FBI chart Mafia meetings 1928 to 1957

[B.]

For one, there is no way a capo dei capi could have micro-managed the entire US mafia and kept up correspondence with Sicily in the early 20th century all by himself. Whatever these assemblies and councils were, they were a way of including other mafia figures into high-level political discussions and on a functional level would have given the capo dei capi some needed relief from trying to do everything for everyone.

There is a passage in the Bible where Jethro visits his son-in-law Moses and cautions him to stop micro-managing and instead to set up a council of elders to manage disputes and issues among the people, no joke. Moses was the first capo dei capi and Jethro was the first consigliere -- they even had the marital tie. Like the old book says, too, "there is no new thing under the sun."

[Angelo Santino]

Sicily would fit into the state of Massachusetts. The political layout of Caposupremo or regional boss representing several Families within a territory who would then meet with others of the same rank reppin other areas couldn't work in the US outside of New York City. Just so we're on the same page, the caposupremo of Palermo in 1898, judging by the information he provided, was limited to the Palermo area, he did not seem knowledgeable on other cities outside of the Palermitan area (incl. Villabate). I didn't get the impression that he was boss of bosses of the province nor the island.

Now in the US circa 1900's, these colonies and the established Families were separated by 100's if not thousands of miles. With Italians being heavily working class and going where employment was, alot of people were moving around, same goes for Mafiosi. From what we can see, Morello's BOB duties amounted to keeping the communication flowing between the Groups and membership issues.

If I went to Chicago and said I was a member for Corleone, Dispenza or D'Andrea wouldn't take my word at face value. He would likely ask Lo Bue to contact Morello in NY and inquire if I am who I say I am. If Morello did not know me, he'd ask everyone else from Corleone who the hell is this guy and maybe inquire to the Family in Corleone. That seems to have been one of the main duties of the position.

Neither the Mafia or its political bodies seemed intent or planning a takeover on any area. In Balsamo's book he has dialogue from his Gambino Founding Grandfather that they received news that Charley Matranga (or someone) was going to start up operations in New Orleans. I don't think anyone ever had that conversation, at least not in that context. It takes alot of prerequisites, a proper biosphere for a Mafia family to form and sustain itself. Sicilian demographics, limited or corrupt law enforcement, economics etc. Someone doesn't just move to Montana and get 5 guys and give them ranks, there's so much more that goes into it.

[scagghiuni]

Thanks. I could have sworn I saw something similar from one of the early Sicilian sources, either Allegra or the Sangiorgi report, where I saw something similar to "capo consigliere" used though it may have been "capo supremo". It stood out because it implied the capo dei capi was more of a "consigliere" or mediator/advisor, so I'm not sure it was "capo supremo" but I'd have to dig back into some reading. It wasn't one of the later pentiti I don't think, but an earlier source.

Giuffre did describe Greco as the "capo dei capi" in the 1980s, so they definitely used that term by that time. We know, though, that technically this was the capoprovincia of Palermo, who became defacto capo dei capi, not an official title.

i think francesco siino told sangiorgi about it, he was an informant, in the sangiorgi report is written 'capo supremo' that literally means boss of bosses, but when they formed the new commission in the late 50s the reputed boss of bosses was called 'segretario', but he just held the meetings, all the commission bosses had the same power

[Angelo Santino]

1908

To Mr. Rosario Dispenza, No. 147 Milton Avenue, Chicago, Ill., and is from G. La Bella Morello, No. 2069 Second Avenue, New York.

"Dear Friend:

"In answer to your letter that bears date of the 10th, I hear what you say in it. Regarding the Council, you have no right to be present in the meetings. The Council is divided and separated from the Assembly. But in case that some Councilman wishes to be present in some meeting of the Assembly, he can come but only to hear and then has no right to the floor, neither right to an opinion or right to vote.

"Have I explained myself?

"This is for your guidance. Now regarding Calogero Constantino. To tell you the truth, I have as yet been unable to persuade myself as to what it is about, the letters to me have not been satisfying or convincing. There should have been better explanations. In this manner I cannot answer with exact judgment and clear conscience. I cannot understand how it is that Calogero Constantino remains arrested at Bacaluse, Louisiana, while under the protection of so many good friends engaged incessantly to make him obtain his liberty, and you others of Chicago have all this contract on your side.

"I have said it more than once that I and my townsmen have always known the Constantino family as a good family, and none other but very good, and the boss of my town, I am sure, cannot give you better details, though I doubt if they knew this family just because they were not to our bearing, but nevertheless leaning towards good people; have you seen 'the ox, neither white nor black,' this is their bearing. But not for this I repeat, always of good people; there have been born at times people that had given a good account of their being, honored and respected as always.

"We of Corleone have never had any dealings with them, therefore could not try them and appreciate their merits. Others that have had dealings, that is to say have known their good merits, and have brought them to make part of our family. Nothing extraordinary, because certainly would not have brought them in this land if they had not known their good merits. They have done well. We, of Corleone, will appreciate said doings.

"In your letter you tell me that regarding Calogero Constantino there is nothing to say, but there should be exact information, because there are eight good workers sick to put the work on him and of the eight persons there are those in danger of their lives. But you must excuse me if I and others have not understood such language.

"If you know that Constantino is of good health, also he is severely of good health, you will take with other townsmen of yours the responsibility here and also of the town, and we will do everything. Neither I nor others here can understand how you ever in your wise thinking write us in this manner. If I have written to you more than once that this Constantino family have never been to our hearing. Known to us only by sight in America as in the town, and then this is not enough. You surely should not ignore the fact Calogero Constantino has been missing from New York at least six years.

"Now, then, I ask you why you write me and others to assume the responsibility of said individual; if this party could be admitted, then we assume the responsibility of an individual that had been seen 'neither born nor raised' and who has never been known by name or sight. This responsibility you should ask of others, not us. You see in this that I was right in resenting De Vito Casiaferro and Enea, and saying that it is not done that way, in making a person, by not asking information of the townsmen before making it, that all these discussions now would not have been.

"Now you must ask them to assume the responsibility, those that have made him, not us. Of us you must ask only if we have anything to say. This, yes, is very correct. But to assume responsibility is one thing, and asking if we have anything to say is another thing. There is a great difference. Therefore, we go in Court, we have undersigned, upon our conscience and on our honor declare of having nothing to say upon the conduct and honor of Calogero Constantino, not regarding him only but also of his family. All of Corleone. Giuseppe La Bella and brother, Vincenzo, brother Ciro and brother Coco.

"Paolo Frisella,
"Gaetano Lomonte,
"Stefano Lasala,
"Fortunato Lo Monte,
"Antonio Rizzo,
"Michale Coniglio,
"Angelo Valenti,
"Francesco Moscato."

Mr. Vincenzo Moreci, No. 535 S. Franklin Street, New Orleans, La. It is dated New York, November 15th, 1909, and reads as follows:

"Dear Friend:

"Am in possession of your two letters, one that bears date of the 5th, the other on the 10th of November. I understand the contents.

"In regard to being able to reorganize the family, for me I advise you all to do it because it seems it is not just to stay without a king nor country, but I authorize you to convey to all my humble prayer and my weak opinion, but well understood, that those that are worthy and those that wish to belong, those that do not wish to belong let them go.

"You tell me that from Palermo arrived good news. I nor the others of New York have not been formally advised, therefore I beg of you tell me something about the news from Palermo. Who has written and whether any commission has decided to come? I have advised my godfather La Gatutte to have in sight the one from Morriale. I advise you further that in your last letter I understood minutely and by wire, and sign the affair of the friend Vincenzo Antinoro. It is well now we are well understood. Now for the present the most interesting thing that I desire and expect is the declaration (statement) of Giovanni Gulotta regarding the affair Constantino and Trombone declaration made and signed by his own hands of Giovanni Gulotta, and then if we are there it's a wonder.

"I hear in your letter that Sunday three friends left to go and see him. I will await patiently the answer and hope for favorable results. Am in doubt that one of my letters may be lost, because, as I had to say in a previous one to the last, I had spoken also of the agreement I had made with Calogero Gulotta. In fact, he told me in this his last that in no other letter of mine had he understood what I said.

"I end this moment by sending you the most cordial greetings of mine and my family to you with all your family and pray you make it known also to the friend Zito, Piro, Sunsseri, Benanti and their families as also Vito Di Giorgi.

"They will also receive many greetings of my brothers and brothers-in-law and my son Calidu, my godfather Angelo La Gatutte and all the friends of merit. Many greetings yet from all the friends of New Orleans that you think. To you a warm kiss. Your affectionate friend,

"(Signed) G. LA BELLA. (Morello.)"

-----------------------


Letter found in Lupo's residence in 1902, postmarked Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, Canada, addressed to Pietro Inzarillo, No. 226 Elizabeth Street, New York City, dated September 4, 1902, and translated reads:

"Dear Friend:

"By the present I give you the news of my good health and of all the friends who are with me, and so we hope to hear from you and all the friends in New York, whom we respect. Meantime, I beg of you warmly to tell me when the goods arrive, and to send me the samples of a five in order to see whether we can do business, prompt answer and samples. I and all the friends salute you together with the friends over in New York, I am your friend Andrea Pollara. My address is the following, Mr. Andrea Pollara, Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, Canada. P. S. Dear Paolo, I beg of you to send me five dollars you or Ignazio (meant for Ignazio Lupo) that as soon as I get my money I will return them to you, nothing else, I am your friend 'Salvatore Matisi.' Be so kind as to put them in the letter of your friend, I am sure you will favor me."

Found at Pietro Inzerillo's store.

"Canada Pacife, August 31, 1902.

"Dear Friend:

"With these few words I come to make you a note of my perfect health, the same I hope to hear from you, you brothers also, I desire to know how your father has been; therefore I recommend to you that affair that I left in your charge. If my Uncle Thomas comes from Ebgostien, do not forget the affair that is the direction that you have given to Carmino, do not let it go up in the air. As soon as possible that you can, make it. Nothing else to tell you. Give my regards to Paolo Marchese, regards to Giuseppe Morello and John Pecorain and all the friends that ask for me, with the best of regards to you, I say your dear friend 'Salvatore Matisi' accept the regards from Carmelo Blandina. This is the direction—Salvatore Maccari, P. O. Portage La Prairie Manitoba, Canada."

[Angelo Santino]

Observations

To Mr. Rosario Dispenza, No. 147 Milton Avenue, Chicago, Ill., and is from G. La Bella Morello, No. 2069 Second Avenue, New York.
"Dear Friend:

"In answer to your letter that bears date of the 10th, I hear what you say in it. Regarding the Council, you have no right to be present in the meetings. The Council is divided and separated from the Assembly. But in case that some Councilman wishes to be present in some meeting of the Assembly, he can come but only to hear and then has no right to the floor, neither right to an opinion or right to vote.
1 As per Wikipedia "Rosario Dispenza is believed to have been the Chicago Mafia boss from approximately 1909 to 1914. He was murdered in 1914 and succeeded by Anthony D'Andrea." so it makes sense that Morello would have this conversation with him at this time.
2 Council members have no right to take part in the General Assembly unless granted permission
3 Councilman have no right to vote on the General Assembly
4 As per Wikipedia "Rosario Dispenza is believed to have been the Chicago Mafia boss from approximately 1909 to 1914. He was murdered in 1914 and succeeded by Anthony D'Andrea." so it makes sense that Morello would have this conversation with him at this time.
5 2 I'm not sure if Morello is speaking to Dispenza as a Council or as an Assembly member. If he was a council member then A- so much for my idea that this council was restricted to NY and B- Dispenza as a new boss being elevated to the Council would imply Chicago automatically a seat on this council. Unless it was the other way around and Morello was informing Dispenza about the council as a new boss not necessarily on it.

"Have I explained myself?

"This is for your guidance. Now regarding Calogero Constantino. To tell you the truth, I have as yet been unable to persuade myself as to what it is about, the letters to me have not been satisfying or convincing. There should have been better explanations. In this manner I cannot answer with exact judgment and clear conscience. I cannot understand how it is that Calogero Constantino remains arrested at Bacaluse, Louisiana, while under the protection of so many good friends engaged incessantly to make him obtain his liberty, and you others of Chicago have all this contract on your side.

Interesting to see such an early collaboration between NY, Chicago and New Orleans. Although Morello is getting irritated.

"I have said it more than once that I and my townsmen have always known the Constantino family as a good family, and none other but very good, and the boss of my town, I am sure, cannot give you better details, though I doubt if they knew this family just because they were not to our bearing, but nevertheless leaning towards good people; have you seen 'the ox, neither white nor black,' this is their bearing. But not for this I repeat, always of good people; there have been born at times people that had given a good account of their being, honored and respected as always.
I suspected "good family" to be mafia-talk for a connected/associated family but it appears not...

"We of Corleone have never had any dealings with them, therefore could not try them and appreciate their merits. Others that have had dealings, that is to say have known their good merits, and have brought them to make part of our family. Nothing extraordinary, because certainly would not have brought them in this land if they had not known their good merits. They have done well. We, of Corleone, will appreciate said doings.
1 It appears the US Mafia was recruiting members from Sicily based on "good merits."
2 This Constantino individual is from Corleone but the Corleonesi do not know him and therefore won't vouch for him.


"In your letter you tell me that regarding Calogero Constantino there is nothing to say, but there should be exact information, because there are eight good workers sick to put the work on him and of the eight persons there are those in danger of their lives. But you must excuse me if I and others have not understood such language.
Workers, interesting use of language. It could have been Italian or a dialect for "lavoratori."

"If you know that Constantino is of good health, also he is severely of good health, you will take with other townsmen of yours the responsibility here and also of the town, and we will do everything. Neither I nor others here can understand how you ever in your wise thinking write us in this manner. If I have written to you more than once that this Constantino family have never been to our hearing. Known to us only by sight in America as in the town, and then this is not enough. You surely should not ignore the fact Calogero Constantino has been missing from New York at least six years.
1 He appears to be telling Dispenza that if they wish to vouch for this individual then it is their responsibility but NY cannot because
2 It appears Morello did his research and was able to learn that this individual is not to known to anyone and hasn't been in NY since 1904.


"Now, then, I ask you why you write me and others to assume the responsibility of said individual; if this party could be admitted, then we assume the responsibility of an individual that had been seen 'neither born nor raised' and who has never been known by name or sight. This responsibility you should ask of others, not us. You see in this that I was right in resenting De Vito Casiaferro and Enea, and saying that it is not done that way, in making a person, by not asking information of the townsmen before making it, that all these discussions now would not have been.
It appears that Morello adherred to the formal process of confirming members and seemed to get angry at Vito Cascioferro and a FNU Enea. LOL, I'm laughing right now as I type this because B.'s going to have a field day with this one.

"Now you must ask them to assume the responsibility, those that have made him, not us. Of us you must ask only if we have anything to say. This, yes, is very correct. But to assume responsibility is one thing, and asking if we have anything to say is another thing. There is a great difference. Therefore, we go in Court, we have undersigned, upon our conscience and on our honor declare of having nothing to say upon the conduct and honor of Calogero Constantino, not regarding him only but also of his family. All of Corleone. Giuseppe La Bella and brother, Vincenzo, brother Ciro and brother Coco.

"Paolo Frisella,
"Gaetano Lomonte,
"Stefano Lasala,
"Fortunato Lo Monte,
"Antonio Rizzo,
"Michale Coniglio,
"Angelo Valenti,
"Francesco Moscato."

1 Morello's role as BOB is that of an senior counselor, not a general commanding his army.
2 It lists 12 "Corleonese" members who signed this declaration stating they did not know this Constantino. The LoMontes and LaSala were not from Corleone but Villafrati and another close by town. So this "Corleonese" may not be referencing people from Corleone but rather people affiliated with Corleone.
3 Could this letter imply that these 12 men were the only Corleonese-affiliated members from that area? However the Terranovas were quite young but that doesn't mean anything. Or maybe there were 5 more who weren't there that day to sign. Not sure if we can gauge anything from this or not.

Mr. Vincenzo Moreci, No. 535 S. Franklin Street, New Orleans, La. It is dated New York, November 15th, 1909, and reads as follows:

"Dear Friend:

"Am in possession of your two letters, one that bears date of the 5th, the other on the 10th of November. I understand the contents.

"In regard to being able to reorganize the family, for me I advise you all to do it because it seems it is not just to stay without a king nor country, but I authorize you to convey to all my humble prayer and my weak opinion, but well understood, that those that are worthy and those that wish to belong, those that do not wish to belong let them go.
1 In 1909 it appears Vincenzo Moreci was already boss or became boss and was asking Morello's advice on reorganization the Nola Family.
2 Morello conveys his support that people need to go along with this decision or leave.

"You tell me that from Palermo arrived good news. I nor the others of New York have not been formally advised, therefore I beg of you tell me something about the news from Palermo. Who has written and whether any commission has decided to come? I have advised my godfather La Gatutte to have in sight the one from Morriale. I advise you further that in your last letter I understood minutely and by wire, and sign the affair of the friend Vincenzo Antinoro. It is well now we are well understood. Now for the present the most interesting thing that I desire and expect is the declaration (statement) of Giovanni Gulotta regarding the affair Constantino and Trombone declaration made and signed by his own hands of Giovanni Gulotta, and then if we are there it's a wonder.
1 Alot to be taken from this, I'll just mention how this shows Palermo connected to New Orleans connecting to New York connecting to Monreale.
2 "Commission" as a term as early as 1909, while not Theee Commission, it shows that the concept existed before 1931.

"I hear in your letter that Sunday three friends left to go and see him. I will await patiently the answer and hope for favorable results. Am in doubt that one of my letters may be lost, because, as I had to say in a previous one to the last, I had spoken also of the agreement I had made with Calogero Gulotta. In fact, he told me in this his last that in no other letter of mine had he understood what I said.

"I end this moment by sending you the most cordial greetings of mine and my family to you with all your family and pray you make it known also to the friend Zito, Piro, Sunsseri, Benanti and their families as also Vito Di Giorgi.
Some early NOLA names, Vito Di Giorgio would later move to LA where he became boss.

"They will also receive many greetings of my brothers and brothers-in-law and my son Calidu, my godfather Angelo La Gatutte and all the friends of merit. Many greetings yet from all the friends of New Orleans that you think. To you a warm kiss. Your affectionate friend,

"(Signed) G. LA BELLA. (Morello.)"
1 Morello's son, Calogero Morello was born in 1892, so he was 17 in 1909 and it seems Morello is trying to introduce his name, get it out so people know him.

Curious what other people take away from this. It's a window into the Mafia circa 1908 from the highest levels.

[Angelo Santino]

Regarding this Grand Council, we don't know who sat on it. It could have been senior bosses or it could have been senior members, a sort of macro version of the Family Consiglie we see in the smaller groups.

-------------
Italy had a Swiss influence, especially on the mainland but in looking into Italian government it appears the Swiss had an influence this.

The ancient and modern customs, that is the history of government, militia, religion, the arts, sciences and customs of all ancient and modern peoples, proven with the monuments of antiquity and represented with similar drawings by Dr. Giulio Ferrario - Giulio Ferrario , Robustiano Gironi , Ambrogio Levati · 1833

"The members of the senate, which are twenty-five, enjoy many prerogatives, and elect half of the members of the grand council: the main magistrates are drawn from their body; they summon the great council and general assembly of citizens and bourgeois; they deliberate for the first on all the matters that must be reported in the great council to which they propose them; wherefore as everything must emanate from them, no law can be established without their approval. This senate is also vested with executive power, the administration of finances and civil and criminal jurisdiction with some restrictions: it also elects most of the lower magistrates, and only has the right to confer citizenship; he finally composed the secret council with thirty-five members elected by him, which never meets except on extraordinary occasions. These prerogatives, although they are considerable, depend on the great council and the general assembly; for the members of the senate must be drawn from the former; he appeals to it; it can grant grace and approve or reject all that the Senate plans to propose to the people's assembly. This is made up of the senate, the grand council and the citizens and the bourgeoisie: generally the number of those who make it up amounts to fifteen hundred. There is this difference between the citizens and the bourgeois, that the former are born in the city, the latter outside it, that is, they have acquired citizenship. The general council meets twice a year; each member gives you his vote without being allowed to discuss the subjects; excellent method of preventing discord and long length of deliberations."

Another inspiration could have been the freemasonry-
from 1874-
By-law 27.
The Grand Master's Council is composed of the two added Grand Masters and thirty other members all elected, for the first time, by the Grand Master, and subsequently by the General Assembly. For this first election, the members of the Board remain in office for three consecutive years, and after this period of time, they will be renewed in each year; the first and second year, the draw will designate those to be replaced. Existing Members are eligible for re-election.

So Grand Councils and General Assemblies existed in both the government and in the Freemasonary. It likely reflects a bastardized form of one or both of them. I'm just not seeing the specific parameters that explain the checks and balances of the Assembly/Councilman system. Could it be akin to Senators and Representatives? Someone who's more rounded in world government would probably have an interesting take and observation from Morello's letters.

[B.]

i think francesco siino told sangiorgi about it, he was an informant, in the sangiorgi report is written 'capo supremo' that literally means boss of bosses, but when they formed the new commission in the late 50s the reputed boss of bosses was called 'segretario', but he just held the meetings, all the commission bosses had the same power

Re: "segretario", I think that could be what I saw! All I remember is a Sicilian source used a similar description to Joe Bonanno.

--

CC,
Thank you so much for sharing these translations. Thursday is already my favorite day of the week, so this is a darn good one.

I know this is a translation, but even so, Morello comes across extremely well-spoken and sharp. I'm impressed, though not really surprised, as I am sure all of the capi dei capi over the years were the pinnacle of shrewdness and intelligence, at least in terms of mafia politics.

Observations
To Mr. Rosario Dispenza, No. 147 Milton Avenue, Chicago, Ill., and is from G. La Bella Morello, No. 2069 Second Avenue, New York.
"Dear Friend:

"In answer to your letter that bears date of the 10th, I hear what you say in it. Regarding the Council, you have no right to be present in the meetings. The Council is divided and separated from the Assembly. But in case that some Councilman wishes to be present in some meeting of the Assembly, he can come but only to hear and then has no right to the floor, neither right to an opinion or right to vote.
1 As per Wikipedia "Rosario Dispenza is believed to have been the Chicago Mafia boss from approximately 1909 to 1914. He was murdered in 1914 and succeeded by Anthony D'Andrea." so it makes sense that Morello would have this conversation with him at this time.
2 Council members have no right to take part in the General Assembly unless granted permission
3 Councilman have no right to vote on the General Assembly
4 As per Wikipedia "Rosario Dispenza is believed to have been the Chicago Mafia boss from approximately 1909 to 1914. He was murdered in 1914 and succeeded by Anthony D'Andrea." so it makes sense that Morello would have this conversation with him at this time.
5 2 I'm not sure if Morello is speaking to Dispenza as a Council or as an Assembly member. If he was a council member then A- so much for my idea that this council was restricted to NY and B- Dispenza as a new boss being elevated to the Council would imply Chicago automatically a seat on this council. Unless it was the other way around and Morello was informing Dispenza about the council as a new boss not necessarily on it.

For one, this corroborates Nick Gentile's use of these terms and shows that they were used consistently for at least ~20 years, as Gentile makes reference to them through the end of the 1920s. It also confirms there was an explicit distinction between the Council and the Assembly and that participation in one did not guarantee -- or even allow -- participation in the other. It's also clear that Morello took the rules and distinctions concerning these bodies very seriously. This makes me second guess what I've said before about the mafia favoring simplicity -- these different ruling bodies appears complex, but maybe it's just because we have such little info. If we had been able to interview Morello or Gentile (I'm working on that seance), they might have cleared it up in a couple of sentences and it could be simple after all.

It also makes it clear that Assemblies involved a vote of attendees, but even if a Council member was allowed to attend he couldn't participate in the voting process nor even act in an advisory capacity -- he could only attend as a witness. This implies that the Council had a specific purpose that isn't made clear here -- maybe the Council's duty was to advise the capo dei capi, much as the consiglio / council / "seggia" advised the rappresentante within an individual family. It would make sense that the "Consiglio Supremo" and the "consiglio" would operate similarly just at different scales -- one for the capo dei capi, another for individual family bosses, like you said yourself. The Council could be synonymous with the Governo Centrale, which Gentile says was called by the capo dei capi. However, now that we have two extremely reliable sources who differentiate the Consiglio Supremo and the National Assembly, we can't necessarily assume Governo Centrale is another synonym for either one of these, assuming Gentile wasn't just using a figure of speech.

It's possible that Assembly attendance and voting was reserved for people directly affected by the specific matters being discussed but it's too hard to guess from this. Need to give Gentile another review after reading this to see if this puts some of his statements in a new light. No doubt it will add to it but that will require more reading / analysis than I have time for at the moment.

"I have said it more than once that I and my townsmen have always known the Constantino family as a good family, and none other but very good, and the boss of my town, I am sure, cannot give you better details, though I doubt if they knew this family just because they were not to our bearing, but nevertheless leaning towards good people; have you seen 'the ox, neither white nor black,' this is their bearing. But not for this I repeat, always of good people; there have been born at times people that had given a good account of their being, honored and respected as always.
I suspected "good family" to be mafia-talk for a connected/associated family but it appears not...

"We of Corleone have never had any dealings with them, therefore could not try them and appreciate their merits. Others that have had dealings, that is to say have known their good merits, and have brought them to make part of our family. Nothing extraordinary, because certainly would not have brought them in this land if they had not known their good merits. They have done well. We, of Corleone, will appreciate said doings.
1 It appears the US Mafia was recruiting members from Sicily based on "good merits."
2 This Constantino individual is from Corleone but the Corleonesi do not know him and therefore won't vouch for him.

Melchiorre Allegra said when he was proposed for membership, he was told one of the reasons was he came from a "good family", which I assumed to mean a mafia background though maybe that's not the case. This language has been used by later US informants/witnesses, too, to refer to someone from a mafia-connected family. However, you're right that this doesn't seem to be the case here. Morello's use of it implies that Constantino's family aren't sbirri or anything like that, but as he says, they are "not to our bearing" (i.e. mafia) and "neither white nor black", which means they aren't mafia types nor are they anti-mafia types. Translation or not, this is a very poetic way of putting it, haha.

We can infer from this that coming from a mafia background was still very important at the time. Constantino could probably be described in modern NYC terms as a "neighborhood guy" but back then we know bloodlines and relations were of the utmost importance and this emphasizes that. Later in the letter he suggests that Constantino was already made despite his non-mafia background, which leads to the next point...

"In your letter you tell me that regarding Calogero Constantino there is nothing to say, but there should be exact information, because there are eight good workers sick to put the work on him and of the eight persons there are those in danger of their lives. But you must excuse me if I and others have not understood such language.
Workers, interesting use of language. It could have been Italian or a dialect for "lavoratori."

This stood out to me as well. "Worker" has been used within the mafia for generations to refer to capable murderers, so you have to wonder if the term goes back that far. No doubt they would have used euphemisms to refer to murder / murderers from the very start and "piece of work" and "worker" is almost as ingrained in the mafia lexicon as terms like "amico nostra" and "friend of ours". The context is vague but could lend itself to that, too, given they "put the work on him" and were "in danger of their lives" -- what kind of "work" in a mafia context is dangerous to someone's life? Certainly murder.

Calling them "good workers" is interesting, too, given the later use of the term "good killers" for Schiro's Castellammarese hit team. I think that's exactly what they're talking about. If the eight "workers" are killers assigned to a specific murder, it could also suggest that using a relatively large hit team (i.e. someone to set the victim up, multiple shooters, someone to act as a police diversion, look out, etc.) was a common practice even back then.

If that's true, it sounds like permission was being asked to murder Constantino. This could also explain why Morello seems put off during this part of the letter. He may have been uncomfortable discussing the specifics of a murder via letter.

"Now, then, I ask you why you write me and others to assume the responsibility of said individual; if this party could be admitted, then we assume the responsibility of an individual that had been seen 'neither born nor raised' and who has never been known by name or sight. This responsibility you should ask of others, not us. You see in this that I was right in resenting De Vito Casiaferro and Enea, and saying that it is not done that way, in making a person, by not asking information of the townsmen before making it, that all these discussions now would not have been.
It appears that Morello adherred to the formal process of confirming members and seemed to get angry at Vito Cascioferro and a FNU Enea. LOL, I'm laughing right now as I type this because B.'s going to have a field day with this one.

Yeah, you f'n baited me with this one, man! Clearly it suggests Vito Cascio Ferro was boss of his own Bisacquinesi NYC family and didn't do proper background research when he inducted members into his brugad. Kidding of course, but there is a lot of room for interpretation here.

"FNU Enea" must be Pasquale Enea, a Palermitano who lived in NYC and was also arrested with Cascio Ferro in Sicily, being another suspect in the Petrosino murder. He was also Buffalo boss Joe DiCarlo Sr.'s brother-in-law (who was from Caltanissetta but lived in Palermo prior to emigrating and may have been an early "Gambino" member). This is yet another close Palermitani connection with Cascio Ferro. We can refer to the specific thread about that for the ongoing list of his Palermitani connections.

I'm going to leave that part of the discussion at that, but we can agree that Cascio Ferro and Pasquale Enea (whether as part of the same family or not) had the authority to propose or induct members without Morello's full knowledge / approval. That doesn't necessarily mean Cascio Ferro wasn't a Morello member, as Morello was a busy man and may have assumed his men would follow proper protocol only to get upset when they didn't. It's funny because it's the exact same scenario that played out almost 100 years later when Joe Massino recorded himself chastising acting boss Vinny Basciano for inducting members without following proper background protocol. What's old is new again.

What's significant too is Cascio Ferro hadn't been in the US for years by this point, so it was significant enough for Morello to use it as an "example" years later. Wish we knew who they inducted and what hometown the recruits were from -- implies they were from a Sicilian town with a mafia family that should have been consulted.

Morello's repeated references to consulting "townsmen" (paesani) implies that checking with mafiosi either in or from the given prospect's Sicilian hometown was an essential practice. We already assumed this, but here we have the capo dei capi saying it explicitly.

"Now you must ask them to assume the responsibility, those that have made him, not us. Of us you must ask only if we have anything to say. This, yes, is very correct. But to assume responsibility is one thing, and asking if we have anything to say is another thing. There is a great difference. Therefore, we go in Court, we have undersigned, upon our conscience and on our honor declare of having nothing to say upon the conduct and honor of Calogero Constantino, not regarding him only but also of his family. All of Corleone. Giuseppe La Bella and brother, Vincenzo, brother Ciro and brother Coco.

"Paolo Frisella,
"Gaetano Lomonte,
"Stefano Lasala,
"Fortunato Lo Monte,
"Antonio Rizzo,
"Michale Coniglio,
"Angelo Valenti,
"Francesco Moscato."

1 Morello's role as BOB is that of an senior counselor, not a general commanding his army.
2 It lists 12 "Corleonese" members who signed this declaration stating they did not know this Constantino. The LoMontes and LaSala were not from Corleone but Villafrati and another close by town. So this "Corleonese" may not be referencing people from Corleone but rather people affiliated with Corleone.
3 Could this letter imply that these 12 men were the only Corleonese-affiliated members from that area? However the Terranovas were quite young but that doesn't mean anything. Or maybe there were 5 more who weren't there that day to sign. Not sure if we can gauge anything from this or not.

It appears from the first sentence that Constantino was a made member, but wasn't made in NYC (at least in the Morellos) or Corleone. He's referred to in a letter with New Orleans as well, so it shows that it involved more than just NYC, Corleone, and Chicago. It certainly sounds like Constantino was a member of Corleonese origin though that traveled to Chicago and upset the local family in some way, with Morello washing his hands of responsibility for Constantino. We have other instances, like those discussed by Gentile, where Gentile took responsibility for at least one member who was going to be killed in another city and thus saved him. So this may have been an opposite scenario.

Morello's brothers were young, like you said, but we have heard from reliable sources that the Sicilian mafia made members as young as 13 and in the US they were as young as 17 (circa late 1920s). I could easily believe the Terranova brothers were already made at this time given their brother was capo dei capi and their father Bernardo was a confirmed member.

As for the list below that, these could have been the specific men who Morello consulted about Constantino and he was thus speaking for them, or they may have been the ranking members of the Morello family at the time. Even though we know families were traditionally smaller, I doubt this was the whole Morello family. The eight men listed below could include the administration and capodecinas of the family, though I'm not going to do what we both hate and assume these were the captains. LoMonte's inclusion would lend itself to them being ranking members, though, given that he would be Morello's successor as boss of the NYC-Corleonesi family.

Mr. Vincenzo Moreci, No. 535 S. Franklin Street, New Orleans, La. It is dated New York, November 15th, 1909, and reads as follows:

"You tell me that from Palermo arrived good news. I nor the others of New York have not been formally advised, therefore I beg of you tell me something about the news from Palermo. Who has written and whether any commission has decided to come? I have advised my godfather La Gatutte to have in sight the one from Morriale. I advise you further that in your last letter I understood minutely and by wire, and sign the affair of the friend Vincenzo Antinoro. It is well now we are well understood. Now for the present the most interesting thing that I desire and expect is the declaration (statement) of Giovanni Gulotta regarding the affair Constantino and Trombone declaration made and signed by his own hands of Giovanni Gulotta, and then if we are there it's a wonder.
1 Alot to be taken from this, I'll just mention how this shows Palermo connected to New Orleans connecting to New York connecting to Monreale.
2 "Commission" as a term as early as 1909, while not Theee Commission, it shows that the concept existed before 1931.

I believe 1909 is also when Jimmy DiLeonardo wrote to his paesano Vito Cascio Ferro asking for news about a mysterious event, almost certainly the Petrosino murder. I'm curious if Morello's inquiry about news from Palermo is related to the Petrosino murder as well, though there would have been other important matters being discussed between Palermo and NYC of course.

Gentile also referred to earlier "commissions", which were temporary and set up to handle specific tasks. It sounds like Morello's use in this case is similar.

"They will also receive many greetings of my brothers and brothers-in-law and my son Calidu, my godfather Angelo La Gatutte and all the friends of merit. Many greetings yet from all the friends of New Orleans that you think. To you a warm kiss. Your affectionate friend,

"(Signed) G. LA BELLA. (Morello.)"
1 Morello's son, Calogero Morello was born in 1892, so he was 17 in 1909 and it seems Morello is trying to introduce his name, get it out so people know him.

Great observation, re: "Calidu". Introductions and names are the currency of the mafia network, so again, very sharp observation there. He likely didn't mention his son's name casually as a father, but as a "Father" given who he was writing to and the context of the discussion. The son's later murder makes it even more likely he was a mafioso.

[Angelo Santino]

For one, this corroborates Nick Gentile's use of these terms and shows that they were used consistently for at least ~20 years, as Gentile makes reference to them through the end of the 1920s. It also confirms there was an explicit distinction between the Council and the Assembly and that participation in one did not guarantee -- or even allow -- participation in the other. It's also clear that Morello took the rules and distinctions concerning these bodies very seriously. This makes me second guess what I've said before about the mafia favoring simplicity -- these different ruling bodies appears complex, but maybe it's just because we have such little info. If we had been able to interview Morello or Gentile (I'm working on that seance), they might have cleared it up in a couple of sentences and it could be simple after all.

It also makes it clear that Assemblies involved a vote of attendees, but even if a Council member was allowed to attend he couldn't participate in the voting process nor even act in an advisory capacity -- he could only attend as a witness. This implies that the Council had a specific purpose that isn't made clear here -- maybe the Council's duty was to advise the capo dei capi, much as the consiglio / council / "seggia" advised the rappresentante within an individual family. It would make sense that the "Consiglio Supremo" and the "consiglio" would operate similarly just at different scales -- one for the capo dei capi, another for individual family bosses, like you said yourself. The Council could be synonymous with the Governo Centrale, which Gentile says was called by the capo dei capi. However, now that we have two extremely reliable sources who differentiate the Consiglio Supremo and the National Assembly, we can't necessarily assume Governo Centrale is another synonym for either one of these, assuming Gentile wasn't just using a figure of speech.

It's possible that Assembly attendance and voting was reserved for people directly affected by the specific matters being discussed but it's too hard to guess from this. Need to give Gentile another review after reading this to see if this puts some of his statements in a new light. No doubt it will add to it but that will require more reading / analysis than I have time for at the moment.

Whatever its set up was, I doubt the mafia founded the concept, it was rather likely copied. Italian government, the Freemasonry and non-criminal Italian Societies appeared to have Grand Council's and General Assemblies. We can likely narrow down where they got it from.

Melchiorre Allegra said when he was proposed for membership, he was told one of the reasons was he came from a "good family", which I assumed to mean a mafia background though maybe that's not the case. This language has been used by later US informants/witnesses, too, to refer to someone from a mafia-connected family. However, you're right that this doesn't seem to be the case here. Morello's use of it implies that Constantino's family aren't sbirri or anything like that, but as he says, they are "not to our bearing" (i.e. mafia) and "neither white nor black", which means they aren't mafia types nor are they anti-mafia types. Translation or not, this is a very poetic way of putting it, haha.

We can infer from this that coming from a mafia background was still very important at the time. Constantino could probably be described in modern NYC terms as a "neighborhood guy" but back then we know bloodlines and relations were of the utmost importance and this emphasizes that. Later in the letter he suggests that Constantino was already made despite his non-mafia background, which leads to the next point...

Mafiosi generally had a very polite and dignified way of speaking about one another. It was very poetic. Imagine how the tooth ache sounded in Italian.

Yeah, you f'n baited me with this one, man! Clearly it suggests Vito Cascio Ferro was boss of his own Bisacquinesi NYC family and didn't do proper background research when he inducted members into his brugad. Kidding of course, but there is a lot of room for interpretation here.

"FNU Enea" must be Pasquale Enea, a Palermitano who lived in NYC and was also arrested with Cascio Ferro in Sicily, being another suspect in the Petrosino murder. He was also Buffalo boss Joe DiCarlo Sr.'s brother-in-law (who was from Caltanissetta but lived in Palermo prior to emigrating and may have been an early "Gambino" member). This is yet another close Palermitani connection with Cascio Ferro. We can refer to the specific thread about that for the ongoing list of his Palermitani connections.

I'm going to leave that part of the discussion at that, but we can agree that Cascio Ferro and Pasquale Enea (whether as part of the same family or not) had the authority to propose or induct members without Morello's full knowledge / approval. That doesn't necessarily mean Cascio Ferro wasn't a Morello member, as Morello was a busy man and may have assumed his men would follow proper protocol only to get upset when they didn't. It's funny because it's the exact same scenario that played out almost 100 years later when Joe Massino recorded himself chastising acting boss Vinny Basciano for inducting members without following proper background protocol. What's old is new again.

I was thinking of that exact same Bonanno reference.
Regarding the rest, I don't know.

What's significant too is Cascio Ferro hadn't been in the US for years by this point, so it was significant enough for Morello to use it as an "example" years later. Wish we knew who they inducted and what hometown the recruits were from -- implies they were from a Sicilian town with a mafia family that should have been consulted.

Morello's repeated references to consulting "townsmen" (paesani) implies that checking with mafiosi either in or from the given prospect's Sicilian hometown as an essential practice. We already assumed this, but here we have the capo dei capi saying it explicitly.

That would make sense since the Mafia is a regionally affiliated system, however imagine had someone checked on Schiro whose mafia connections were with Camporeale and not his hometown Roccamena (which fell under Corleone district.) And once Schiro was made in Camporeale, he would have been counted as "Camporealesi" in terms of affiliation.

As for the list below, these could have been the specific men who Morello consulted about Constantino and he was thus speaking for them, or they may have been the ranking members of the Morello family at the time. Even though we know families were traditionally smaller, I doubt this was the whole Morello family. The eight men listed below could include the administration and capodecinas of the family, though I'm not going to do what we both hate and assume these were the captains. LoMonte's inclusion would lend itself to them being ranking members, though, given that he would be Morello's successor as boss of the NYC-Corleonesi family.

I wasn't suggesting those were the only members of NY's Corleonesi Family but that those men might have been the only ones affiliated with the Family in Corleone. There were others from Baucina, Marineo etc who, if they weren't made in Corleone wouldn't be consulted. However a few of those names were from Villafrati would either blows my theory out of the water or suggests that the "Corleonesi" Family in Sicily controlled more than just Corleone much like how Cleveland controlled more than just that city.

Great observation, re: "Calidu". Introductions and names are the currency of the mafia network, so again, very sharp observation there. He likely didn't mention his son's name casually as a father, but as a "Father" given who he was writing to and the context of the discussion. The son's later murder makes it even more likely he was a mafioso.

It just seemed so sporadic to bring up since a young individual who, given his age, probably hasn't yet had the chance to prove anything. This was likely a case of giving someone with the bloodlines membership with the hopes that they'd grow into the position, whereas poor Constantino had to go out and earn that shit. But Morello introducing his son to bosses of other cities carries implications.

I thought you'd like this, it's something you can keep revisiting and taking different things from. Rereading this now I have a better understanding and more takeaways than I did 10 years ago.

[B.]

That would make sense since the Mafia is a regionally affiliated system, however imagine had someone checked on Schiro whose mafia connections were with Camporeale and not his hometown Roccamena (which fell under Corleone district.) And once Schiro was made in Camporeale, he would have been counted as "Camporealesi" in terms of affiliation.

That gets into a thread we had on the old board about how much research these guys actually did into family backgrounds when inducting members. They are "supposed" to be amateur genealogists (hence the FBI finding a burned down orphanage to explain "Donnie Brasco's" background) but we know they became lazy over the years (half-Polish Delgiorno sneaking in, among others). Yet now we know even early Sicilian mafia figures like Cascio Ferro and Pasquale Enea were lazy about this background protocol themselves.

It's relative, though, as in 1902-1904 being "lazy" involved inducting a full-blooded Sicilian without consulting his Sicilian hometown, while being "lazy" in 1982 meant inducting a half-Pollack even though his parents lived in the same neighborhood as most of the members and all they had to do was watch his mother check the mail to know she wasn't Italian.

I presume it would be easy enough for mafiosi to find out that Schiro's father was from Roccamena while his mother was from Camporeale (if I have that right) and reach out to both places. None of that is necessary though if someone is related to a member, as Schiro was. Protocol breaks down when you stray from the family tree, which is why there is such strong incentive to intermarry and induct relatives. When you stray from that, first you induct Sicilians from non-mafia backgrounds, then it's a slippery slope to half-mainlander half-Pollacks, and finally you get John Veasey blurting out, "I'm in the mafia. Are you?"

Yet the organization survives, which is a testament to its structure and protocol. Operations come and go, the membership changes, but it's the same mafia from Morello to Massino.

--

Something else to consider, re: Cascio Ferro:

Cascio Ferro's father was originally from Siculiana and Vito was born in Palermo, then they settled in Bisacquino. I want to say there was another area (Caltanissetta?) in there, too. Given his family background involved moving around much more, checking with a specific hometown about a proposed member may have been less significant to him than it would be to Morello, whose family had steadily lived in Corleone for generations.

Or he was just lazy and wanted to induct someone without putting the extra effort in.

[Angelo Santino]

That would make sense since the Mafia is a regionally affiliated system, however imagine had someone checked on Schiro whose mafia connections were with Camporeale and not his hometown Roccamena (which fell under Corleone district.) And once Schiro was made in Camporeale, he would have been counted as "Camporealesi" in terms of affiliation.

That gets into a thread we had on the old board about how much research these guys actually did into family backgrounds when inducting members. They are "supposed" to be amateur genealogists (hence the FBI finding a burned down orphanage to explain "Donnie Brasco's" background) but we know they became lazy over the years (half-Polish Delgiorno sneaking in, among others). Yet now we know even early Sicilian mafia figures like Cascio Ferro and Pasquale Enea were lazy about this background protocol themselves.

It's relative, though, as in 1902-1904 being "lazy" involved inducting a full-blooded Sicilian without consulting his Sicilian hometown, while being "lazy" in 1982 meant inducting a half-Pollack even though his parents lived in the same neighborhood as most of the members and all they had to do was watch his mother check the mail to know she wasn't Italian.

I presume it would be easy enough for mafiosi to find out that Schiro's father was from Roccamena while his mother was from Camporeale (if I have that right) and reach out to both places. None of that is necessary though if someone is related to a member, as Schiro was. Protocol breaks down when you stray from the family tree, which is why there is such strong incentive to intermarry and induct relatives. When you stray from that, first you induct Sicilians from non-mafia backgrounds, then it's a slippery slope to half-mainlander half-Pollacks, and finally you get John Veasey blurting out, "I'm in the mafia. Are you?"

Yet the organization survives, which is a testament to its structure and protocol. Operations come and go, the membership changes, but it's the same mafia from Morello to Massino.

--

Something else to consider, re: Cascio Ferro:

Cascio Ferro's father was originally from Siculiana and Vito was born in Palermo, then they settled in Bisacquino. I want to say there was another area (Caltanissetta?) in there, too. Given his family background involved moving around much more, checking with a specific hometown about a proposed member may have been less significant to him than it would be to Morello, whose family had steadily lived in Corleone for generations.

Or he was just lazy and wanted to induct someone without putting the extra effort in.

1 I think Schiro was pure Roccamenese but married a woman from Camporeale. Maybe I'm mistaken and you're correct. His grandfather was the former mayor of Roccamena in the 1840's I think.

2 The general takeaway is that the more things change the more they stay the same. Listening to the formal process of how membership and organizational issues were resolved in the snapshot we have of 1908 seems very congruent with the type of decisions the commission would have made in the 1960's: like ruling that a Family which makes a member is responsible for said member, or granting a Boss the authority and support to restructure a Family.

3 Might be worth pulling out Bill's Last Testament and reviewing what he said about Commission formalities and comparing them.

4 The duties the 1931 Commission became responsible for were inherited from bureaucratic predecessors. Similar to the SS becoming assigned to presidential protection and losing its national scope, only to be picked up by the FBN who lost out to the FBI. The government's always had a system in place to address interstate and federal crime. Whereas the mafia always had their system in place. Although it seems to have been watered down with each rendition, a form of simplification for scrutiny sake.

5 I think between 1900 and 1930, more communication was conducted early on through letters and as travel became more accessible, convenient and affordable more meetings were conducted. We do know that in 1904 Morello went to NOLA wearing a red bandanna around his neck which seemed to carry some symbolism to it.

6 Can anyone read those letters and still believe a "new organization" was created in 1931?

7 I guess we should ask ourselves- why did Morello explain the gran consiglio in light of the Constantino situation to Dispenza? Granted if wikipedia is correct Dispenza became boss during this same year, but it seems like Morello is chastising him for overstepping boundaries rather than explaining protocol to new boss. Could he have been washing his hands of it by laying claim to his being on the consiglio and thus unable to take part in the assemblea? Any other ideas/speculations?

8 Was it always a rule that a boss had to do the ceremonies? Caldarone in Sicily made no such claim and in fact stated it was to be conducted by the oldest man of honest who could attend. I do believe there was a tightening up, but if I recall correctly, Blood and Honor states that Bruno was initiated by Maggio, was that incorrect? I guess the conclusion we'll both reach is if the boss gives the OK and can't do it himself, he can designate for it to still be conducted by someone else.

[thekiduknow]

8 Was it always a rule that a boss had to do the ceremonies? Caldarone in Sicily made no such claim and in fact stated it was to be conducted by the oldest man of honest who could attend. I do believe there was a tightening up, but if I recall correctly, Blood and Honor states that Bruno was initiated by Maggio, was that incorrect? I guess the conclusion we'll both reach is if the boss gives the OK and can't do it himself, he can designate for it to still be conducted by someone else.

In "Man of Honor", Bonanno says that there were members of his Family that he never met. I always took that to mean that he would occasianlly have others induct members on his behalf.

[Angelo Santino]

8 Was it always a rule that a boss had to do the ceremonies? Caldarone in Sicily made no such claim and in fact stated it was to be conducted by the oldest man of honest who could attend. I do believe there was a tightening up, but if I recall correctly, Blood and Honor states that Bruno was initiated by Maggio, was that incorrect? I guess the conclusion we'll both reach is if the boss gives the OK and can't do it himself, he can designate for it to still be conducted by someone else.

In "Man of Honor", Bonanno says that there were members of his Family that he never met. I always took that to mean that he would occasianlly have others induct members on his behalf.

Yes he did say that.

-------------

Going through Bill's Last Testament and oy... the history is atrocious. He must have had recordings of his father and combined it with stuff he found online. (I think alot of 'people' use the internet as a resource, even guys in who were involved but of course would never admit to it.)

One thing that always struck me as odd about Nick Gentile was his claim that Ricca pulled him aside and asked him about the Masseria-Maranzano feud and said "We of Chicago takes the matters of New York serious and we have planes to deploy if needed." Like WTF? The Outfit has their own air force too?

Similar story is told in Bill's book: "One of the capos bragged that his son was an airplane pilot and offered Maranzano the use of an airplane for the meeting. Maranzano accepted brazenly, saying, "Yes, have your son fly around over the meeting with a bomb. If somebody don't follow my order, everybody will be bombed!" Claims this happened in 1931.

Regarding the Commission, Bill makes it out to be like a semi-making ceremony, tying hands in a circle etc, symbolic stuff. He doesn't go into the Commission and its inner-functions. At least not in a way that I can draw parallels to Morello's letters. Maybe B. can spot things I'm not seeing, do you have the book?

[Pogo The Clown]

Similar story is told in Bill's book: "One of the capos bragged that his son was an airplane pilot and offered Maranzano the use of an airplane for the meeting. Maranzano accepted brazenly, saying, "Yes, have your son fly around over the meeting with a bomb. If somebody don't follow my order, everybody will be bombed!" Claims this happened in 1931.

My mind can be playing tricks on me but didn't Valachi or Bonanno also mention Maranzano having a pilot flying around the meeting site?


Pogo

[Angelo Santino]

Similar story is told in Bill's book: "One of the capos bragged that his son was an airplane pilot and offered Maranzano the use of an airplane for the meeting. Maranzano accepted brazenly, saying, "Yes, have your son fly around over the meeting with a bomb. If somebody don't follow my order, everybody will be bombed!" Claims this happened in 1931.

My mind can be playing tricks on me but didn't Valachi or Bonanno also mention Maranzano having a pilot flying around the meeting site?


Pogo

If so I don't remember that.

[Pogo The Clown]

Similar story is told in Bill's book: "One of the capos bragged that his son was an airplane pilot and offered Maranzano the use of an airplane for the meeting. Maranzano accepted brazenly, saying, "Yes, have your son fly around over the meeting with a bomb. If somebody don't follow my order, everybody will be bombed!" Claims this happened in 1931.

My mind can be playing tricks on me but didn't Valachi or Bonanno also mention Maranzano having a pilot flying around the meeting site?


Pogo

If so I don't remember that.

I checked and it was Bonsnno. Page 125 of the softcover version. It was during the big national meeting after Masseria is killed. After everyone at the meeting heard a plane flying overhead he quotes Maranzano as saying that a plane is circling the building armed with machine guns and bombs. Bonanno described the pilot as the son of a member of the family who was hired by Maranzano. Bonanno said the plane was on the lookout for any approaching police vehicles but that those in attendance didn't know that and thought that it might be used agsinst them.


Pogo