The father of the famous and talented Hollywood actor, Woody Harrelson, was a hit man charged in three Texas murders-for-hire.
The contract murder of Sam Degelia, Jr.
Yeast baron Antonio Cecala
Yeast was of vital importance to organized crime during Prohibition, since it was an essential ingredient for the commercial production of alcohol.
Southern fried Mafia: the story of Chicken Louie
In addition to the poultry business, Dallas Mafia associate Louis Ferrantello was a nightclub owner and a bookmaker.
Springfield Strikes Back
After he was nearly killed by the Patriarca family, Irish-Italian-American gangster “Cadillac Frank” Salemme came to lead the organization that wouldn’t have him as a member.
Omerta in Utica
Though never charged, it’s widely believed that the powerful Falcone brothers were behind the unsolved murders of Pietro Lima and Dominick Aiello.
Vengeance for the Barrel Murder
Benedetto Madonia was killed for defending his brother-in-law from Giuseppe Morello. While he is known forever as the victim of “the Barrel Murder,” the story of what happened after his death is rarely told.
The detective’s private stenographer
In a letter dated 7 February 1911, James V. Ortelero asks for a favor from the superintendent of the federal prison in Atlanta, Georgia: obtain a murder confession from Giuseppe Morello.
The murder of Giovanni Vella
Even the biographies of well-known mafia figures like Giuseppe Morello are made up, in part, of rumors and legends. Morello was called “The Clutch Hand” because three of the fingers on his right hand were fused at birth. His birth defect did not prevent Morello from learning to write, or to fire a gun. It’s... Continue Reading →
Mafia Genealogy 