thieves. After the Panic of 1857, she used her business skills to create a network for trading stolen items.

3. What was Mandelbaum’s relationship with the police?

She bribed officers and politicians for protection. Many turned a blind eye to her operations in exchange for money or favors.

4. Did Mandelbaum ever get caught?

Yes—in 1884, Pinkerton detectives trapped her with stolen silk. She fled to Canada before trial and lived there under a fake name.

5. What happened to her family?

Her son Julius was arrested with her but later released. Her children stayed in New York, though their lives remain mostly unknown.

6. How much was Mandelbaum worth?

She earned 5–5–10 million (equivalent to 150–150–300 million today) by selling stolen goods like jewelry and art.

7. Was Mandelbaum really a “Queen of Fences”?

Yes. A “fence” buys stolen goods to resell. Mandelbaum dominated this trade, making her the most powerful fence in America.

8. Did she work with other famous criminals?

Yes, including Adam Worth (art thief) and Sophie Lyons (con artist). She also hired lawyers Howe & Hummell to protect her network.

9. What was Mandelbaum’s “crime school”?

She taught kids pickpocketing and burglary. The school closed after a police chief’s son enrolled, drawing too much attention.

10. How did Mandelbaum hide stolen goods?

She used warehouses, hidden rooms, and a chimney with a fake back. Police often searched her home but found nothing.

11. Why did she flee to Canada?

To avoid prison after her 1884 arrest. She lived as “Madame Fuchs” but may have continued crime secretly.

12. What was Mandelbaum’s legacy?

She proved women could lead in crime, inspired fictional characters, and showed how corruption allowed underworld empires to thrive.

13. How did Mandelbaum die?

She died in 1894, but rumors claim she faked her death. Her coffin’s contents were never confirmed.

14. Was Mandelbaum compared to Fagin from Oliver Twist?

Yes. Like Fagin, she trained child thieves. However, descriptions of her often included anti-Semitic stereotypes.

15. Why is Mandelbaum important today?

Her story highlights inequality, immigration struggles, and how crime networks exploited legal loopholes.