Eddie “Bulldog” Connors (1933-1975), victim of Whitey Bulger
No. 22596 Eddie Connors, The Boston Globe, June 13, 1975
Eddie Connors, an ex-Marine and prize-fighter, owned the Pony Room bar in South Boston and the Bulldog Tavern on Savin Hill Avenue in Dorchester. He was connected to the Winter Hill Gang whose leadership decided in 1973 that James “Spike” O’Toole, one of the last survivors of the McLaughlin gang had to go. Connors told the Winter Hill organization that O’Toole had taken to drinking heavily at the Bulldog, and in December 1973, when he staggered out, a gold car full of hitmen was waiting, most notably Johnny Martorano. The autopsy said Spike had been hit 10 times.
A year or so later, word got back to Howie Winter that Eddie Connors had begun bragging about his role in the O’Toole hit. Connors had also been arrested in an armored-car heist, and suddenly he seemed to be a major liability. Howie Winter told him to give him a number at a phone booth where he could be called at a certain hour. Connors came up with the number of a booth on Morrissey Boulevard in front of the Howard Johnson restaurant (a number Martorano was able to trace back with the help of his sources in the phone company). One night, in 1975, Connors arrived at the gas station, stepped out of his car and walked to the booth. Just then a car roared up, with Martorano at the wheel. Whitey Bulger and Stevie Flemmi stepped out, Whitey with a pistol, Stevie with a carbine. That was the end of Eddie Connors.
The Boston Globe, June 16, 1975