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Christopher Keyburn

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Christopher Keyburn
Sportsmen's Hall in 1868; no authenticated portrait of Keyburn is known
Born(1831-02-23)February 23, 1831
New York City, New York, U.S.
DiedDecember 19, 1870(1870-12-19) (aged 39)
South Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Other nameKit Burns
OccupationsSaloon keeper
Sporting-house proprietor
Criminal status
Deceased
AllegianceDead Rabbits (later historical account)

Christopher Keyburn (February 23, 1831 – December 19, 1870), commonly known as Kit Burns, was a New York saloon keeper and underworld figure. He operated Sportsmen's Hall on Water Street, a well-known venue for prizefighting, rat-baiting and dogfighting.[1]

Asbury identifies Keyburn and Tommy Hadden as former leaders of the Dead Rabbits who later moved into the Fourth Ward underworld. Keyburn died in December 1870 after the authorities closed his establishment.[2]

References

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  1. Herbert Asbury, The Gangs of New York (Alfred A. Knopf, 1928), chapters 2–3.
  2. “Funeral of ‘Kit Burns’”, The New York Times, December 24, 1870.