Ruggiero "Richie the Boot" Boiardo

[The Greek]

I'm reading "In The Godfather Garden" by Richard Linnet. I'm only a few chapters in but there are some interesting things that I thought I'd post about.

In the late 20's and 30's, Boiardo's operation was independent and fighting with Longy Zwillman's gang for bootlegging territory and other rackets. Catena was aligned with Zwillman, and apparently did not like Boiardo. Boiardo reached out to Luciano to intercede, which he did, and the feud ended and territory was shared and divided up.

What's strange is that Boiardo wasn't made until 1947 or 1948(can't remember exactly) and was made a captain right before Luciano got deported. How is it he was allowed to operate independently for so long with such a large crew and as a big player in Newark? Any info would be appreciated.
thanks!
The Greek

[Selig]

This is a very interesting question. There is a body of thought that Boiardo was originally under Morreti. That doesn't make sense. As you said, Boiardo was an independent until around 1947, then it's seems he was taken into the Genovese Family. Must have been made as a Captain with his own crew, or it doesn't make any sense at all. So the Genovese Family went from there original 13 crews to 14 at that time. Later on after Moretti was killed, Gyp DeCarlo spilt from Morreti's crew, with Gerry Catena taken over the rest. Possibly the crews stayed at 14 as it was the same time Adonis went to Italy and his crew was split between one of the Jersey crews and Jimmy Blue eyes.

[The Greek]

This is a very interesting question. There is a body of thought that Boiardo was originally under Morreti. That doesn't make sense. As you said, Boiardo was an independent until around 1947, then it's seems he was taken into the Genovese Family. Must have been made as a Captain with his own crew, or it doesn't make any sense at all. So the Genovese Family went from there original 13 crews to 14 at that time. Later on after Moretti was killed, Gyp DeCarlo spilt from Morreti's crew, with Gerry Catena taken over the rest. Possibly the crews stayed at 14 as it was the same time Adonis went to Italy and his crew was split between one of the Jersey crews and Jimmy Blue eyes.

This would mean that he was an unmade associate with a very large crew, and major political contacts for 20 years before being absorbed into the Genoveses. How is that possible? Has anyone run across anything in any Mary Farrell docs?

[Selig]

It's pretty well accepted that Boiardo was independent for many years. Valachi apparently tried to kill him back in the 1930's during the Castellamarese war, can't remember why, I'm sure other posters will. I think the op is much the same question as yours: How and why did Boiardo exist as an independent force in NJ for over 20 years?

[Frank]

Must of had a big powerful crew.

[Frank]

Catena wasn't made untill he split with Zillman

[Selig]

Gerry Catena wasn't made until around 1947 either I believe. Not sure that he split with Zwilman or simply became a made man after the books opened. The dates that he and The Boot were made are interesting however; Just after Vito Genovese returned from Italy. Coinicidence? particularly as Boiardo was a known supported of Genovese and Catena became his Underboss.

[Frank]

Was it true Catena and Eboli we're thinking about killing Vito before he died.

[Selig]

Was it true Catena and Eboli we're thinking about killing Vito before he died.

That's a different thread, but I've not seen anything to indicate either one wanted Genovese killed, although it seemed Boairdo &
Miranda did try to mount a coup in the early 1960's and looked to Catena for support. Eboli appeared to support Genovese.

[Frank]

Ok thank.