The Good Killers1921’s Glimpse of the Mafia(Continued from Page 4) A mystery unravels Isaac Sorrell of Neptune City, NJ, and his buddies Charles Bennett and John Gant were crabbing about 250 feet from shore in a Shark River inlet known as Tucker’s Cove on Aug. 8, when something beneath the water caught Sorrell’s eye. He called to his comrades and the three men were able to draw from the water the body of a man.42 The authorities were called, and the body was taken to the funeral home of Thomas Hardy in Belmar. There Monmouth County Physician Charles E. Jamison, a 34-year-old resident of Corlies Avenue in the town of Neptune, performed an autopsy, assisted by 54-year-old Dr. Joseph Ackerman of Grand Avenue, Asbury Park. The doctors determined the victim was probably Italian, about 25 years of age and had been in the water approximately two weeks. They extracted a number of large shot from a gaping wound on the body’s left side. Death was clearly the result of homicide.43 The doctors noted that clothesline had been used to secure two red sandstone weights to the victim, causing the body to remain submerged in the cove. A 27-pound stone was tied to the neck, and a 25-pound stone was tied to the knees. In a coat pocket was found an envelope mailed from Mahaffe, PA, and addressed to “Caizzo, 44 Twelfth St., New York City.”44 Monmouth County detectives had no trouble tracing the clothesline and the peculiar red sandstone to the inn run by Cieravo. A pile of sandstone – similar in color, size and shape – was used around the base of a prominent plant stand in the inn’s yard. The very same clothesline, from which pieces had evidently been cut, hung from trees and poles in Cieravo’s yard.45 They also learned that New York Police had a missing person report on Camillo Caiozzo dating from Aug. 1. Two of Caiozzo’s relatives, Julius Caietta of New York City and Paul Ladonna of Elizabeth NJ, were called in to identify the body.46 Cieravo was taken into custody on the morning of Aug. 12 as a material witness to the killing of Caiozzo. He was confined in Red Bank borough jail for a few hours and then transferred to Monmouth County Jail in Freehold, where he was held without bail.47 As New Jersey police set to sorting out Cieravo’s role in the Caiozzo case, Bartolo Fontano entered New York Police Headquarters seeking protection from a gang of killers he was certain meant to murder him. Whether he obtained protection at that time is not known for certain. Fiaschetti claimed to have spent the weekend with him, but the detective’s claims were disputed by others.48 Three days later, a hearing was held before Monmouth Judge Rulif V. Lawrence on a writ of habeas corpus. Cieravo’s attorney J. Mercer Davis argued that his client knew nothing of the homicide and should be released. County prosecutor Charles F. Sexton revealed the connections between Cieravo’s roadhouse and Caiozzo’s submerged remains. Judge Lawrence dismissed the habeas corpus writ and set bail for Cieravo at $10,000.49
The same day in New York City, Fontano confessed to Fiaschetti and was placed under arrest at Broadway and 37th Street. The Italian Squad quickly developed a plan to trap Stefano Magaddino. Fontano telephoned the Good Killers leader, said he believed the police were on to him and asked Magaddino to bring some money to Grand Central Station so he could get away. Magaddino took the bait and brought $30 for Fontano to a Grand Central Station filled with undercover police detectives. Detective Silvio A. Repetto, pretending to be a traveler, lurked nearby as Magaddino handed the money to Fontano and told the barber to take a train to Buffalo, “where he would be well cared for by the chief there, who would be notified.” Detectives immediately surrounded Magaddino. He resisted arrest but was overpowered. The Italian Squad then rounded up the rest of the Good Killers’ alleged leadership: Bonventre, Lombardi, Galante, Puma and DiGregorio.50 During processing at the police station, the arrested men were all in close quarters. Magaddino suddenly lunged at the much smaller Fontano, yelling, “I’ll burn you up for this yet! You won’t get away with it!” Fiaschetti attempted to block Magaddino’s charge and was kicked in the stomach. Carleton Simon, deputy police commissioner in charge of narcotics cases, rushed to Fiaschetti’s aid and wrestled for a moment with the prisoner. Fiaschetti recovered and resolved the matter with his nightstick. Magaddino was struck soundly on the head and momentarily lost consciousness. He also lost a bit of blood and required stitches to close a wound to his forehead.51 Police later said three of the prisoners made admissions concerning the Caiozzo murder. Details of the prisoner statements were not released. All seven men were locked up in the Tombs Prison.52 Back in Monmouth County, Detective Jacob B. Rue learned of Fontano’s confession and of his accusations against the Good Killers gang. Rue reportedly made out a complaint against Fontano, Magaddino, Bonventre, Puma, Lombardi and Galante. Curiously, he omitted DiGregorio from the complaint. Justice of the Peace Edward W. Wise reviewed Rue’s paperwork and reportedly issued a warrant for the arrest of the named men.53
During the proceedings, defense attorney Edward A. Wynne called the court’s attention to injuries sustained by Magaddino and Puma since their arrest. Magaddino’s head was stitched and bandaged, his hat and shirt stained with blood. Puma’s arms and eyes were blackened with bruises. Puma also removed his shirt, revealing black and blue marks on his back.54 Wynne did not comment on the possible cause of the injuries. The New York Times, however, understood that revealing them was an effort to counteract the reported admissions of the prisoners.55 Since nothing more was ever said about the three statements, it seems Wynn’s strategy was sound. All of the men were held without bail. Fontano was shuttled off to Raymond Street Jail in Brooklyn so that he could not be intimidated by the others. The remaining six men went back into the Tombs Prison.56 (Continued on Page 6) |
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