1931 in organized crime

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1 Events
2 Arts and literature
3 Births
4 Deaths

[edit] Events

The Castellammarese War continues as Joe Masseria offers to negotiate with Salvatore Maranzano. The Castellammarese faction however, refuse to end the war demanding the death of Masseria ally Joe "The Baker" Catania. Although Catania is subsequently murdered later that year, hostilies continue.
Salvatore Sabella is arrested for assault and battery using a motor vehicle, however he receives a suspended sentence. During his indiment New Jersey police discover his address to match that of Stefano Magaddino, leader of the Buffalo crime family, following Magaddino's arrest in 1921. Shorty after his arrest, the now 40 year old gangster retires as leader of the Philadelphia crime syndicate in favor of lieutenant John Avena.
Charles Entratta, a partner of New York gangster Jack "Legs" Diamond is gunned down in a Brooklyn neighborhood.
February 3 - Joe Catania is killed as he leaves his home on Cresent Avenue. It is thought Catena's murder had been ordered by Masseria, who had suspected him of hijacking his liquor shipments.
April 15 - Joe Masseria is killed by Joe Adonis, Vito Genovese, Albert Anastasia, and Bugsy Siegel on the orders of Lucky Luciano with Ciro Terranova driving the getaway car.
May - Following Masseria's death, Salvatore Maranzano declares himself Capo di Tutti Capi (boss of bosses) during a conference held in Chicago, Illinois. While conference was to serve as a reconciliation with Al Capone's Chicago Outfit, Luciano and syndicate allies conspire to murder plan to eliminate Maranzano.
September 10 - On orders of Lucky Luciano, Meyer Lansky and Frank Costello, Salvatore Maranzano is murdered in his headquarters on Park Avenue by gangsters disguised as police officers. That same day several of Maranzano's lieutenants are killed by unknown gunmen including James Marino, killed by unidentified gunmen outside a Bronx neighborhood barbershop, and Maranzano allies Samuel Monaco and Louis Russo whose bodies are found dumped in Newark Bay after being tortured to death. These events may or may not have been the basis for the beginning of the alleged "Night of the Sicilian Vespers" in which many old world Sicilian-born mafiosi are killed throughout the country by the Luciano-Lansky faction in the aftermath of the Castellammarese War.
September 13 - Joseph Siragusa, leader of the Pittsburgh crime family, is shot to death in his home and later succeeded by John Bazzano.
September 17 - Meyer Shapiro, who controlled bootlegging, illegal gambling and prostitution in New York's East Side, is murdered by former associates Abe "Kid Twist" Reles and Martin "Bugsy" Goldstein who quickly take control of his criminal operations. His younger brothers Irving, who would be killed outside his Bronx apartment on July 11, and Willie Shapiro would also be killed, the latter being buried alive by Reles and his associates the following year.
October 6-24 - Al Capone is indicted for tax evasion, fined $50,000, and sentenced to eleven years in a federal prison.
October 15 - Joe Ardizonne, head of the Los Angeles crime family, disappears and presumably murdered (possibly a victim of the "Night of the Sicilian Vespers"). Jack Dragna would go on to succeed Ardizzone as leader of the syndicate.
December 18 - New York Prohibition gangster Jack "Legs" Diamond is shot to death while staying at a safehouse in Albany, New York by a number of unidentified gunman. Diamond is one of the last major Irish gangsters in New York to be eliminated by the "National Crime Syndicate".
December 22 - Danny Wallace, on the pretence of a sit down with Italian-American mobsters, is ambushed with his two lieutenants Barney Walsh and Timothy Coffey (although wounded, Coffey was able to escape) and murdered in Boston's North End. The Gustin Gang would be the first victims in a three-year systematic elimination of Irish-American gangsters in the United States.

[edit] Arts and literature

Little Caesar (film) [1] starring Edward G. Robinson
The Public Enemy (film) [2] starring James Cagney
Smart Money (film) [3] starring Edward G. Robinson and James Cagney

[edit] Births

Vincent Napoli, Gambino crime family member and Brooklyn drug smuggler
Leonard Teperow, West Roxbury bookmaker and Mafia associate
March 19 - Robert Trimbole, Australian drug baron and organized crime leader.
September 30 - Giuseppe Calò, Sicilian mafioso

[edit] Deaths

Charles Entratta "Charlie Green", New York mobster and associate of Jack Diamond
February 3 - Joe Catania, New York mobster anf a lieutenant to Joe Masseria
April 15 - Giuseppe Masseria, New York mobster,Boss of Bosses
July 11 - Irving Shapiro, New York (East Side) mobster
September 10 - Salvatore Maranzano, New York mobster,Boss of Bosses
September 10 – James Marino (James LaPore), Salvatore Marranzano lieutenant
September 10 - Samuel Monaco, Salvatore Maranzano ally and New Jersey Underboss
September 10 - Louis Russo, Salvatore Maranzano ally and New Jersey Consigliere
September 13 - Joseph Siragusa, leader of the Pittsburgh crime family
September 17 - Meyer Shapiro, New York (East Side) mobster
December 22 - Danny Wallace, Boston mobster and leader of the Gustin Gang
December 22 - Barney Walsh, Boston mobster and member of the Gustin Gang