Well it was one day after christmas but thats how the press dubbed the massacre...

Back the early 1920's the Italian gangsters,or as some of em were known as the Black Handers,were just the second criminal force in New York,the real economically and more successful mob was the Irish mob and the White Hand gang(not to be confused with the White Hand Society),consisting mostly of Irish immigrants.Many sources are claiming that New York’s criminal big shot Frankie Yale fought a desperate gang war for control of the Brooklyn docks with rival Italian gangs and the infamous Irish White Hand Gang.In thouse times the Brooklyn docks were the most lucrative area for mobsters in New York.The activities there extended from hijacking goods and oppression to loansharking. This section was highly profitable for whoever had the current control of it.

Wild Bill Lovett,was the boss of the White handers and held control over the Brooklyn docks for a while through force and violence.He was a pinched-faced little man who was known for shooting a lot of people.Wild Bill was considered as the greatest worthy ever to head the White Handers, and he actually had the Mafia-Camorra elements on the run as he extended White Hand influence.One day Bill Lovett decided to steal one of Yale’s trucks delivering stolen goods and booze in worth of 30.000$ from Detroit to New York,wich was a lot of cash back in thouse days.

So in 1920,Yale planned an ambush at the White Handers annual dance in Brooklyn's Sagaman's Hall.Usually the most important members of the armed squad of the black handers were chef-executioner Willie "Two Knife" Altierri, Anthony "Augie Pisano" Carfano, the top-driver Frenchie Carlino, Francesco's brother Tony and the money collector Benjamin Pazzo.The "score" at the Sagaman's Hall was magnificent,3 deaths and 10 heavily injured.

Unsurprisingly, the white handers planned revenge. They prepared for a shootout at Stauch's Dancehall, were Yale had invited most of New York's Mafiosi to, for a party.Four white handers dressed like musicians, Danny Bean, "Irish Eyes" Duggan, Richard Lonergan and Eddie McFarland, stepped into Stauch's Dancehall.Five people died, four Italians and Danny Bean, one of the assassins.

Later Eddie McFarland who got killed with a knife while he was watching a film in a cinema together with one of his numerous girlfriends.Rumours were that killer from Chicago did the job.

As a reaction to that, Lovett ordered a killing on Antonio Desso, the Mafia's most successful Bar and restaurant manager.

Frankie Yale together with Giuseppe Balsamo and Vincenzo Mangano choose three of Balsamo’s nephews who just came from Sicily to New York to do some dirty work.The three youngsters killed two Irish mobsters and then they threw the bodies sitting in their car into the sea.Days after the murder police officers found the dead white handers in their wet grave.By now the score was very much in favor of the Italian gang.

Also on Novemeber 1,1923,White Hand leader Wild Bill Lovett was found dead. Shot and hit over the head with a cleaver,while sleeping. Lovett was assassinated by a mafioso murder expert Willie “Dui Cuteddi” or “Two Knifes” Altierri.After the Lovett hit,his brother-in-law ”Peg Leg” Lonergan took over the White Hand gang.Peg Leg, whose real name was Richard J. Lonergan, hated the Italians with a passion and was a very violent individual. Yale ordered a meeting of the most important gang members in the infamous Adonis Social Club .The main topic of the meeting was clear: How to solve the White Hand gang problem?So opportunity came by its self.

In December 1925,Al Capone left Chicago and went to New York City,for two reasons:his son Sonny, whose severe left ear infection required medical attention(wich was also his alibi) and Frankie Yale,whose New York enterprises were threatened by a gang of New York Irish White Handers.

So,one the day of Christmas,in the early morning hours of December 26, 1925, White Hand gang boss Richard "Pegleg" Lonergan and five of his White Handers,headed to the two storey building that housed the Adonis Social Club owned by the Italian mob.Neils "Needles" Ferry, Aaron Harms, James Hart, Joe Howard and John Maloney are in attendance.They enter the club already boozed up to the gills, passing the comment of how one of their guys can beat up the whole club of “dagoes”.They begin to sneer at the Italian men inside and make racial comments with words like "Wops" and "dagoes" get shouted over guests.Story goes that “Peg Leg” Lonergan saw two Irish girls dancing with Italian gangsters.Lonergan kicked the girls out and told‘em to get back with the white men.Suddenly all the lights went out and guns blazed in the darkness.When vision was restored, Lonergan was shot to death without even having a chance to pull out his .38 pistol.His gun was found on him with all the rounds intact. He even had a fresh toothpick still dangling from his lips. Aaron Harms was also instantly killed without drawing his loaded pistol."Needles" Ferry was found dead outside in the gutter just outside the Adonis Club. His body was dragged out into the street as is proved by his trail of smeared blood on the floor leading to the exterior of the club.The rest of the White Handers had fled.

On December 27,1925, A total of 10 people were picked up with seven being immediately charged in connection with the homocide at the Adonis Social Club. Among some of those charged are the bartender, the Adonis club part owner Jack "Stickem" Stabile, Frank Pizzo, Ralph D'Amato and Alphonse Capone who claimed to be in town visiting and just happened to be sitting in as a doorman for the club that evening. Of the White Handers charged there was; James Hart, who was still in the hospital and Jack, also known as Pat "Happy" Maloney who is a friend of Lonergan. A man named Joe Howard, with White Handers told police he was merely the singer of the club at the time of the shooting.

An examination of the original police reports and witness accounts says that the Adonis Club shootings were most probably a spur-of-the-moment reaction to a drunken argument that Needles Ferry had engaged in with Capone and his companions.One way or another this was the beginning of the end for the White Hand Gang.The White Hand gang is believed to have died with Lonergan that evening on 1925.

On January 2,1926, four of the accused were freed on bail of $10,000 each and the remaining six were freed on bails of $5,000 each.

No one was ever be prosecuted for the murders of Lonergan, Harms and Ferry.The New York mafiosi were grateful for Capone's caper in Brooklyn and the New York waterfront became secure Mafia country.Both operations were successful: Capone's son's infection was stopped, and the Irish gang was almost exterminated.On his return to Chicago,Al Capone continued with his extermination campaign against the Irish O'Banion Gang.

Looks like theres somethin about Capone,massacre’s and holidays…anyways happy forthcoming holidays.

If any1 has some additional info or found some errors in this story please contribute.This article is completed from various sources and infos that can be found on the internet.Cheers



He who can never endure the bad will never see the good