Harry ‘Pittsburgh Phil’ Strauss: The Artist of Death

Perhaps the most prolific hitman in Murder, Inc., known for his ability to kill with any tool available.

• The Stats: Police believed he was involved in over 100 contract killings, yet he was rarely caught.
• The Tactic: He famously never carried a weapon, preferring to find tools (ice picks, ropes) at the scene to avoid weapon charges.
• The Act: In court, he feigned insanity by chewing on a leather briefcase strap and babbling, but the jury didn’t buy it. He was executed in 1941.