Gaining A Notorious Reputation
Gardner had earned notoriety as a boxer but became notorious as one of New York's bad characters. The name 'Awful Gardner' began to fit him from all of his sinful ways of drinking and gambling, as well as his 'awful' ways of brutality in and out of the ring. He also was an emigrant runner.
Gardner was always in the newspapers usually for barroom brawls. He beat several men in a brawl in 1852 at the Oyster Saloon, escaping the police. The New York Times called him 'Mr. Awful Gardner' after having bit another pugilist's nose or ear off after an argument in 1853 (later setting up a prize fight with the other boxer). Gardner fled to Canada after being charged with assault but returned in 1854 after his son drowned. Gardner spent time in jail and in 1855 he was convicted of assault and battery in another case. He was sentenced to six months in the Sing Sing Prison, being released in 1856, but he would return.
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