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American Mafia Timeline
Part 3. 1920-1927

Easy profits of the Prohibition Era trigger rapid growth in organized crime and lead to conflict and consolidation. An insecure boss of bosses relies on assassinations and a network of spies to retain his position. (The buttons below may be used to jump ahead to a certain era, to earlier or later timeline pages or to the main website homepage.)

Back to Part 2 1922 1925 Ahead to Part 4 Home
1920 Jan 17
United States
 
Final sections of the Volstead Act, providing for the enforcement of the Eighteenth Amendment, take effect at 12:01 a.m. Manufacture, transport and sale of beverages containing one half of a percent or more of alcohol by volume are illegal. The federal enforcement capability lags behind the law, with enforcement expected to begin in earnest about Feb. 1. Alcohol technically was already prohibited under a wartime measure that became effective June 30, 1919 (after the Great War was ended). Portions of the Volstead Act were effective when the act was passed by Congress over President Wilson's veto on Oct. 28, 1919. Ratification of the Eighteenth Amendment was certified on Jan. 16, 1919. The amendment was scheduled to become effective one year after ratification.
Source: "What you can and can't do under that Volstead Act," Washington Times, Jan. 16, 1920, p. 4; "Big celebration to mark passing of whiskey here," New York Evening World, Jan. 15, 1920, p. 2; "Rum has more lives than a cat," New York Sun, Jan. 15, 1920, p. 1; "Nation-wide Prohibition ends fight of 112 years," New York Tribune, Jan. 17, 1920, p. 3.
1920 May 11
Chicago, US
Jim Colosimo, Johnny Torrio, Alphone Capone, Frank Uale
Colosimo, 42-year-old restaurateur, political power broker and vice lord, is ambushed and killed inside his cafe. Diamonds and other expensive jewelry are found on the body, ruling out robbery as a motive. Police search for Victoria Moresco, first wife of the recently remarried Colosimo. Shortly after his murder, Colosimo underlings Torrio-Capone enter the bootleg alcohol business. Frank Uale is widely believed to have traveled to Chicago to perform the killing at the bidding of Torrio and Capone.
Source: "Colosimo's," My Al Capone Museum, myalcaponemuseum.com; "13 held in murder of 'vice king,'" Rock Island IL Argus and Daily Union, May 12, 1920, p. 1; "'Big Jim' Colosimo, cafe owner, slain in Chicago," Washington Evening Star, May 13, 1920, p. 20; Cook County IL Death Index.
1920 Jun 30
United States
Ignazio Lupo
Harding Administration (Attorney General Harry Daugherty is credited with the decision) releases Lupo. The remaining 20 years of his counterfeiting sentence is conditionally commuted. Lupo swears off illegal endeavors and pledges to return to Sicily. "Murder Stable," Lupo's former headquarters, is reportedly torn down.
Source:
1920 Sep
New York, US
Tommy Pennochio
The bootleggers' curbside Liquor Exchange (also called "Whisky Curb") is established along Kenmare, Broome, Grand and Elizabeth Streets, a short distance from police headquarters. Tommy Pennochio, an ally of Joe Masseria, is generally credited with supervising the exchange. Bootleggers swap or sell surpluses out in the open. A number of gangland shootings occur at the site.
Source: "Seize $75,000 rum near bootleg curb," New York Times, Oct. 17, 1920;
1920
Cleveland, US
Nicola Gentile, Umberto Valenti, Toto D'Aquila
Rum-running in Cleveland and Pittsburgh exhausts Gentile, and he drops out of sight for a while. Gentile travels to Sicily for rest.
Source: Gentile, Vita di Capomafia
1920
Cleveland, US
Joe Lonardo, Toto D'Aquila
"Big Joe" Lonardo, leader of Cleveland Mafia group, is a close ally of boss of bosses Toto D'Aquila of New York.
Source: Gentile, Vita di Capomafia.
1920
New York, US
Giuseppe Masseria, Salvatore Mauro, Umberto Valenti, Ciro Terranova
Masseria, 41, rises to prominence in the New York Mafia after his murder of Mauro, a rival bootlegger, on Chrystie Street.
Source:
1920
Philadelphia
Salvatore Sabella
Sabella is engaged in business as an oil and cheese merchant and owner of a soft drink cafe.
Source:
1921 Feb 10
New York NY
Alberto Altieri, Antonio Mancini
Altieri is fatally shot in the back at Mulberry and Grand Streets. He dies later at Gouverneur Hospital. A stray bullet strikes a female bystander. A crowd attacks gunman Antonio Mancini of 56 Crary Street, Providence. Police take Mancini into custody. They initially believe the killing is the result of a bootleggers feud. In summer, they learn that Altieri was longtime leader of a New England Camorra gang based in Providence. The prosperous Altieri had retired from the gang and planned to return to Italy, while his associates demanded that he continue to serve the organization. Authorities were alerted to Altieri's underworld ties when they saw a new bulletin from Naples, Italy, where Altieri was buried.
Source: "Old murder victim a Camorra leader," New York Times, Aug. 14, 1921, p. 10.
1921 Aug
New Jersey, US
Stefano Magaddino, Camillo Caizzo, Frank Buccellato
Magaddino and six others are arrested in connection with the murder of Camillo Caizzo, whose corpse was found in a large sack in New Jersey. The Caizzo murder was apparently a vendetta killing, as Caizzo and Frank Buccellato were believed to be responsible for the death of Magaddino's brother Pietro five years earlier in Castellammare del Golfo, Sicily. Magaddino and the other gang members escape prosecution.
Source:
1921 Oct 30
New York, US
Ignazio Lupo
Attorney General Harry M. Daugherty gives permission for Ignazio Lupo to visit Sicily and return. Upon his return (probably early in 1922), Lupo is working in bakery business and operating a wholesale fruit operation with his son.
Source:
1921 Nov
New York, US
Carlo Gambino
Arrives in New York. Goes to work for Castellano bootlegging family. Chandler says Gambino's arrival date was Dec. 23.
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1922

Return

1922 May 8
New York, US
Joe Masseria, Umberto Valenti, Silva Tagliagamba
Masseria, now known as "Joe the Boss," acts immediately to avenge the death of Vincent Morello. He personally sets up an ambush for Valenti and bodyguard Silva Tagliagamba at the curbside liquor exchange, where bootleggers meet openly to swap their surpluses. Valenti escapes unharmed, but Tagliagamba is mortally wounded. Masseria is apprehended while fleeing from the scene. Police surprised to find he has a gun permit. Masseria is charged with the Tagliagamba killing but the case is never prosecuted.
Source:
1922 May
New York, US
Ignazio Lupo
After a couple of years in Sicily, Lupo, tries to re-enter the U.S. Immigration officials attempt to deport him. He is held three weeks on Ellis Island as the case is processed.
Source:
1922 Jun 12
New York, US
Ignazio Lupo
Rather than deport him, the U.S. government orders that Lupo be readmitted.
Source:
1922
New Orleans, US
Carlo Matranga, Sam Carolla
Matranga decides to retire from New Orleans Mafia. The organization is left in the control of Sam Carolla.
Source:
1922 Aug 8
New York, US
Joe Masseria, Umberto Valenti
Masseria apparently ambushed outside of his home at 5th Street and 2nd Avenue. (Masseria's home address at the time is #80 Second Avenue.) He ducks into Heiney's Millinery and then ducks at least four bullets fired at close range, escaping unharmed but with bullet holes through a new straw hat. Umberto Valenti believed responsible for the attack.
Source:
1922 Aug 11
New York, US
Joe Masseria, Umberto Valenti
After attending what was supposed to have been a successful peace conference with Masseria men (Masseria said he would resign from his position as "boss"), Valenti was shot down in the street by Masseria forces. Chandler says Valenti's murderer was Charlie Luciano, then a lieutenant under Masseria. The murder took place as Valenti was departing from a restaurant near #233 East 12th Street.
Source:
1922
New York, US
Tommy Pennochio
The Pennochio-supervised Liquor Exchange in lower Manhattan closes down in fall. The exchange has been the site of much bloodshed.
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1922
New York, US
Louis Buchalter
Working with strikebreakers puts Buchalter in position to set up labor racketeering in city's garment district.
Source:
1923
Chicago (Cicero), US
Al Capone
Capone sets up headquarters at Hawthorne Inn, 4833 22nd Street in Cicero.
Source:
1923
New York, US
Frank Costello
Costello's home address is given as 234 East 108th St.
Source:
1923 Dec 2
Brooklyn
Ignazio Lupo, Anthony Forti
Authorities note that Lupo conspired with Forti on a bakery extortion racket.
Source:
1923
New York, US
Owney Madden
Prison stay ends as "The Killer" Madden is paroled. Madden becomes a top bootlegger and runs Harlem nightclubs. While he has no formal relationship with the Mafia, Madden cooperates with the organization.
Source:
1924
Brooklyn
Frank Uale
Police report that 17 bullets were fired into Uale's care as he returned home from a trip to Coney Island with friends. Uale was not injured.
Source:
1924 Nov
Chicago
Mike Merlo
Chicago's longtime Unione Siciliana leader Merlo dies of cancer. Funeral is attended by entire Chicago underworld and representatives of Sicilian communities across the country, including Uale from Brooklyn.
Source:
1924 Nov 10
Chicago
Dion O'Bannion
O'Bannion is killed, apparently on orders of Al Capone. The actual killing is often attributed to Brooklyn gangster Frank Uale. It occurred in O'Bannion's flower shop on North State Street.
Source:
1924 Nov 24
Chicago
Frank Uale, Dion O'Bannion
Authorities say they believe Uale was one of the killer's of Chicago gang leader Dion O'Bannion.
Source:
1924 Dec
New York
Joe Bonanno
Bonanno, 19, returns to Brooklyn. Initially settles down with his uncle, Peter Bonventre.
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1925

Return

1925 Jan 24
Chicago
Johnny Torrio, Alphonse Capone
Torrio is shot at his home a short time before he was to begin a nine-month prison term in connection with the police raid on the Sieben Brewery (set up by North Side gangsters). During his hospital and prison stays, Torrio decides to retire. Capone takes over the gang.
Source:
1925 May 25
Chicago
Angelo Genna
Genna is killed in his car. Samuel Amatuna takes over leadership of Unione Siciliana
Source:
1925
Brooklyn
Salvatore Maranzano
Maranzano, 39 and already a Mafia hero in his homeland, arrives in Brooklyn from Sicily. Begins working in bootlegging and other rackets with the cohesive Castellammarese organization in Brooklyn.
Source:
1925 Aug
Philadelphia, US
Leo Lanzetti, Salvatore Sabella
Leo, oldest of the Lanzetti brothers, is shot by passing car of gunmen as he leaves his barber at Seventh and Bainbridge Streets. It is believed that the murder was Sabella's way of countering incursions by the Lanzettis into Mafia territory.
Source:
1925 Nov 10
Chicago
Samuel Amatuna
Amatuna is shot, dies three days later. Capone uses his influence to install his ally and gang consigliere Antonio Lombardo as Unione Siciliana president.
Source:
1926
Chicago
Antonio Lombardo
Lombardo reportedly opens Unione membership to non-Sicilian Italians (it is not clear whether the organization was ever restricted to Sicilians) and changes the name of the group to the Italo-American National Union.
Source:
1926
Brooklyn
Frank Uale
Probable attempt on Uale's life. Police report that Uale's chauffer is killed while driving Uale's wife home from a wedding.
Source:
1926 Oct 11
Chicago, US
Earl "Hymie" Weiss, Al Capone
Capone believed responsible for death of North Side mobster Weiss. Weiss was shot by rifles as he passed by the old O'Bannion flower shop on North State Street.
Source:
1927 May 30
Philadelphia, US
Salvatore Sabella, Joseph and Anthony Zanghi, Vincent Cocozza
A rebellious wing of the Philadelphia Mafia is sent a clear message as Vincent Cocozza and Joseph Zanghi are shot dead on a street corner. Joseph's brother Anthony leads police to accused killer Sabella.
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1927 Sept
Chicago
Joe Aiello, Alphonse Capone
Aiello family allies with the North Side Gang against Capone. Aiellos may have had the support of Uale and the traditional Sicilians in the Mafia for this move.
Source:
1927 Oct 13
Cleveland, US
Joe Lonardo, Joe Porrello
Joe Porrello takes over Cleveland Mafia after having "Big Joe" Lonardo killed in Porrello Brothers' barbershop.
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1927
Brooklyn
Frank Uale
Uale is believed to be hijacking his own liquor shipments to Capone, forcing the Chicago gangster to repeatedly pay for liquor that does not arrive. Relationship between Uale and Capone becoming openly hostile.
Source:
1927
New York, Philadelphia, Atlantic City
Salvatore Lucania (Luciano), Meyer Lansky, Frank Costello, Benjamin Siegel, Joe Adonis, Abner Zwillman, Nucky Johnson, Waxey Gordon, Nig Rosen, Johnny Torrio
Allegedly under the guidance of Torrio, a number of Italian and Jewish bootleggers combine forces in the Seven Group. The organization quickly expands into Boston, Cleveland and Florida, providing a steady stream of quality liquor, a minimum of violence and a maximum of profits.
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