1891 in organized crime
From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
See also: 1890 in organized crime, other events of 1891, 1892 in organized crime and the list of 'years in organized crime'.
Events
- March 14 - After the acquittal/mistrial (on the previous evening) of Charles Matranga and 8 of his associates for conspiracy in the murder of New Orleans Police Chief David C. Hennessy, a lynch mob enters the jail and murders 11 of the 17 suspects in the murder. Matranga himself is spared on orders from the lynch mob's leader.[1] Hennessey had been investigating a gang war between rival Mafia groups: the Matranga and Provenzano factions (eventually bringing Joseph Provenzano to trial in 1890), however, while leaders of the criminal gang, including Charles Matranga, are acquitted (of conspiracy), many suspects were still awaiting trial (for the actual murder).[2] For the first time the possibility of an Italian secret criminal organization operating in New Orleans is discussed in the United States. A New Orleans grand jury investigating the incident would later report:
-
- "..our research has developed the existence of the secret organization styled 'Mafia'.... Officers of the Mafia and many of its members were not known. Among them are men born in this city of Italian origin.... The larger number of the society is composed of Italians and Sicilians." [1]
Arts and literature
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Births
- Joe Aiello (Giuseppe Aiello), Chicago and New York mobster and president of the Unione Siciliane.
- Ruggiero Boiardo (Richie Boiardo), Genovese crime family leader (Capo) (New Jersey) and Abner Zwillman associate.
- Jack Dragna, Los Angeles Mafia Don.
- Owney "The Killer" Madden, New York Prohibition gangster
- Stefano Magaddino, "The Undertaker" Buffalo Mafia Don.
- January 26 - Frank Costello (Francesco Castiglia) "The Prime Minister", National Crime Syndicate and later Cosa Nostra member.
Deaths
- March 14 - Manuel Polizzi, New Orleans mafiosi[citation needed] and lynch victim
- March 14 - Rocco Geraci, New Orleans mafiosi[citation needed] and lynch victim
- March 14 - James Caruso, New Orleans mafiosi[citation needed] and lynch victim
- March 14 - Pietro Monasterio, New Orleans mafiosi[citation needed] and lynch victim
- March 14 - Frank Romero, New Orleans mafiosi[citation needed] and lynch victim
- March 14 - Loreto Comitis, New Orleans mafiosi[citation needed] and lynch victim
- March 14 - Charles Traina, New Orleans mafiosi[citation needed] and lynch victim
- March 14 - Antonio Bagnetto, New Orleans mafiosi[citation needed] and lynch victim
- March 14 - Antonio Scaffidi, New Orleans mafiosi[citation needed] and lynch victim
- March 14 - Antonio Marchesi, New Orleans mafiosi[citation needed] and lynch victim
- March 14 - Joseph P. Macheca, New Orleans mafiosi[citation needed] and lynch victim
