Early NY questions without answers.

[HairyKnuckles]

This is a long, long shot but I feel this could possibly have some merit. If we assume that the phonetic "Cheegusae" is a first and a last name combined, then the last name could be Saia. It´s a decently common last name throughout Italy and more common on Sicily than the other areas located in the southern parts of the mainland.


Saia.png


And if we assume that the first part is "Cheech" or a variation of it, this individuals first name must have been Francesco or Francisco. The nickname "Chico" or "Chicko" makes some sense. Chico Saia.

I found a Francesco Saia, born in ca 1872, living in Brooklyn (Gravesend section), a polisher of furniture by trade. Maybe I have not not looked wide enough but I was not able to find a criminal record or any arrests this guy could be tied to. This of course, does not necessarily exclude him from being involved, since we know many members back then actually had no criminal records to their name (if I am on the right track here).

I found a couple of other Frank Saias. One of them was living on the Lower East Side (East Village), was arrested in 1908 after he had attempted to shoot a man. This Frank Saia claimed he was 24 years old when arrested and that he was a tailor by trade. So if he was telling the truth, he was born ca 1884. However, the US Census show, that this man was actually born ca 1892.

The other Frank Saia that I found and who had a record was living in Astoria, Queens. He was born ca 1892 and was a salesman of yeast. According to the 1930 US Census, he was living with his wife, a mother in law (Beatrice Gambino) and a brother in law (Frank Gambino) in same household. The Gambino name may not mean anything but I`m mentioning it anyway. This Frank Saia was arrested in 1930 with three others for illegally cooking alcohol stills, an operation that was based in Ozone Park, Queens. The three others were (names possibly butchered) Frank Colochico (42), Frank Caltabelotta (32) and Paolo Puccio (31).

Like I said, this is a long, long shot in finding out who this "Cheegusae" was. I guess an accurate DOD for these guys (which I have not yet found) could settle the matter. Valachi claimed "Cheegusae" died in 1936. I would love to hear your thoughts on this.

I must add that the two Frank Saias mentioned above could be the same guy although one of them came to the US 1907 and the other one in 1908. And just now found a third Frank Saia who was listed as a lodger, living in the Bronx. This guy was born ca 1885. So age match with the Frank Saia who was arrested in 1908 for attempting to shoot a man.

[HairyKnuckles]

- you can also try saja

The only Frank Saja I can find is one living in Pennsylvania and he was not Italian. He was 8 years old in 1936.

Thanks for the suggestion though.

However, Sala (with an L) is a possibility but the name is too common. Makes it difficult to pinpoint a specific individual.

[cobra]

- maybe try saija