Do you think it's true Terranova was really the getaway driver for the Masseria hit, and all the rest about him being so excited that he couldn't start the engine?
In the book "Gangster City: The History of the New York Underworld 1900-1935" by Patrick Downey there is the following quote though:
Who was there that day has also been up for much speculation. The only four the author feels were present for sure are the men named by Joe Valachi: Charles Luciano, Vito Genovese, Frank Livorsi, and Joe Stracci. Although some claim Valachi was wrong, he was part of the underworld at the time. That Ciro Terranova was driving the car is pure fiction. Not only did witnesses say that the two men arrived by themselves, which means there was no wheelman , but even if there was, would a top Mafia boss relegate himself to such a low job? That “Bugsy” Siegel was part of the hit squad also seems unlikely. Masseria was killed by those close to him.
And also: where did the theory come from, that Terranova whacked Frankie Yale and did even put the order on paper so he had to steal it back from the killers who blackmailed him? Is there any good reason to suspect he was involved in the Yale hit?
Here are some articles:
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19291227&id=sCAbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FksEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1329,5144212
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19291229&id=siAbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FksEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4229,5685865
http://www.americanmafia.com/Allan_May_10-11-99.html
