The Old St Johns Hospital on Pittsburgh's North Side off Brighton Ave saw many a colorful Criminal pass thru its doors over the years it was opened .One Black hand boss was even killed outside the entrance .
When I first learned to drive in 1976 I was taken to the then closed and decrepit hospital lot to practice parallel parking . the place was dark and spooky looking
https://archive.triblive.com/news/neighbors-awaiting-hospital-demolition/
But one strange pattern you notice when reading Newspaper articles about mobsters who passed away in the hospital is how many passed away from Pneumonia .
A dear late friend of mine Noel McCarthy
Father died of Pneumonia in the Hospital in 30s
after receiving a Gun Shot .
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| Gangster who died from Pneumonia |
Noel thought his dad was involved in Law Enforcement but I have not been able to verify it that he was a law enforcement officer and likely he was involved with the rackets.
Noel always said how his dad died was because of the good sisters leaving his hospital room window open on a cold night allowing him to contract pneumonia.
Maybe the nuns saw it as a civic duty to help rid the city of crime. However an alternate theory is because of all the Tuberculous and other lung disease issues Pittsburgh had Open Ward Tuberculosis Hospitals where it was believed the cold air helped people with lung issues.
https://theclio.com/entry/89807
So maybe the nuns thought they where doing good?
Either way we will never know but when you read all the articles one does wonder .
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