Benjamin Snyder

Benjamin Snyder, also known as Benny Snyder or Schneider, was an American criminal and union organizer during the turn of the 20th century. He worked as a thug for hire for New York labor racketeer Joseph 'Joe the Greaser' Rosenzweig. Snyder gained notoriety for his involvement in the first 'Labor Slugger Wars' by murdering Rosenzweig's rival, Philip 'Pinchy' Paul. However, Snyder's arrest for Paul's murder led to him becoming a state's witness. He provided information to the police about the use of 'labor sluggers' by businesses and unions in the early 1900s. His testimony resulted in the conviction of Rosenzweig and other major labor racketeers, effectively ending 'labor slugging' in Manhattan's Lower East Side for over two years. Snyder's case was one of the first instances of a criminal figure providing information on organized crime during that era.