[Everything you said here is, (or sounds) spot on EXCEPT for one thing.... I hear differing accounts but none that definitively pointing to Maranzano as being behind the kidnapping and torture of Luciano, nonetheless to get him to betray Masseria. I've heard it possibly being the result of other rivals, possibly the police etc. Also many accounts say Luciano was a willing participant in the betrayal of Masseria and had made an agreement with Maranzano that his betrayal would result in a promotion.
How can we be sure Maranzano orchestrated his kidnapping?
I can't be sure of anything because gangsters aren't the types to leave their collected letters and papers to college and university libraries for people like us to peruse. And even if they did, they're all a bunch of pathological liars. Selwyn Raab, in his book, "The Five Families," says Luciano approached Maranzano and makes no mention of kidnapping and torture. Several other sources support the latter view, saying that Luciano got his facial scar and droopy eye as a consequence of that torture. Raab says Luciano was present at the luncheon where Masseria was killed, but who knows? No witnesses came forward (surprise, surprise).
