eboli wrote: ↑Mon May 13, 2019 4:00 am
Thanks for the links. I'm always amazed how cunning and vicious some of these old school extortionists were. I recently read a theory the infamous Axeman of New Orleans was most likely a former black hander too.
If you're talking about the show on the Travel Channel, "Mission Declassified," they got it wrong. They spent thousands of dollars to create a certain narrative and we told them it was wrong. So they clipped what we said.
No, I read it on an article listing different theories about the Axeman's origins. It was about some paranormal show, I cant remember which one. According to one of their theories a guy named Joseph Mumfre - a former black hander - was the killer. In 1921 he was murdered by one of his victims widows when he went to extort her. They based these claims on the fact most of the victims were italians, he had a history of violence and he said to the widow he would kill her like he did her husband if she doesn't give him the money. I just found it oddly specific they'll include info he was a black hander. Keep in mind one of their other theories was that the killer was actually a ghost.
There was a book published in the 1950s that had a chapter on the Axman and was the major source of information for decades. The problem is that the author made up fake quotes and facts, misleading a lot of researchers, including me. Once newspaper went online with the ability to do keyword searches I found out the truth. Angela Albano never said Joseph Manfre (correct spelling) was the Axman, but before I found that out I wrote an article that used the book and ended up having the wrong info. So if someone used my old article as a source he would have inadvertently spread the misinformation.
"I figure I’m gonna have to do about 6000 years before I get accepted into heaven. And 6000 years is nothing in eternity terms. I can do that standing on my head. It’s like a couple of days here."
A friend of mine wrote this series of articles on Canonsburg, PA, a hotbed for Black Hand activity in Washington County, PA (about 30 minutes South of Pittsburgh). It is an incredible story:
"I figure I’m gonna have to do about 6000 years before I get accepted into heaven. And 6000 years is nothing in eternity terms. I can do that standing on my head. It’s like a couple of days here."
JCB1977 wrote: ↑Sat May 18, 2019 9:53 am
A friend of mine wrote this series of articles on Canonsburg, PA, a hotbed for Black Hand activity in Washington County, PA (about 30 minutes South of Pittsburgh). It is an incredible story:
JCB1977 wrote: ↑Sat May 18, 2019 9:53 am
A friend of mine wrote this series of articles on Canonsburg, PA, a hotbed for Black Hand activity in Washington County, PA (about 30 minutes South of Pittsburgh). It is an incredible story:
No problem Chichi! It is one of the more fascinating tales of the Black Hand Society in Western PA. Washington County has been mobbed up from the very beginning. John Bazzano Jr ran that area with an iron fist from the late 1950's until his death in 2008 where he still had a stronghold on gambling
"I figure I’m gonna have to do about 6000 years before I get accepted into heaven. And 6000 years is nothing in eternity terms. I can do that standing on my head. It’s like a couple of days here."
I have the complete trial transcripts from the Hillsville, PA Rocco Racco trial in 1907. It's fascinating.
"I figure I’m gonna have to do about 6000 years before I get accepted into heaven. And 6000 years is nothing in eternity terms. I can do that standing on my head. It’s like a couple of days here."
JCB1977 wrote: ↑Sat May 18, 2019 9:53 am
A friend of mine wrote this series of articles on Canonsburg, PA, a hotbed for Black Hand activity in Washington County, PA (about 30 minutes South of Pittsburgh). It is an incredible story:
"I figure I’m gonna have to do about 6000 years before I get accepted into heaven. And 6000 years is nothing in eternity terms. I can do that standing on my head. It’s like a couple of days here."
"I figure I’m gonna have to do about 6000 years before I get accepted into heaven. And 6000 years is nothing in eternity terms. I can do that standing on my head. It’s like a couple of days here."
"I figure I’m gonna have to do about 6000 years before I get accepted into heaven. And 6000 years is nothing in eternity terms. I can do that standing on my head. It’s like a couple of days here."
I have the complete trial transcripts from the Hillsville, PA Rocco Racco trial in 1907. It's fascinating.
Hey JCB. Do these happened to be posted anywhere? So many names in that article are very recognizable New Castle names.
They are not posted. I went through National Archives to get them
"I figure I’m gonna have to do about 6000 years before I get accepted into heaven. And 6000 years is nothing in eternity terms. I can do that standing on my head. It’s like a couple of days here."
Grouchy Sinatra wrote: ↑Sun May 12, 2019 9:44 pm
Thanks. I'll look up their past posts to see if they have information about this. I like reading about the west coast members and their connections to the east coast families and Italy. Most of these west coast guys tried to get into legitimate business and pretty much let their families die off. I always wondered if it was just because they couldn't corrupt law enforcement in Cali.
Salvatore “Sal” Marino from Sharon, PA (located next to Youngstown, OH and about 50 miles north of Pittsburgh) was a long time capo for John LaRocca/Frank Amato. He ran all the gambling in that area and he owned the Sharon cheese company. He moved out to San Jose in the 1960’s with his family, his son was future San Jose Boss Angelo Marino. Angelo was married to the daughter of a made guy in Philly (can’t think of who off the top of my head). Sal Marino moved his cheese company and sold to Sargento for tens of millions. Dominick Anzalone was made in Pittsburgh, close business partner to Tony Ripepi. John LaRocca’s Cousins were Alphonse and Pasquale LaRocca, they ran LaRocca & Sons Fish Distributor at Fisherman’s Wharf, which is still running today. Steve Zoccoli was very close to Steubenville, OH longtime boss Vincenzo “Jimmy” Tripodi. Pittsburgh and San Jose were certainly closely intertwined.
Awesome stuff, Soon i'm going to try LaRocca & Sons seafood, it's a must because their still around although I'm not sure if they have a restaurant or just food trucks. Heres an interesting little article I found from 06' about the Leo LaRocca's Saloon in North Beach https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/ ... 541697.php
