The Timeline: The New York Mafia
The Independent Thursday 14th April, 2011
1900s: Rise of the 'Clutch Hand' New York's first recognised mafia family was established by Guiseppe Morello – "The Clutch Hand" – a disfigured Sicilian immigrant from Corleone whose web of illegality and counterfeiting was supported by a range of violent techniques that became the hallmark of the American mafia throughout the century. Most notrious was the "barrel killing" as employed on Benedetto Madonia in 1903. Morello was "boss of all bosses" until he was imprisoned in 1910. Later killed in 1930 by rival mafiosi. 1930s: Birth of the Five Families After a bloody two-year war that began in 1929, New York's mob operations were divided in five ruling families by Salvatore Marazano and Charlie "Lucky" Luciano. Luciano soon executed Marazano and became he...
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