Nicky Slim's testimony about his 1983 induction ceremony

[Antiliar]

He said Accardo came before Tony Cap.

[PolackTony]

He said Accardo came before Tony Cap.

Ok, thanks. So then by 1935 Accardo was already bumped up to another rank, or Tony Cap was sponsoring guys for membership without being a capo? Did Mags ever hear when exactly Accardo was made and when he became a capo?

[Antiliar]

I think Accardo was made by Capone. That's about the extent of his knowledge. These guys don't ask questions, they just stay quiet and listen when their elders share stories.

[PolackTony]

I think Accardo was made by Capone. That's about the extent of his knowledge. These guys don't ask questions, they just stay quiet and listen when their elders share stories.

Of course. Just wanted to see if his dad or Messino or anyone else ever mentioned any details like this about Accardo to him.

[Antiliar]

I can add that Capone made both Accardo and Tony Cap, and Joe Gags was made shortly before Willie Messino.

[Snakes]

I can add that Capone made both Accardo and Tony Cap, and Joe Gags was made shortly before Willie Messino.

Do you think that Accardo and Capezio were two of the original ten made by Capone or were they made at a later date (although not much later, if Capone made them)?

[PolackTony]

I can add that Capone made both Accardo and Tony Cap, and Joe Gags was made shortly before Willie Messino.

Thanks. To restate my question above, I suppose it's more likely that DiFronzo, Joey A, and Lee Mags were sponsored by Joe Gags?

[Antiliar]

I can add that Capone made both Accardo and Tony Cap, and Joe Gags was made shortly before Willie Messino.

Do you think that Accardo and Capezio were two of the original ten made by Capone or were they made at a later date (although not much later, if Capone made them)?

I don't think they were part of the original ten. This is who I think was in the first generation of made guys:

1. Paul Ricca (Felice DeLucia)*
2. Frank Nitto*
3. Louis Campagna*
4. Ralph Capone*
5. Jack McGurn (Vincenzo Gibaldi)*
6. Frank Diamond (Maritote)
7. Charles Gioe
8. Phil D'Andrea (may have been a made Mafia member already)
9. Lawrence "Dago" Mangano (may have been a made Mafia member already)
10. Frank Rio*

Plus the following as alternates:
Charles Fischetti*
Rocco De Grazia
Joseph Fusco
Michael "Dago Mike" Carrozzo?
Dominic Roberto
Gaspare Matranga
[* = almost certainly part of this first generation of made members]

viewtopic.php?f=32&t=6692

[Antiliar]

I can add that Capone made both Accardo and Tony Cap, and Joe Gags was made shortly before Willie Messino.

Thanks. To restate my question above, I suppose it's more likely that DiFronzo, Joey A, and Lee Mags were sponsored by Joe Gags?

If I recall correctly from a previous call they were sponsored by Cerone. Cerone was running the crew in the mid-1960s.

[PolackTony]

I can add that Capone made both Accardo and Tony Cap, and Joe Gags was made shortly before Willie Messino.

Thanks. To restate my question above, I suppose it's more likely that DiFronzo, Joey A, and Lee Mags were sponsored by Joe Gags?

If I recall correctly from a previous call they were sponsored by Cerone. Cerone was running the crew in the mid-1960s.

Thanks for confirming.

[funkster]

Other candidates for the 1956 ceremony include:
Max Inserro
Anthony Maenza
Leo Manfredi
James "Cowboy" Mirro
Rocco Pranno

John Rosselli (transferred from Los Angeles)

I’m blanking on the year John DiFronzo was inducted - was he also made in the 50’s?

See my post after yours, but he was probably inducted in the late 60s or early 70s, as by that point he was acting head of Elmwood Park as Joe Gagliano had died and Jack Cerone and Willie Messino were in prison.

Per Mike Mags, John DiFronzo, Joey A and Lee Mags were all made at the same time in the mid-1960s. Willie Messino was made in 1949 and Jack Cerone in 1935. Both Cerone and Messino were sponsored by Tony Cap.

I would add I do remember Mags and Fosco specifically discussing that Cerone was made in a church or the basement of a church near the Rush street area.

[Antiliar]

St. Vincent's Church in River Forest.

[funkster]

Well, partially correct lol. Thought they said downtown.

[Antiliar]

This must be the church: https://www.svfparish.org/

[PolackTony]

St. Vincent's Church in River Forest.

Oh wow. Given the location, one would assume this involved an oath at least, if not a full ceremony, rather than Cerone just being told: "you're in". Has Mags ever given you his take on the ceremony question?