Christmas in Murdertown (Youngstown)

[JCB1977]

This article was written a while back and chronicles that events for the downfall of the mafia stronghold on Greater Youngstown for over 100 years.

http://americanmafia.com/feature_articles_3.html

[FriendofHenry]

Mark Batcho was a customer of mine. He often came in for lunch and always ate like it was "The Last Supper". He always paid with a bag of change, presumably from various vending machines that he either short changed or broke into. Only Mark could be waiting for Paul at his house and not finish the job. Mark used a .357 wheel-gun. Can't imagine even a cheap revolver, jamming as was reported, caused Paul's life to be spared. Needless to say Mark wasn't the sharpest knife in the box

[JCB1977]

Mark Batcho was a customer of mine. He often came in for lunch and always ate like it was "The Last Supper". He always paid with a bag of change, presumably from various vending machines that he either short changed or broke into. Only Mark could be waiting for Paul at his house and not finish the job. Mark used a .357 wheel-gun. Can't imagine even a cheap revolver, jamming as was reported, caused Paul's life to be spared. Needless to say Mark wasn't the sharpest knife in the box

If I were Lenny at that time, I would have dispatched Batcho the next day...along with the shines!

[JCB1977]

Mark Batcho was a customer of mine. He often came in for lunch and always ate like it was "The Last Supper". He always paid with a bag of change, presumably from various vending machines that he either short changed or broke into. Only Mark could be waiting for Paul at his house and not finish the job. Mark used a .357 wheel-gun. Can't imagine even a cheap revolver, jamming as was reported, caused Paul's life to be spared. Needless to say Mark wasn't the sharpest knife in the box

What shocks me about the way it all ended was that Bernie The Jew "had that much confidence" that these eggplants weren't going to talk? He had been in the game long enough to know that in a high profile hit such as an elected offical, you cut your ties immediately. Bad judgement by Lenny, Jeep & Bernie.

[FriendofHenry]

What shocks me about the way it all ended was that Bernie The Jew "had that much confidence" that these eggplants weren't going to talk? He had been in the game long enough to know that in a high profile hit such as an elected offical, you cut your ties immediately. Bad judgement by Lenny, Jeep & Bernie.

My understanding was that Lenny gave the deal to his "life long friend", Bernie, to deal with however he saw fit. Regardless of how smart Bernie normally was, being Jewish, I know he felt differently about blacks than most of us Italians did. Lenny wanted to be like Sgt. Shultz: "I know nothing". The only thing Lenny knew was how to give-up his "life long friend" ;-(

[JCB1977]

What shocks me about the way it all ended was that Bernie The Jew "had that much confidence" that these eggplants weren't going to talk? He had been in the game long enough to know that in a high profile hit such as an elected offical, you cut your ties immediately. Bad judgement by Lenny, Jeep & Bernie.

My understanding was that Lenny gave the deal to his "life long friend", Bernie, to deal with however he saw fit. Regardless of how smart Bernie normally was, being Jewish, I know he felt differently about blacks than most of us Italians did. Lenny wanted to be like Sgt. Shultz: "I know nothing". The only thing Lenny knew was how to give-up his "life long friend" ;-(

Keep in mind that Lenny knew he had FBI heat everywhere after the bust of the Super Bowl party at the Maronite Center in 1995. While Bernie may have trusted Riddle, he should have had Riddle wipe out all the others. George Wilkins told his girlfriend and pawned EB's diamond ring...the girlfriend is the person who called Prosecutor Gains at home to get the ball rolling. While Bernie may have had a soft spot for blacks, did he really believe after a career in crime that 5-6 people could keep their mouth shut?

[brianwellbrock]

Wow, Youngstown really was Gohtam city. 1996 and they're killing prosecutors still.

[JCB1977]

Wow, Youngstown really was Gohtam city. 1996 and they're killing prosecutors still.

Try these articles Brian, let me know what you think if you're interested in reading them.

http://www.clevescene.com/cleveland/end ... id=1472059

http://www.newrepublic.com/article/poli ... metown-usa

[FriendofHenry]

Keep in mind that Lenny knew he had FBI heat everywhere after the bust of the Super Bowl party at the Maronite Center in 1995. While Bernie may have trusted Riddle, he should have had Riddle wipe out all the others. George Wilkins told his girlfriend and pawned EB's diamond ring...the girlfriend is the person who called Prosecutor Gains at home to get the ball rolling. While Bernie may have had a soft spot for blacks, did he really believe after a career in crime that 5-6 people could keep their mouth shut?

I must be getting old ;-( I must have confused the bust at the Maronite Center and the last minute cancelation of a Super Bowl party planned at Gaetano's on 422. Maybe you can clarify this for me?

Years before my "friend" introduced me to Mel, the pawn shop owner, where she pawned Ernie's ring with EB in diamonds.
She Couldn't Understand Normal Things

I believe that in addition to Bernie's cash needs, he foolishly went with his "new black crew". I've also heard that Lenny promised to have him made. I knew for a fact that the Pittsburgh powers that be, would never consider such a thing. Fact is they avoided him like the plague. They always said he couldn't go to the store without a car load of Feds following him.

[Ivan]

I've also heard that Lenny promised to have him made.

Jeff Riddle was convinced that he would be made eventually. Apparently he was going around saying things like "I'm gonna be the first nigga to be be a made man".

[JCB1977]

Keep in mind that Lenny knew he had FBI heat everywhere after the bust of the Super Bowl party at the Maronite Center in 1995. While Bernie may have trusted Riddle, he should have had Riddle wipe out all the others. George Wilkins told his girlfriend and pawned EB's diamond ring...the girlfriend is the person who called Prosecutor Gains at home to get the ball rolling. While Bernie may have had a soft spot for blacks, did he really believe after a career in crime that 5-6 people could keep their mouth shut?

I must be getting old ;-( I must have confused the bust at the Maronite Center and the last minute cancelation of a Super Bowl party planned at Gaetano's on 422. Maybe you can clarify this for me?

Years before my "friend" introduced me to Mel, the pawn shop owner, where she pawned Ernie's ring with EB in diamonds.
She Couldn't Understand Normal Things

I believe that in addition to Bernie's cash needs, he foolishly went with his "new black crew". I've also heard that Lenny promised to have him made. I knew for a fact that the Pittsburgh powers that be, would never consider such a thing. Fact is they avoided him like the plague. They always said he couldn't go to the store without a car load of Feds following him.

Who avoided who like the plague? Are you talking about Lenny or Bernie?

[FriendofHenry]

The "Boys" in Pittsburgh stayed far away from Bernie. The only person from Pittsburgh that had any contact with him was Zebo. He was sent to keep him in line as he was the only person Bernie respected/feared.

[JCB1977]

The "Boys" in Pittsburgh stayed far away from Bernie. The only person from Pittsburgh that had any contact with him was Zebo. He was sent to keep him in line as he was the only person Bernie respected/feared.

Oh ok, I could see that. They stayed away from Lenny as well...go figure. By the way Friend of Henry, I went a few weeks ago and picked 5 bushels of dandelions Showing these New Englander's what a Youngstown Calabrian dandelion salad is all about

[FriendofHenry]

The "Boys" in Pittsburgh stayed far away from Bernie. The only person from Pittsburgh that had any contact with him was Zebo. He was sent to keep him in line as he was the only person Bernie respected/feared.

Oh ok, I could see that. They stayed away from Lenny as well...go figure. By the way Friend of Henry, I went a few weeks ago and picked 5 bushels of dandelions Showing these New Englander's what a Youngstown Calabrian dandelion salad is all about

To the best of my knowledge Micheal only had one other meeting with Lenny after he was made.
Michael came to Youngstown to tell Lenny that he would answer directly to Zebo.

[Sol]

Wow, Youngstown really was Gohtam city. 1996 and they're killing prosecutors still.

Try these articles Brian, let me know what you think if you're interested in reading them.

http://www.clevescene.com/cleveland/end ... id=1472059

http://www.newrepublic.com/article/poli ... metown-usa

Awesome stuff JCB. I just read first article last night. Ill try and read the second one tonight. "These fucking dagos snitch on each other," I thought was funny, but very true.......Soliai