Harry Strauss
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Harry "Pittsburgh Phil" Strauss (July 28, 1909 - June 12, 1941) was a contract killer for Murder, Inc. in the 1930s. He tried to be creative in his killings.
Harry Strauss was born in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. In the 1930s he resorted to assaults, larceny, and drug dealing. He was arrested 18 times but was never convicted.
Strauss’ favorite weapons were guns, ice picks, and strangling rope, although he never carried any weapons unless he was doing a killing. In one case he reputedly intended to kill his victim with a fire axe he found in the spot. He might kill his victim in public. One of his victims he tied to a pinball machine. He is known to have killed 100 people although some estimates run to 500.
He was also prominent womanizer and liked fancy clothes.
After Abe Reles turned informant, Strauss was arrested for a murder of Puggy Feinstein and five other murders. He tried to avoid conviction by feigning insanity in the courtroom and even on death row. He was executed in the electric chair at Sing Sing on June 12, 1941.