The Good Killers

1921’s Glimpse of the Mafia

Endnotes

¹ Fiaschetti, Michael (as told to Prosper Buranelli), The Man They Couldn't Escape;: The Adventures of Detective Fiaschetti of the Italian Squad,, (London: Selwyn 1928), p. 81. The story of Fiaschetti and Fontano has taken a variety of forms. In “Three more admit death band killing,” New York Times, Aug. 18, 1921, p. 1, Fontano is said to have seen the ghost of Camillo Caiozzo and Fiaschetti is said to have prevented him from jumping out the window. Downey, Patrick, Gangster City: The History of the New York Underworld 1900-1935, accepted the ghost story but removed Fiaschetti from the hotel room, placing there instead an unnamed guard. In “Leader of murder gang is trailed,” New York Telegram, Aug. 18, 1921, p. 3, Fontano was said to have roomed with Detective Pelligrino and to have talked about Caiozzo’s murder in his sleep.

² Petacco, Arrigo, translated by Charles Lam Markmann, Joe Petrosino, New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., 1974.

³ Fiaschetti, op. cit., p. 30.

⁴ Ibid. p. 81. The hotel was named in “Leader of murder...,” op. cit.

⁵ Fiaschetti, op. cit., p. 24.

⁶ Ibid., p. 81.

⁷ Ibid., p. 77-79. The detective stated that Carmela Pino was no more than 19 and lived in Brooklyn. She seems not to show up in the 1920 U.S. Census records. It is possible Fiaschetti changed her name. A Carmela Pinto does appear in the records.

⁸ Ibid, p. 80, has the detective spending several days with Fontano. “Three more admit...,” op. cit. and other published accounts have Fontano confessing at the end of the first night in the hotel.

⁹ Fiaschetti, op. cit., p. 82-83.

¹⁰ “Italian band held for killing of 16,” New York Times, Aug. 17, 1921, p. 1, and other newspaper stories of Aug. 17 appear to be contain the earliest published references to the gang name.

¹¹ Ibid.

¹² A year after Fontano’s confession, Fiaschetti was reduced in rank to patrolman as the NYPD’s Italian Squad was merged with its Bomb Squad. The reduction in rank was believed to carry with it a reduction in pay of just over $1,000 a year: “Fiaschetti reduced in police shake-up,” New York Times, Aug. 26, 1922, p. 5. “‘Nemesis of Blackhand’ is demoted in police shake up,” Bridgeport CT Telegram, Aug. 26, 1922, p. 4. “Fiaschetti, terror of N.Y. blackhanders is reduced in rank,” Buffalo Morning Express, Aug. 26, 1922, p. 2.

¹³ While initial reports focused on New York City and Detroit, “100 murdered by ‘Good Killers,’” Lima (Ohio) News, Aug. 18, 1921, p. 2, claimed that investigators were looking into connections in “Pittsburgh, Chicago, Buffalo, Detroit and several cities in New Jersey.” Pittsburgh, Chicago and Buffalo were also mentioned in “125 murders now charged to band,” New York Times, Aug. 19, 1921, p. 3. Bridgeport CT was mentioned in “Seek Newark clue to band of killers,” New York Times, Aug. 20, 1921, p. 3. Cleveland was added to the list in “To arrest ‘Camorra’ in Buffalo,” Buffalo Times, Aug. 21, 1921, p. 39.

¹⁴ “Organized to commit murder,” Mansfield (OH) News, Aug. 17, 1921, p. 1.

¹⁵  Pinkerton’s National Detective Agency Papers: Case File: Hennessy, David, Murder of. Box 114, Folders 4-6, Library of Congress. Also Employee Records: Dimaio, Francis P. Box 114, Folder 1, and Box 28, Folder 1, Library of Congress.

¹⁶ Flynn, William, The Barrel Mystery (New York: The James A. McCann Company, 1919).

¹⁷ The reach of the Ohio-based black hand group known as the Society of the Banana was discussed in “Effort to stamp out ‘Black Hand’ society,” Marion Weekly Star, June 12, 1909, p. 5; “Tell of paying the money over to band,” Marion Daily Star, Jan. 22, 1910, p. 3; and “Hastened away to Leavenworth Prison,” Marion Daily Star, Jan. 31, 1910, p. 10.

¹⁸ Downey, op. cit., p. 96. “Guilt in feud murders may mean ‘chair’,” Detroit Free Press, Aug. 18, 1921, p. 1.

¹⁹ Bonanno was practically born into the Mafia. His father was descended from an influential Mafia family. His mother Catherine was a Bonventre. His maternal grandmother was a Magaddino. At Bonanno’s baptism, Buccellato patriarch Felice Buccellato served as godfather, a vain effort by the Bonanno and Buccellato clans to mend fences: Bonanno, Joseph (with Sergio Lalli), A Man of Honor: The Autobiography of Joseph Bonanno (New York: Simon and Schuster 1983), p.24 -28.

²⁰ Ibid., p. 63.

²¹ “Link confession to 70 murders,” Lima (Ohio) News, Aug. 17, 1921, p. 1. Fontano stated that he associated with the Good Killers in Detroit beginning eight years after their start, which he placed about 1906: “Italian band held...,” op. cit.

²² His given name appears on his Sicilian birth certificate, on the Ellis Island manifest of the Themistocles, Aug. 23, 1912, and on a draft registration card from 1942. Detroit Detective McPherson discovered that New York’s Bartolo Fontano used the name Fontana while in Detroit, “Link confession...” op. cit.

²³ “Sixteen murdered by ‘Good Killers,’” Trenton (NJ) Evening Times, Aug. 17, 1921, p. 4.

²⁴ “Italian band held...,” op. cit.

²⁵ “Three more admit...,” op. cit.

²⁶ Birth record from Castellammare del Golfo.

²⁷ The marriage of Pietro Magaddino to Anna Buccellato was recorded in Chiesa cattolica Maria Santissima del Soccorso in Castellammare del Golfo. Church records include mention of Pietro’s death at age 32 on July 20, 1916. Giovanni Buccellato, 28, died July 13, 1916, just a week before Pietro. Pietro Magaddino’s brother Antonino was arrested in connection with a Castellammare double homicide on Aug. 14, 1916. Newspaper reports from 1921 (beginning with “Italian band...,” op. cit.) looking back on Pietro’s murder seemed convinced it occurred around 1920.

²⁸ Ellis Island records.

²⁹ “Italian band held...,” op. cit.

³⁰ Ibid.

³¹ Ibid.

³² Ibid.

³³ “Expect Fontano to enter guilty plea,” Long Branch (NJ) Daily, March 21, 1922.

³⁴ In summer of 1921, it was reported that Cieravo was already under indictment for running the brothel located at Springwood Avenue, Asbury Park: “Suspect held in Belmar shooting,” Long Branch (NJ) Daily, Aug. 13, 1921, p. 13.

³⁵ “Fontano balks at taking oath,” Long Branch (NJ) Daily, March 23, 1922.

³⁶ Ibid.

³⁷ The details of Fontano’s actions are described in “Italian band held...” op. cit. The nature of Caiozzo’s wound is described in “Confessed slayer is chief state witness,” Asbury Park (NJ) Evening Press, March 23, 1922.

³⁸ “Fontano balks...,” op. cit.

³⁹ "More details of crime told of,” Long Branch (NJ) Daily, March 24, 1922.

⁴⁰ Ibid; “Fontano balks...,” op. cit.

⁴¹ “Organized to commit...,” op. cit. “Exposes murder gang,” Buffalo Times, Aug. 17, 1921, p. 1.

⁴² “Fontano balks...,” op. cit. “Body of murdered man is found in Shark River Cove by crabbing party,” Long Branch (NJ) Daily, Aug. 9, 1921, p. 1. “Body of missing man found sunk in cove,” New York Times, Aug. 10, 1921, p. 9.

⁴³ “Body of murdered man...,” op. cit. “Body of missing man...,” op. cit. “Confessed slayer...,” op. cit.

⁴⁴ “Body of murdered man...,” op. cit.

⁴⁵ “More details...,” op. cit.

⁴⁶ “Body of missing man...,” op. cit.

⁴⁷ “Arrest in Caiozzo mystery,” New York Times, Aug. 13, 1921, p. 4. “Held in Belmar murder,” New York Times, Aug. 13, 1921, p. 9. “Suspect held in Belmar shooting,” Long Branch (NJ) Daily, Aug. 13, 1921, p. 13. “Road house proprietor is held under $10,000 bail on murder charge,” Long Branch (NJ) Daily, Aug. 16, 1921, p. 1.

⁴⁸ Fiaschetti op. cit. p. 80-81. Monmouth County NJ Prosecutor Charles F. Sexton expressed skepticism over Fiaschetti’s story in “Defer legal action in multiple murder mystery until Fontano arrives,” Long Branch (NJ) Daily, Aug. 18, 1921. One account replaces Fiaschetti in the hotel story with Detective Pelligrino: “Leader of murder gang is trailed,” New York Telegram, Aug. 18, 1921, p. 3. Another account has the police sending Fontano away after he approached them for protection on Aug. 12: Downey, op. cit., p. 95.

⁴⁹ “Road house proprietor...,” op. cit.

⁵⁰ “Italian band held...” op. cit. “Assassin roundup bares plans for six new murders,” New York World, Aug. 18, 1921.

⁵¹ Downey op. cit., p. 97. “Murder gang informer attacked by prisoner,” Brooklyn Standard Union, Aug. 17, 1921. “Three more admit...,” op. cit.

⁵² “Three more admit...,” op. cit. “Death ring may have killed 87,” New York Evening Journal, Aug. 18, 1921.

⁵³ “Three more admit..,” op. cit.

⁵⁴ Ibid.

⁵⁵ Ibid.

⁵⁶ “125 murders laid to band as police get new details,” New York World, Aug. 19, 1921.

⁵⁷ “Seek Newark clue to band of killers,” New York Times, Aug. 20, 1921, p. 3; “5 more murders by Camorra here, Fontano declares,” New York World, Aug. 23, 1921, p. 4.

⁵⁸ “Confesses he set two Detroit fires and new slayers,” New York World, Aug. 20, 1921, p. 5.

⁵⁹ Police considered Mafia big shot and bootlegger Giuseppe Masseria as the primary suspect in the Mauro case but could not find sufficient evidence linking him to the crime: Downey, op. cit.

⁶⁰ Lists of victims were published in “Italian band held...,” op. cit., and “Guilt in feud murders may mean chair,” Detroit Free Press, Aug. 18, 1921, p. 1.

⁶¹ “Italian band held...,” op. cit.

⁶² “Gang sought booze control, gunman says,” Detroit Free Press, Aug. 17, 1921, p. 1. “Police reopen old mysteries on revelations of death ring,” New York American, Aug. 20, 1921, p. 1.

⁶³ Ibid. “Gives details of Giannola murder,” Long Branch (NJ) Daily, Aug. 24, 1921. “Knows slayer, brother hints,” Detroit Free Press, Jan. 5, 1919. Detroit Free Press initially reported that Giannola was assassinated on his way to the home of Giuseppe Braziola, killed by his own son-in-law Leonard Chiavelo (“Gunmen murder ‘Tony’ Giannola, feudist leader,” Detroit Free Press, Jan. 4, 1919). The same newspaper amended the story the following year, saying Giannola was on his way to offer condolences to to Pietro Bosco’s widow (“Feudist chief falls to foes; another slain,” Detroit Free Press, Sept. 29, 1920, p. 1).

⁶⁴ “Italian band held...,” op. cit. “Sam Giannola, feudist, slain; shot 28 times,” Detroit Free Press, Oct. 3, 1919. “Guilt in feud murders may mean ‘chair,’” Detroit Free Press, Aug. 18, 1921, p. 1. “Eight were slain in Detroit,” New York Times, Aug. 18, 1921, p. 5.

⁶⁵ “12 shots kill Vitale in feud,” Detroit News, Sept. 28, 1920, p. 1. “Killer gives clue to Petrosino death,” New York Times, Aug. 21, 1921, p. 17.

⁶⁶ “Gives details...,” op. cit. Lacatto’s suspected accomplice in the Giannola murder, Mimi Cruciante, was also discovered murdered.

⁶⁷ Rice, Dennis. “Andrea Licato,” Find A Grave ( http://www.findagrave.com/ cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=licato&GSbyrel= all&GSdyrel=all&GSob= n&GRid=7814161& )

⁶⁸ “Gives details...,” op. cit.

⁶⁹ “ ‘Good Killers’ gang buries slayer alive,” Trenton (NJ) Evening Times, Aug. 25, 1921, p. 1. “Victim of ‘Good Killers’ band is buried alive,” Clearfield (PA) Progress, Aug. 24, 1921, p. 1.

⁷⁰ “Giannola escapes bullets of foes,” Detroit Free Press, Feb. 3, 1919.

⁷¹ In August 1921, Fontano stated that he was last in Detroit 18 months earlier, setting the latest date of his presence in that city at about February 1919: “Confesses he set two Detroit fires and knew slayers,” New York World, Aug. 20, 1921, p. 5.

⁷² “Ambuscaders kill 1, shoot 1,” Detroit News, Aug. 18, 1920.

⁷³ “12 shots kill Vitale in feud,” Detroit News, Sept. 28, 1920, p. 1. “Feudist chief falls to foes; another slain,” Detroit Free Press, Sept. 29, 1920, p. 1.

⁷⁴ “Four more killings laid to death band,” New York Times, Aug. 23, 1921, p. 12. “Band accused of killing four more,” Trenton (NJ) Evening Times, Aug. 23, 1921, p. 7. “4 more murder mysteries solved,” New York Evening Journal, Aug. 23, 1921, p. 2.

⁷⁵ Antonio DiBenedetto’s daughter, Antonina, married into the Bonventre clan of Castellammare. Another marriage between the House of DiBenedetto and the House of Bonventre was documented in the early 1900s. That was the union of Vito DiBenedetto wtih Francesca Bonventre. According to Sicilian marriage records, Joseph Bonanno’s maternal grandparents earlier brought together the bloodlines of the Bonventre, Magaddino and DiBenedetto families. His grandmother was a Magaddino, while his grandfather was descended from the Bonventre and DiBenedetto lines. The kinship ties among the Bonventre, Magaddino, DiGregorio and Bonanno clans are noted in Bonanno, op. cit., p. 27, 56, 63.

⁷⁶ Bonanno, op. cit., p. 105.

⁷⁷ Mazzara and DiBenedetto certificates of death, Department of Health of the City of New York, Bureau of Records. “Two died in street battle,” Brooklyn Citizen, Nov. 12, 1917, p. 2. “2 die, victims of vendetta,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Nov. 12, 1917, p. 3.

⁷⁸ “Knows slayer, brother hints,” Detroit Free Press, Jan. 5, 1919. “Ambuscaders kill 1, shoot 1,” Detroit News, Aug. 18, 1920.

⁷⁹ “Feudist chief falls to foes; another slain,” Detroit Free Press, Sept. 29, 1920, p. 1.

⁸⁰ The era of yellow journalism gave way to jazz journalism about 1920: “History of Newspapers – Part II – Historical Perspective,” CyberCollege (http://www.cybercollege.com/frtv/newsp2.htm).

⁸¹ “Link confession to 70 murders,” Lima (OH) News, Aug. 17, 1921, p. 1.

⁸² “Death ring may have killed 87,” New York Evening Journal, Aug. 18, 1921. “100 murdered by ‘Good Killers’,” Lima (OH) News, Aug. 18, 1921, p. 2.

⁸³ “125 murders now charged to band,” New York Times, Aug. 19, 1921, p. 3. “125 murders laid...,” op. cit.

⁸⁴ “Seek Newark clue...,” op. cit. “Seek graveyards of ‘Good Killers’,” Trenton (NJ) Evening Times, Aug. 20, 1921, p. 2.

⁸⁵ “Italian band held...,” op. cit.

⁸⁶ “Killer gives clue...,” op. cit. “Confessions here give new clue to Petrosino slayer,” New York World, Aug. 21, 1921, p. 1.

⁸⁷ Some examples: “New York police suspect Good Killers active,” Clearfield (PA) Progress, Sept. 6, 1921, p. 4; “’Good Killers’ shoot New Jersey merchant,” Appleton (WI) Post-Crescent, Sept. 29, 1921, p. 1; “Fear ‘Good Killers’ did stabbing and shooting,” Appleton (WI) Post-Crescent, Oct. 31, 1921, p. 1; “’Good Killers band feared in action again following two more murders,” Clearfield (PA) Progress, Nov. 1, 1921, p. 1.

⁸⁸ Bonanno, op. cit., p. 63, traces the Castellammarese crime families in Brooklyn and Buffalo and a Castellammarese wing of the Detroit crime family to a common ancestor organization based in Brooklyn.

⁸⁹ “20 murders bared, two at $30 apiece,” New York Times, Sept. 11, 1921, p. 1.

⁹⁰ “Leader of murder gang is trailed,” New York Telegram, Aug. 18, 1921, p. 3.

⁹¹ “No secret orders connected with Buffalo murders,” Buffalo Morning Express, Aug. 19, 1921, p. 4.

⁹² Bonanno, op. cit. p. 131 indicates Palmeri was a member of the Magaddino crime family in Buffalo; p. 312 describes honeymoon visit to Palmeri home by Joseph Bonanno and his new bride Fay.

⁹³ Brooklyn-based Mafia boss of bosses Salvatore “Toto” D’Aquila and Brooklyn Castellammarese leader Salvatore Maranzano are linked with Palmeri through an index of Erie County pistol permit applications. On their applications, the Brooklynites apparently used as their own a Jersey Street, Buffalo, address that belonged to Palmeri.

⁹⁴ “Record funeral is expected as hundreds mourn Palmeri,” Buffalo Evening News, Dec. 22, 1932.

⁹⁵ Joseph DiCarlo is established as Mafia boss of Buffalo until his death in 1922 by “Organized crime: 25 years after Valachi,” Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, U.S. Senate, 100th Congress, Second Session, April 1988 (Washington D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1990), p. 296.

⁹⁶ Palmeri married Rosaria Mistretta, cousin of DiCarlo’s wife, on Oct. 5, 1913.

⁹⁷ “Black Hand involved in federal case,” Buffalo Morning Express, April 14, 1924, p. 4; “Buffalo Bill, police figure, dies in his car,” Buffalo Evening News, Dec. 21, 1932, p. 1; “Palmeri funeral services Saturday,” Buffalo Times, Dec. 22, 1932, p. 15.

⁹⁸ Interestingly, a Buffalo resident involved in Palmeri and DiCarlo rackets was named Gaetano Capodicaso (referred to in the press as “the Killer”). If Detective Repetto had overheard Magaddino referring to that low-ranking individual, he might have misinterpreted the surname as a title, giving birth to the “chief” story. Capodicaso lived in Brooklyn for several years before moving on to Buffalo and could have been acquainted with Magaddino. He was charged along with Joseph DiCarlo Jr. and Palmeri in two separate cases in 1924: “Black Hand involved in federal case,” Buffalo Morning Express, April 14, 1924, p. 4.

⁹⁹ New Jersey State Archives, Department of State, Secretary of State's Office, Extradition Records 1844-1968, Requisitions February 1921-1922, Box 77. State of New Jersey vs Bartolomeo Fontana, Francesco Puma, Giuseppe Lombardi.

¹⁰⁰ Ibid.

¹⁰¹ Ibid.

¹⁰² “Indict 2 as slayers; Mafia crime charged,” New York Times, Sept. 15, 1921, p. 3.

¹⁰³ “Camorra slayer now in Freehold,” Monmouth (NJ) Democrat, Sept. 18, 1921.

¹⁰⁴ Monmouth County Quarter Sessions Minutes, 1920-1922: “State vs. Joseph Lombardi,” p. 507, January term 1922; “State vs. Joseph Lombardi,” p. 29, October term 1922. “Held in $10,000 bail in Neptune murder,” Trenton (NJ) Evening Times, Dec. 17, 1921, p. 5. “Foes shoot gunman full of bullets,” New York Times, Nov. 5, 1922, p. 32.

¹⁰⁵ “Seek extradition of slayer Fontano,” New York American, Aug. 22, 1921, p. 9.

¹⁰⁶ “Salvatore Rose acquitted,” Monmouth (NJ) Democrat, March 30, 1922.

¹⁰⁷ “Confessing murder gets life sentence,” Monmouth (NJ) Democrat, March 23, 1922. “Acquit Cievarro on serious charge,” Long Branch (NJ) Daily, March 25, 1922.

¹⁰⁸ “Acquit Cievarro...,” op. cit.

¹⁰⁹ “Confessed slayer is chief state witness,” Asbury Park (NJ) Evening Press, March 23, 1922.

¹¹⁰ “Acquit Cievarro...,” op. cit.

¹¹¹ “Fontano balks...,” op. cit.

¹¹² Ibid. “More details...,” op. cit.

¹¹³ “Salvatore Rose acquitted,” op. cit.

¹¹⁴ “Verdict of not guilty given after four hours’ deliberation,” Asbury Park (NJ) Evening Press, March 25, 1922.

¹¹⁵ “Salvatore Rose acquitted,” op. cit.

¹¹⁶ Ibid. “Acquit Cievarro...,” op. cit. “Verdict of not guilty...,” op. cit.

¹¹⁷ “Foes shoot gunman...,” op. cit. “ ‘Murder farm’ Italian is slain during stroll,” New York Tribune, Nov. 5, 1922, p. 9.

¹¹⁸ “Foes shoot gunman...,” op. cit.

¹¹⁹ Monmouth County Quarter Sessions Minutes, 1920-1922: “State vs. Joseph Lombardi,” p. 29, October term 1922.

¹²⁰ Magaddino’s assumption of the leadership of the DiCarlo organization is stated in “Organized crime: 25 years after Valachi,” op. cit.

¹²¹ Bonanno, op. cit., p. 291-292.

¹²² Social Security death records.

¹²³ Bonanno, op. cit., p. 96, 102-103. Bonventre certificate of death, Department of Health of the City of New York, Bureau of Records.

¹²⁴ Bonanno, op. cit., p. 93. Milazzo certificate of death. Michigan Department of Health, Division of Vital Statistics.

¹²⁵ Delaney, Pam F., Fiaschetti relative, recalled in an interview that Fiaschetti’s second wife Jean served as secretary for the detective agency. Fiaschetti’s first wife died shortly after giving birth to their daughter Anna.

¹²⁶ “Fifty thousand dollars in bills ready for kidnappers,” Sheboygan (WI) Press, March 4, 1932, p. 2.

¹²⁷ “Market clean-up starts,” New York Times, Jan. 9, 1934, p. 1.

¹²⁸ Delaney, Pam, op. cit. “Fiaschetti,” obituary, New York Times, Nov. 16, 1936, p. 19. Anna Fiaschetti died Nov. 15.

¹²⁹ “Michael Fiaschetti dies at 74; ex-detective led Italian Squad,” New York Times, July 31, 1960, p. 68.

¹³⁰ New Jersey State Archives, Department of Institutions and Agencies, New Jersey State Prison at Trenton: Inmate Registers 1894-1975, Register I (1920-1926) #6166-#9547, Vol. 13; Inmate Registers 1894-1975, Register M (1940-1945) #21414-#24764 and #53A-#152A, Vol. 17; Inmate Registers 1894-1975, Descriptive List No. 6 (1921-1923) #6484-#7663, Volume 29.

¹³¹ Ibid.

¹³² U.S. World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942, Ancestry.com online database, 2006.

¹³³ Giacoma Fontana died of liver cancer in the Bronx, NY, on Nov. 28, 1916: Certificate of Death, Department of Health of the City of New York, Bureau of Records. Her husband Giuseppe predeceased her, dying in Castellammare before her immigration on Nov. 22, 1913: Ellis Island records of the Perugia.

¹³⁴ 1930 U.S. Census records.

Acknowledgements: The writers wish to express their appreciation to Bette M. Epstein of the New Jersey State Archives and to Mary Ann Kiernan of the Monmouth County, NJ, Archives for their valuable assistance. Broadway Central Hotel photograph used with permission from Randall’s Lost New York City: http://www.lostnewyorkcity.com/. Map of Shark River area by Thomas Hunt. This article was first published in the On the Spot journal of crime and law enforcement history, spring, 2007.

Copyright © 2007
All Rights Reserved
Thomas Hunt
and Michael Tona