Michael Malloy American homeless man, murder victim Country: USA

Biography of Michael Malloy

Michael Malloy, also known as Iron Mike and Durable Mike, was an American homeless man who became famous for his incredible resilience. Born in 1873 in County Donegal, Ireland, not much is known about Malloy's early life except that he later lived in New York City in the 1920s and 1930s. He led a less than virtuous lifestyle, heavily indulging in alcohol and being homeless. He had no family or close acquaintances, making him an easy target for five enterprising individuals who decided to kill him for an insurance payout.

One of the conspirators was the owner of a bar where Malloy often frequented. He started generously providing Malloy with free alcohol, which the homeless man gratefully accepted. As Malloy's drinking reached alarming levels, the bar owner realized that alcohol alone couldn't kill him as his body seemed to process and tolerate any poison. The group then resorted to feeding Malloy various poisons, including antifreeze, turpentine, and rat poison. Remarkably, Malloy showed no signs of intoxication or poisoning.

Desperate to end the life of the seemingly invincible drunkard, the conspirators decided to take a different approach. One night, when Malloy was heavily intoxicated, they dragged him outside onto the snow-covered ground in -26-degree weather. They poured water on his bare chest and left him to die, confident that this time he wouldn't survive. However, to their astonishment, Malloy was found wandering the streets the next day, searching for free drinks.

Undeterred, the would-be killers decided to take more drastic measures. One of them struck Malloy with a car, driving at a speed of approximately 72 km/h. Malloy was hospitalized for three weeks but miraculously survived once again. The criminals prepared insurance documents, convinced that no one, not even Malloy, could survive such a devastating accident. However, a few weeks later, Malloy was spotted on the streets once more.

Finally, on February 22, 1933, the criminal plan succeeded. After getting Malloy drunk to the point of unconsciousness, they took him to a kitchen and inserted a gas hose into his mouth, causing his death. The perpetrators received the insurance money as they had planned. Unfortunately for them, their folly and inability to keep their mouths shut led to their downfall. They shared the story of Iron Mike's demise in bars, and it eventually reached the police, resulting in a quick and straightforward investigation. Four of the five conspirators were sentenced to death by electric chair at Sing Sing Prison.

As for Durable Mike, his story ended with a gas hose and a city-funded funeral. His remains were later exhumed, and the cause of death was investigated. The tale of Durable Mike lived on as a legend in city bars and establishments. He was referenced in numerous songs and continues to be a character in folklore to this day.