Mafia rank of Joe Adonis

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Dwalin2014
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Mafia rank of Joe Adonis

Post by Dwalin2014 »

In the book "The Mob" by Virgil Peterson it's said that Joe Adonis was considered Albert Anastasia's superior in the Murder Inc group. How is that possible? Anastasia was a family underboss, he reported only to Mangano, and what exactly was the rank of Adonis in his family? Was he ever formally above the rank of soldier, even though de-facto he was allowed to make important decisions?
The book was written in 1983 though, so it contains outdated information, but Adonis was long dead and well known by then, I thought in the 80s it was already clearly established who was who in the mafia of the 30-50s.
B.
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Re: Mafia rank of Joe Adonis

Post by B. »

I don't know too much about that end of things, but it seems like a lot of the Murder Inc stuff is hype. It's not like it was a formal organization, and when it comes to the politics of what was going on in the street, Cosa Nostra affiliation trumped anything else that may or may not have existed.

As for Adonis' rank, I know people have debated whether he was a captain, soldier direct with the administration, or even consigliere. It sounds to me like he was a captain. I've wondered if some of the Genovese New Jersey operations originally belonged to him. It is interesting that he was from Avellino and so were guys like Boiardo who later got made into that family.
Pete
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Re: Mafia rank of Joe Adonis

Post by Pete »

B. wrote:I don't know too much about that end of things, but it seems like a lot of the Murder Inc stuff is hype. It's not like it was a formal organization, and when it comes to the politics of what was going on in the street, Cosa Nostra affiliation trumped anything else that may or may not have existed.

As for Adonis' rank, I know people have debated whether he was a captain, soldier direct with the administration, or even consigliere. It sounds to me like he was a captain. I've wondered if some of the Genovese New Jersey operations originally belonged to him. It is interesting that he was from Avellino and so were guys like Boiardo who later got made into that family.
I think you got it right all the actual historical stuff I've seen it doesn't seem like "murder inc" was anything more than a media creation similar to when they call everyone the boss of bosses even though that position hasn't existed since the 30's
I agree with phat,I love those old fucks and he's right.we all got some cosa nostra in us.I personnely love the life.I think we on the forum would be the ultimate crew! - camerono
Dwalin2014
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Re: Mafia rank of Joe Adonis

Post by Dwalin2014 »

Pete wrote:
B. wrote:I don't know too much about that end of things, but it seems like a lot of the Murder Inc stuff is hype. It's not like it was a formal organization, and when it comes to the politics of what was going on in the street, Cosa Nostra affiliation trumped anything else that may or may not have existed.

As for Adonis' rank, I know people have debated whether he was a captain, soldier direct with the administration, or even consigliere. It sounds to me like he was a captain. I've wondered if some of the Genovese New Jersey operations originally belonged to him. It is interesting that he was from Avellino and so were guys like Boiardo who later got made into that family.
I think you got it right all the actual historical stuff I've seen it doesn't seem like "murder inc" was anything more than a media creation similar to when they call everyone the boss of bosses even though that position hasn't existed since the 30's
Yes, but there were some Cosa Nostra members like Adonis or Anastasia who were closer to Lepke's gang than others and probably used it more often. Maybe "Murder Inc" was a general denomination for them and Lepke's gang, like for example the extortionist gangs in the 1910s were all generally named "Black Hand" even though most groups were independent from one another.
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Pogo The Clown
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Re: Mafia rank of Joe Adonis

Post by Pogo The Clown »

I'm pretty sure Adonis was a least a Capo (interesting about him possibly being Consiglieri) since Valachi identified him as such.


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camerono
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Re: Mafia rank of Joe Adonis

Post by camerono »

I can understand why it was called the black hand,but the media made up the name murder Inc.and tried to make it sound like any Joe blow could just walk up and pay for some other Joe schmo whacked for a price.didn't they only work within the mob I'm sure.just another media tagline.
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Giacomo_Vacari
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Re: Mafia rank of Joe Adonis

Post by Giacomo_Vacari »

Joe Adonis was bumped up to Capo of Costellos crew, when Frank became boss of the Genovese. Adonis might have been made into Mangano family, then later on switched to the Luciano family in the mid 1930s. He was close to members of the Luciano, Mangano, and Profaci crime families. Joe did do some hits for Lepke. Lucky and him were close during the 1920s. Valachi had him list as consiglieri to the Genovese family, but he was popular and before he was deported, he was the strongest candidate to go against Vito Genovese in that family. He was well respect and connected around the United States.
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