Abe was regarded to be a bootlegger and thug operating on the Lower East side of Manhattan and was of Jewish origin. He compared himself to that of Dropper even had roughened up Joe Masseria’s son to show him what he is capable of. Fortunately for Wagner, before taking revenue for insult caused to his son, Masseria got gunned down.
Mafia activities
With Allie, his brother Wagner had been making a decent living in bootlegging business on Lower East Side. On 20th February 1932, when he was riding his new car, he got attacked by some shooters and managed to escape in the crowd. Although he claimed to be a tough soul, his activities proved him not to be one. After the attack, he tried to be in peace with the enemies. To achieve this, he had sent his brother and an associate to meet the Mazza and hand over to them a huge amount for leaving him off. But in the process, Albie was shot dead and a message was left to Wagner that the Mazza meant business and his death.
He was prodded by his mother to seek refuge elsewhere from the Mazza gang, since she did not want similar fate for the other son. He took his wife and left town. However, in New Jersey’s Hopewell region, the Lindberg baby got abducted, which made Wagner to come under suspicion by the law enforcement officials.
More trouble for Wagner
At the same time, the Mazza Gang having aligned with the likes of Lucky Luciano searched for Wagner throughout the country. To check out on his mom, he sneaked back into New York. On understanding that his presence came to light by the gang, he again ran with his wife and had his identity changed to Abe Loeb taking the profession of a fruit seller. But in weeks, Wagner was noticed by Luciano’s men. Two mobsters from Luciano’s Murder Incorporated were sent to kill Wagner, who was quite knowledgeable about the place where the latter hid, as it once had been their hideout too.
With Al Gordon, the new partner, Wagner on 25th July 1932 was followed by the two mobsters and killed both. Wagner succumbed to injuries, was taken to the nearby Ancker Hospital, where he died hours later, whose real identity was confirmed by his mother.