Unione Siciliane
Encyclopedia
The Unione Siciliana was a Sicilian-American fraternal organization which eventually was rumored to have controlled much of the Italian American
vote within the United States during the early twentieth century. The organization would be a major source of conflict as underworld figures who, through a series of puppet presidents largely controlled by the Chicago Outfit
, fought to control the highly influential organization during Prohibition
.
though a ruthless campaign of murder and extortion. In 1914, Lupo became Unione president. Lupo would use the organization to expand racketeering, prostitution, extortion, kidnapping, and murder for hire into Italian-American neighborhoods. Installing meat hooks in his office, Lupo was said to have hung his victims on them. He is also alleged to have burned six political opponents alive in his basement furnace. In 1918, After Lupo's imprisonment, Frankie Yale
, a New York mobster, would become president of the Unione. Yale would feud with former protegee and Chicago rival Al Capone
for the presidency throughout the next ten years. This feud ended with Yale’s murder in 1927.
The reality is that there never were chapters in New York. Journalists and writers confused the nature of the Unione Siciliana with the Mafia and the Black Hand, and it was transmogrified to become the Unione Siciliane or Unione Sicilione. Neither name is correct Italian. Ignazio "Lupo the Wolf" Lupo was born Ignazio Lupo. His mother's maiden name was Lupo, and he was sent to Atlanta Federal Penitentiary for counterfeiting in 1910. There is no evidence that Frankie Yale had any connection to Lupo's Mafia organization. Since part of this myth is that only Sicilians were permitted to be members, the claim is contradicted by the fact that Yale was born in Longobucco
, in the province of Cosenza
, in the region of Calabria
.
During the time when Yale was said to be the supreme president, former judge Bernard Barasa held that position in Chicago since 1922 until the end of the decade. Like Yale, he was also non-Sicilian. He was born Bernard Philip Barasa in Michigan
in 1878 to a father from Genoa
and a mother from Massachusetts. He attended the University of Michigan
and graduated from Chicago's Kent College of Law in 1905. In Chicago he went from attorney to a Municipal Court judge before leading the Unione. He died in 1964.
Michele Merlo, who went as Mike Merlo
, a leader in D'Andrea's Mafia organization, made an emergency return from Italy, where he was vacationing, upon hearing of D'Andrea's death. According to Nicola Gentile, he ordered the death of D'Andrea's assassin. For this act he not only took control of the Chicago Mafia, but replaced D'Andrea as president of the Unione as well. His brief term was regarded as a successful one, and he was noted to have kept the criminal organizations of John Torrio and Dean O'Banion from warring each other.
Following Merlo's death from cancer in 1924, the chapter organization (later renamed the "Italo-American National Union") split into several factions as various underworld groups struggled for control of the organization. Of these factions, "Bloody" Angelo Genna
claimed the presidency following Merlo's death; however, he was murdered the following year by members of the North Side Gang
. Genna's successor, Samuzzo "Samoots" Amatuna
, would be killed (allegedly) by Northsider
Vincent "The Schemer" Drucci
in a barbershop that same year.
While the myth has it that Capone had amassed enough power in Chicago to place Antonio Lombardo
as head of the Unione Siciliane," Lombardo was believed by to have been chosen by outside Mafia leaders for his abilities as a peacemaker. Lombardo, who was from eastern Sicily, together with Supreme President Bernard Barasa, agreed to change the name to the Italo-American National Union to increase awareness that the association was not only for Sicilians. Lombardo held considerable influence in Italian-American communities including acting as a negotiator between [Black Hand] kidnappers and victim's families. It is traditionally believed that although he was supported by Capone, many members of the organization opposed his reforms as a faction under Capone rival Joe [Aiello] challenged Lombardo, calling for his withdrawal from office. Lombardo's refusal would result in his death on September 7, 1928. According to Nick Gentile, however, Aiello was Lombardo's underboss and Capone was given permission by Joseph Masseria (a boss of one of New York's Five Families and soon a "Boss of Bosses") to eliminate both Aiello and Lombardo. Gentile believed Capone was responsible for Lombardo's death.
The brother Lombardo's bodyguard Pasqualino "Patsy" Lolordo
would assume the presidency in his brother's place for around four months until his own murder by Joe Aiello and his two brothers after inviting them for dinner at his home on January 8, 1929. Claiming the presidency the next day, Aiello would reportedly hold the office for a year and a half until his death by Chicago Outfit
gunman on October 23, 1930. In fact he may never have held office.
. Attorney Joseph Bulger led the association for several years. Born Giuseppe Imburgio, he was close to Tony Accardo and was killed in a plane accident in 1966. After state investigators rooted out its corrupt influences in the 1950s, its membership continued to decline in the 1970s. The Unione eventually merged with the Italian Sons and Daughters of America.
Italian American
An Italian American , is an American of Italian ancestry. The designation may also refer to someone possessing Italian and American dual citizenship...
vote within the United States during the early twentieth century. The organization would be a major source of conflict as underworld figures who, through a series of puppet presidents largely controlled by the Chicago Outfit
Chicago Outfit
The Chicago Outfit, also known as the Chicago Syndicate or Chicago Mob and sometimes shortened to simply the Outfit, is a crime syndicate based in Chicago, Illinois, USA...
, fought to control the highly influential organization during Prohibition
Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
.
Early history
The Unione was created by Sicilian immigrant businessmen in Chicago in 1893 and was incorporated by the State of Illinois as a fraternal association with the right to sell insurance in 1895. Its primary purpose was to provide insurance to immigrants who recently immigrated from Sicily, since working conditions in the 1890s were often dangerous or even primitive by current standards. Eventually chapters spread from Chicago to the rest of Illinois, and from there to Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. Outside of Illinois, however, membership remained small.Myths about the Unione
Some earlier works on the Mafia and organized crime claim that in the early 1910s, mobster Ignazio "the Wolf" Lupo infiltrated the Unione. He eventually brought it under the control of the Morello crime familyMorello crime family
The Morello crime family is the direct ancestor of the Genovese crime family, the oldest of New York City's Five Families.-From Corleone to America:...
though a ruthless campaign of murder and extortion. In 1914, Lupo became Unione president. Lupo would use the organization to expand racketeering, prostitution, extortion, kidnapping, and murder for hire into Italian-American neighborhoods. Installing meat hooks in his office, Lupo was said to have hung his victims on them. He is also alleged to have burned six political opponents alive in his basement furnace. In 1918, After Lupo's imprisonment, Frankie Yale
Frankie Yale
Francesco Ioele , better known as Frankie Uale or Frankie Yale, was a Brooklyn gangster and original employer of Al Capone before the latter moved to Chicago...
, a New York mobster, would become president of the Unione. Yale would feud with former protegee and Chicago rival Al Capone
Al Capone
Alphonse Gabriel "Al" Capone was an American gangster who led a Prohibition-era crime syndicate. The Chicago Outfit, which subsequently became known as the "Capones", was dedicated to smuggling and bootlegging liquor, and other illegal activities such as prostitution, in Chicago from the early...
for the presidency throughout the next ten years. This feud ended with Yale’s murder in 1927.
The reality is that there never were chapters in New York. Journalists and writers confused the nature of the Unione Siciliana with the Mafia and the Black Hand, and it was transmogrified to become the Unione Siciliane or Unione Sicilione. Neither name is correct Italian. Ignazio "Lupo the Wolf" Lupo was born Ignazio Lupo. His mother's maiden name was Lupo, and he was sent to Atlanta Federal Penitentiary for counterfeiting in 1910. There is no evidence that Frankie Yale had any connection to Lupo's Mafia organization. Since part of this myth is that only Sicilians were permitted to be members, the claim is contradicted by the fact that Yale was born in Longobucco
Longobucco
Longobucco is a town and comune in the province of Cosenza, in the Calabria region of southern Italy.Longobucco's name derives from longburg ; in the past it was associated with Temesa, or Tempsa, the ancient town Homer was referring to in his Odyssey and famous for its mining fields, from which...
, in the province of Cosenza
Cosenza
Cosenza is a city in southern Italy, located at the confluence of two historic rivers: the Busento and the Crathis. The municipal population is of around 70,000; the urban area, however, counts over 260,000 inhabitants...
, in the region of Calabria
Calabria
Calabria , in antiquity known as Bruttium, is a region in southern Italy, south of Naples, located at the "toe" of the Italian Peninsula. The capital city of Calabria is Catanzaro....
.
During the time when Yale was said to be the supreme president, former judge Bernard Barasa held that position in Chicago since 1922 until the end of the decade. Like Yale, he was also non-Sicilian. He was born Bernard Philip Barasa in Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
in 1878 to a father from Genoa
Genoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
and a mother from Massachusetts. He attended the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
and graduated from Chicago's Kent College of Law in 1905. In Chicago he went from attorney to a Municipal Court judge before leading the Unione. He died in 1964.
Corruption of the Unione
In the early 1900s the Unione took part in efforts to fight the Black Hand in Chicago. It failed in its endeavor. Later, the presidency of the Unione became a target for political power. Antonio D'Andrea was at that time the Chicago Mafia boss. He was an ex-priest who was arrested for counterfeiting in 1902. With the assistance of his family and supporters, he was released from prison after a short time. He worked as a professional translator and later as a court translator. In 1916 he ran for political office, but his criminal past, which he had kept hidden, was exposed. To gain additional strength from the local Italian power base, he ran and was elected president of the Chicago chapter of the Unione in or around 1919. In 1921 he ran against John Powers, who ended up with more Italian support than D'Andrea. After numerous bombings and killings from both of their followers, D'Andrea dropped out of the race. Nevertheless, he was shot and mortally wounded in May, 1921.Michele Merlo, who went as Mike Merlo
Mike Merlo
Mike Merlo was a Chicago political figure associated in his later years with the Johnny Torrio-Al Capone organization. As head of the Unione Siciliana fraternal group, Merlo wielded considerable influence both in Chicago's Democratic Party politics and also within Chicago's criminal underworld...
, a leader in D'Andrea's Mafia organization, made an emergency return from Italy, where he was vacationing, upon hearing of D'Andrea's death. According to Nicola Gentile, he ordered the death of D'Andrea's assassin. For this act he not only took control of the Chicago Mafia, but replaced D'Andrea as president of the Unione as well. His brief term was regarded as a successful one, and he was noted to have kept the criminal organizations of John Torrio and Dean O'Banion from warring each other.
Following Merlo's death from cancer in 1924, the chapter organization (later renamed the "Italo-American National Union") split into several factions as various underworld groups struggled for control of the organization. Of these factions, "Bloody" Angelo Genna
Genna (crime family)
Chicago's Sicilian Mafia, also known as the Genna crime family, was a Prohibition era crime family in Chicago, United States. From 1921 to 1925, the family was headed by the Genna brothers, known as the Terrible Gennas. The Sicilians operated from Chicago's Little Italy and maintained control over...
claimed the presidency following Merlo's death; however, he was murdered the following year by members of the North Side Gang
North Side Gang
The North Side family Gang, also known as the North Side Mob, was the dominant Irish-American criminal organization within Chicago during the Prohibition era from the early to late 1920s and principal rival of the Johnny Torrio-Al Capone organization, later known as the Chicago Outfit.- Early...
. Genna's successor, Samuzzo "Samoots" Amatuna
Samuzzo Amatuna
Samuel Sammuzzo "Samoots" Amatuna was a Chicago mobster and member of the Genna Brothers, who served as president of the Unione Siciliane.-Early life:...
, would be killed (allegedly) by Northsider
North Side Gang
The North Side family Gang, also known as the North Side Mob, was the dominant Irish-American criminal organization within Chicago during the Prohibition era from the early to late 1920s and principal rival of the Johnny Torrio-Al Capone organization, later known as the Chicago Outfit.- Early...
Vincent "The Schemer" Drucci
Vincent Drucci
Vincent Drucci, also known as "The Schemer" , was an American mobster during Chicago's Prohibition era who served as a lieutenant under Dean O'Banion's North Side Gang and later as gang boss. Drucci was one of the few mobsters to ever be killed by a law enforcement officer...
in a barbershop that same year.
While the myth has it that Capone had amassed enough power in Chicago to place Antonio Lombardo
Antonio Lombardo
Antonio "The Scourge" Lombardo was an American mobster. He was advisor, or consigliere, to Al Capone and later President of the Unione Siciliana.-Biography:...
as head of the Unione Siciliane," Lombardo was believed by to have been chosen by outside Mafia leaders for his abilities as a peacemaker. Lombardo, who was from eastern Sicily, together with Supreme President Bernard Barasa, agreed to change the name to the Italo-American National Union to increase awareness that the association was not only for Sicilians. Lombardo held considerable influence in Italian-American communities including acting as a negotiator between [Black Hand] kidnappers and victim's families. It is traditionally believed that although he was supported by Capone, many members of the organization opposed his reforms as a faction under Capone rival Joe [Aiello] challenged Lombardo, calling for his withdrawal from office. Lombardo's refusal would result in his death on September 7, 1928. According to Nick Gentile, however, Aiello was Lombardo's underboss and Capone was given permission by Joseph Masseria (a boss of one of New York's Five Families and soon a "Boss of Bosses") to eliminate both Aiello and Lombardo. Gentile believed Capone was responsible for Lombardo's death.
The brother Lombardo's bodyguard Pasqualino "Patsy" Lolordo
Pasqualino Lolordo
Pasqualino "Patsy" Lolordo was an organized crime figure and head of the Chicago chapter of the Unione Siciliana a "front" organization for the Mafia, of which Lolordo was considered one of the most powerful capos during the late 1920s.Lolordo succeeded Antonio "The Scourge" Lombardo, an...
would assume the presidency in his brother's place for around four months until his own murder by Joe Aiello and his two brothers after inviting them for dinner at his home on January 8, 1929. Claiming the presidency the next day, Aiello would reportedly hold the office for a year and a half until his death by Chicago Outfit
Chicago Outfit
The Chicago Outfit, also known as the Chicago Syndicate or Chicago Mob and sometimes shortened to simply the Outfit, is a crime syndicate based in Chicago, Illinois, USA...
gunman on October 23, 1930. In fact he may never have held office.
Recent history
The association continued with corrupt influence in its leadership for many years. Phil D'Andrea, a nephew of Antonio D'Andrea, served as supreme president while active in the former Capone organization then led by Frank NittiFrank Nitti
Francesco Raffaele Nitto , also known as Frank "The Enforcer" Nitti, was an Italian American gangster. One of Al Capone's top henchmen, Nitti was in charge of all strong-arm and 'muscle' operations...
. Attorney Joseph Bulger led the association for several years. Born Giuseppe Imburgio, he was close to Tony Accardo and was killed in a plane accident in 1966. After state investigators rooted out its corrupt influences in the 1950s, its membership continued to decline in the 1970s. The Unione eventually merged with the Italian Sons and Daughters of America.
Chicago
- 1919?–1921 — Anthony D'AndreaAnthony D'AndreaAnthony D'Andrea was the Mafia boss of Chicago in the late 1910s to early 1920s. He was also a political leader who was a president of the Unione Siciliana and was involved in a heated battle for alderman...
- 1921–1924 — Mike MerloMike MerloMike Merlo was a Chicago political figure associated in his later years with the Johnny Torrio-Al Capone organization. As head of the Unione Siciliana fraternal group, Merlo wielded considerable influence both in Chicago's Democratic Party politics and also within Chicago's criminal underworld...
- 1925 — "Bloody" Angelo Genna
- 1925 — Samuzzo "Samoots" AmatunaSamuzzo AmatunaSamuel Sammuzzo "Samoots" Amatuna was a Chicago mobster and member of the Genna Brothers, who served as president of the Unione Siciliane.-Early life:...
- 1925–1928 — Antonio LombardoAntonio LombardoAntonio "The Scourge" Lombardo was an American mobster. He was advisor, or consigliere, to Al Capone and later President of the Unione Siciliana.-Biography:...
2 - 1928–1929 — Pasqualino "Patsy" LolordoPasqualino LolordoPasqualino "Patsy" Lolordo was an organized crime figure and head of the Chicago chapter of the Unione Siciliana a "front" organization for the Mafia, of which Lolordo was considered one of the most powerful capos during the late 1920s.Lolordo succeeded Antonio "The Scourge" Lombardo, an...
- 1929 — Joseph Giunta
- 1929–1930 — Joseph Aiello
- 1929–1934? — Agostino Loverdo
- 1934–1939? — Phil D'Andrea
Detroit
(The accuracy of this section is uncertain.)- 1913–1930 – Salvatore "Sam" Catonotte
Further reading
- Capeci, Jerry. The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Mafia. Indianapolis: Alpha Books, 2002. ISBN 0-02-864225-2
- United States. Congress. Senate. Special Committee to Investigate Organized Crime in Interstate Commerce. Investigation of Organized Crime in Interstate Commerce: Hearings Before a Special Committee to Investigate Organized Crime in Interstate Commerce. 1951. http://books.google.com/books?vid=OCLC09953709&id=ZVVPz9GA3pUC&q=%22Unione+Siciliane%22&dq=%22Unione+Siciliane%22&pgis=1
External links
- Chicago's Unione Siciliana, 1920 – A Decade of Slaughter (Part One) by Allan May