OK, there's different stories for any given situation in mafia world so thought maybe could get a thread going to see what the common beliefs are.

So to kick off....

I've read 2 different stories on the bugging of Castellano's place.

1 - FBI covertly installed one by cutting the alarms, drugging the dogs,installing a duplicate lamp with the bug in it etc etc..

2- FBI agent posed as a repairman and planted a bug under Bilotti's watchful gaze.

Both accounts I've read were pretty detailed and seemed plausible.

So what's the general consensus with ya'll?

Ron

I'm only aware of #2. But it was included in "Boss of Bosses," the Castellano book written by the FBI agents who had the bug planted. So, I count that as authoritative.

I've read about the covert operation in a couple of different places, I wanna say that was the scenario in Mobstar but not a hundred percent sure on that...think the movie Boss of Bosses with Palminterri playing Big Paul goes with this version also.

But yeah...tend to believe the second scenario.The first makes for a good story but...

So...next question.

I've read/heard several versions of Al Capones batting practice episode...

1- Both Scalise and Anselmi were killed.

2- One was killed and the other let off with a "see what happens" type thing. (Can't remember which was which)

3- Both were killed and a guy named Joe Giunta who somehow just got in the way was killed also.

Capone batted all three. They were still breathing when his bodyguards, led by Frank (The Enforcer) Nitti finished them off with guns.

Thanks TB...I've heard the first version the most...the other two once or twice..do you know if Giunta was an intended target or did actually just get in the way?

Ron

Giunta was the new head of the Unione Siciliana, a potential rival group that Capone had tried to dominate. Scalisi and Anselmi transferred their loyalty to the Unione, and were plotting against Capone. So Snorky threw a dinner in the "honor" of all three--and had them murdered.

Thanks again TB!

New question....

How did these guys get their names?

The Chin - Heard 3 different stories...
1 - When he was a kid his mom would yell for him to come home and sounded like "Vin - chin - zoooo"
2 - While a boxer one hit on the chin would lay him out.
3 - A big chin.

I'm thinking the first originally and the other two fell into place for those reasons.

Jake Greasy Thumb Guzak
1 - Graft was also called grease and Jake was the payout man always peelin bills off a wad with his thumb.
2 - The guy was a slob and always had food grease on his clothes ( one version I heard also stated he had terrible body oder).
3 - Kinda ties into #2 but heard this from a different source...always had greasy hands from food and it would get on the cash as he counted it out.

I've tended to go with #1 but guess it could be a combo of 'em.

No. 1 and No. 2, respectively.

#2 is correct. #1 was made up and the FBI agents (O'Brien, Kurins) admitted as much.

OK...new question...

Two versions of the start of everything....

1 - Maranzano held a meeting after Masseria was bumped off, laid out the family structure and the rules etc, etc... Luciano added the consiglieri (sp?)position and officially did away with the boss of bosses title after he bumped off Maranzano.

2- Maranzano simply proclaimed himself boss of bosses without any of the structure and Luciano organized it all after Maranzano was gone.

I've always gone with #1.



Also, kinda ties into this question, I've read two versions of why Maranzano came to the States.

1- Immigrated like all the others of the time simply to escape poor conditions and growing problems with Mussolini clamping down on the Mafia.

2- Was sent by Vito Cascio Ferro to get things in line for Ferro to start building an empire in the states but then Ferro was thrown in jail by Mussolini/ Mori and Maranzano kept on truckin with himself as the boss.

I've always leaned towards #2 on this one.


Ron

#1 is generally acknowledged as correct, except that the five original Dons were counted as "caporegimes" under Maranzano. Luciano was one of them--not Maranzano's consigliere.





Joe Bonanno, in his autobio, "A Man of Honor [sic]," says that Maranzano, originally from Castellammare del Golfo, came to America in 1925 after his career as a pezzanovante in Palermo was brought to an end by Mussolini's crackdown on the Mafia. Bonanno makes no mention of Don Vito. I go with him on this one because there's no evidence that Don Vito ever returned to, or took an interest in, America after 1909. It is true that Mussolini jailed him.