New book on 19th century NYC crime boss Mrs. Mandelbaum

A new book tells the story of a German Jewish immigrant in 19^th Century New York who built and ran America’s first major organized crime organization.

The Talented Mrs. Mandelbaum chronicles the life of a Fredericka Mandelbaum who spent several years as an impoverished street peddler before becoming a buyer and seller of stolen goods. She was also an instigator of bank burglaries. WBGO’s Jon Kalish spoke to the author of the new biography…