Lucky Lucky

HARDING UNIVERSITY

Lucky Lucky The Rise and Fall of Charles Luciano Jimmie Harper 5/7/2013

Jimmie Harper 1 Lucky Lucky It was spring time in New York, a perfect day for a trip down to Coney Island. This day was April 15, 1931. A man known as Charles “Lucky” Luciano was finishing up washing his hands in the restroom. After he was finished, he stepped back out into the restaurant to see if the job was done. He smiled. There in the middle of the room, riddled with the bullets, lay Joe “the Boss” Masseria, with the ace of diamond dangling in his right hand. It was time for Lucky to make his move.1 Who was Lucky Luciano? Born in the Sicilian town of Lercara Friddi, not far from the bustling port city of Palermo2, the young Salvatore Lucania made his way to America in the spring of 1906.3 He quickly made an impression in the streets of New York as a young racketeer, extorting money from Jewish children for protection.4 The friendships of his youth later evolved into the most powerful alliances ever seen in the criminal underworld. His ambition knew no equal, but was he really the “father” of organized crime? Was the supposed genius of Lucky Luciano unique and innovative, or was he merely an intellectual brigand with an eye for talent? Charles “Lucky” Luciano was endowed with a number of unique characteristics and abilities that helped him rise to prominence in the mafia. However, the brilliance of his criminal enterprise was due, not because of his own genius, but rather his utilization of successful organizational structures already in existence at the time. 1

Martin Gosch & Richard Hammer, The Last Testament of Lucky Luciano (Canada: Little, Brown & Company,

1974), 132. 2

Ibid, 3.

3

Department of Commerce and Labor, “List or Manifest of Alien Passengers for the U.S. Immigration Office at Port

of Arrival,” Sofia Hohenberg, June 1906. 4

Time Newark, Boardwalk Gangster: The Real Lucky Luciano (New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2010), 15.

Jimmie Harper 2 The American mafia, originally, was not a local manifestation of criminal organization, but rather a branch of the Sicilian mafia in Italy. Today, the mafia has been mystified by the media through movies like The Godfather. Historians and criminologist alike have worked to dispel the romantic imagery often associated with the mafia. Until the 1980s, most academic scholars denied the existence of an organized force of criminals, but through numerous autobiographies, legal testimonies and congressional hearings, the existence of the Italian Mafia in America has become undeniable.5 The largest mafia associations in the U.S. generally consist of a loose confederation of “families” that acknowledge one another’s power and influence, but act independently. One of the key unifying elements of all mafia groups is the code of omerta, an oath taken when joining a family and becoming a “made” man.6 Often performed in a ritualistic manner, the oath involves a gathering of high ranking Mafiosi tasked with carrying out the ceremony. The man about to become “made” will be given a picture of a saint. The picture will be lite of fire while he recites, “If I betray my friends and our family, I and my soul will burn like this saint.” Once a man submits to omerta, he is expected to show absolute and unflinching loyalty to the family he serves. Part of this code means never revealing any information to the authorities about other mafia members.7 Luciano refused to give the authorities information on his enemies, even when he had incriminating evidence. He made sure the mafia community knew he took care of his disputes personally.

5

Letizia Paoli, Mafia Brotherhoods, (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003), 22-24.

6

Paoli, Mafia Brotherhoods, 46-49.

7

Selwyn Raab, Five Families: The Rise, Decline, and Resurgence of America’s Most Powerful Mafia Empires (New

York: St. Martin’s Press, 2005), 3.

Jimmie Harper 3 In the highly controversial book by Martin Gosch and Richard Hammer, The Last Testament of Lucky Luciano, published in 1975 and based off of personal interviews with Luciano himself, it was evident that the old gangster wished to seem far more influential than he actually was. When discussing his relationship with two of New York’s most notorious gangsters during the late 1920’s, Joe Masseria and Salvatore Maranzano, Luciano claimed that both of them actively sought his friendship in attempts to bring his gang into their circle of allies. In 1928, the Castellammarese War erupted between the two criminal factions with Lucky on the side of Masseria.8 He claimed that he never like Masseria and did not believe he could win a war against Maranzano.9 This seems odd considering that, according to him, both came to him proposing friendship and he chose to join Masseria. Perhaps in hindsight, the older Luciano looked back at his younger self and seeing the time frame of events more wholly, preferred to be seen as a more attentive mob boss. In 1975, Ralph Murdy wrote a review of Martin Gosch and Richard Hammer’s book in which he openly declared his suspicions of the old gangsters autobiography. He claimed it was natural for one to ask questions when reading a story by an individual “whose integrity and purpose there seems little reason to suspect.” He wrote about how the New York Times News Service cross examined the book using a number of reliable sources and concluded that the claims made in The Last Testament of Lucky Luciano are not necessarily founded on truth. Murdy goes on to point out the glaring problem of the non-existent tapes allegedly used to record Gosch’s interviews with Luciano. Murdy concludes his review by stating, “It is a bowdlerized

8

Raab, Five Families 26.

9

Gosch, The Last Testament of Lucky Luciano, 91.

Jimmie Harper 4 book about a godfather who happened to see himself as a bit more influential than he likely was.”10 In Boardwalk Gangster: The Real Lucky Luciano, Tim Newark boldly denounces the legend of Lucky Luciano as the almighty godfather of New York’s Mafia scene. He sensationally refers to him as a pawn of the government agents who wished to inflate their own law enforcement budgets. He devoted much of his work to uncovering the truth behind Luciano’s words recorded in The Last Testament of Lucky Luciano. He does not deny Luciano’s importance to the mafia while physically present in America, but attacks the reports that claimed Luciano was in charge of an international narcotics syndicate.11 Richard Hammer, the co-author of the famed interview, spoke with Tim Newark and stated that, “We (Gosch) had arguments about the book all the time.” When asked about the alleged tapes used to record the interviews he claimed, “There were never any tapes.”12 Hammer commented on how impressed he was with Luciano after reading Gosch’s notes saying, “Most gangsters are stupid – Luciano was a great businessman. He was the most significant organized crime figure of his period – along with Lansky.” This was his conclusion after reading what Luciano had to say about his life. He went on to say how frustrated he was when the publisher refused to add footnotes to the final product. Hammer wanted people to know that often Luciano’s telling of certain events was not necessarily the truth.13 Unfortunately and

10

Ralph Murdy, review of The Last Testament of Lucky Luciano, by Martin Gosch and Richard Hammer, America

132, no. 12:242-243 11

Newark, Boardwalk Gangster, xii.

12

Ibid, xiii.

13

Ibid, xiv.

Jimmie Harper 5 suspiciously, the notes taken by Gosch and used by Hammer to write Luciano’s last testament were burned by Gosch’s widow shortly after his death in 1973.14 His interview with Richard Hammer revealed his intention to unmask the persona Luciano attempted to leave behind him. He worked to piece together the truth behind how important Luciano really was to the organized crime community. Newark virtually condemned The Last Testament of Lucky Luciano, claiming there was far too much controversy surrounding its compilation to count it as a credible account of the notorious gangster’s life. However, the stories of his childhood and early escapades into criminal activities are difficult to discredit, because many are not recorded anywhere other than in The Last Testament of Lucky Luciano. Luciano learned at a young age to utilize the minds of those smarter than him. His inability to speak or understand English when his family immigrated to America hindered him in the classroom. Luciano claimed the teachers refused to give him any attention, so he took to the streets where the Italian language was widely spoken among the children his age. It was on the streets of New York that Salvatore Lucania earned the nickname Lucky and made a name for himself as a tough ambitious leader.15 He may not have succeeded in school, but he was smart enough to see who did. He observed how intelligent many of his Jewish classmates were and learned that if he put aside prejudice he could make very useful friends and allies. Luciano, called Lucania at the time, started his first racket protecting Jewish children from other Italian and Irish classmates. On one occasion, he attempted to extort money from a small Jewish boy by the name of Meyer Lanksy,

14

Newark, Boardwalk Gangster, xv.

15

Gosch, Last Testament, 6.

Jimmie Harper 6 who crassly informed Luciano to back off. The tenacity of Lansky caught Luciano off guard, but forced him to respect the small Jewish boy.16 Lansky and Luciano met again when Luciano was twenty two years old. Lansky was head home from work when he heard a woman scream and man cursing in Italian. As he opened the door to see what the commotion was, he discovered a young Benjamin Siegel sprawled out on the floor next to a hysterical young woman with Luciano standing over both of them looking furious. Luciano proceeded to stomp on the woman’s face causing blood to spew out across the floor. Lansky pulled a crowbar out of the tool box he was carrying and hit Luciano over the head knocking him out. Police arrested both of them, but only Lansky was charged and fined two dollars by a judge. One again the two had met in confrontational circumstances and once again Lansky had proved his courage and toughness to the young Italian gangster.17 Surrounding himself with talented friends was a good start for the rising gangster, but if he ever hoped to join the ranks of high class society he was going to need a mentor who knew what life was like in the high rises of the city. He found that in a man of Jewish decent named Arnold Rothstein, the man who allegedly fixed the 1919 World Series.18 Rothstein was known as “The Big Bankroll” and also “The Great Brain,” and it was he who taught both Luciano and Lansky how to conduct themselves as businessmen in the business of crime.19

16

Ibid, 7.

17

Hank Messick, Lansky, (New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1971), 20.

18

“Bucket Inquiry Nears Decision,” New York Sun, October 12, 1923.

19

Daniel Nathan, “The Big Fix” Legal Affairs, www.leagalaffairs.org/issues/March-April-

2004/review_nathan?marapr04.msp (accessed March 16, 2013).

Jimmie Harper 7 Out of all the characters Luciano interacted with in his formative years as a gangster, there is perhaps none more influential than Arnold Rothstein. A prolific gambler, Rothstein’s operation incorporated bootlegging, gambling and loan sharking, all of which were rackets Luciano later had great success in. It was Rothstein who taught Luciano how to dress and look the part of up-town New York mobster. He showed him how to properly use cutlery and to how to have good manners at the dinner table.20 Luciano stated, “If Arnold had lived a little longer, he could’ve made me pretty elegant; he was the best etiquette teacher a guy could ever have – real smooth.” He claimed to have backed Rothstein in poker games and in his Last Testament revealed Rothstein’s intense spending habits along with his love of gambling; characteristics that resulted in his death. Having been unable to pay off a large amount of debt, Rothstein was shot to death at the Park Central Hotel in Manhattan on November 4, 1928.21 Arnold Rothstein may have died, but his spirit lived on through Charles Luciano. Lucky viewed Rothstein as his own personal instructor, but he was not alone. The young Meyer Lansky was also one of Rothstein’s protégés, perhaps even more so than Luciano. Often referred to as “The Mob’s Accountant,” Lansky was instrumental in the development of the National Crime Syndicate in America.22 His undeniable skill at managing money and producing profits was

20

Gosch, Last Testament, 41.

21

Ibid, 41.

22

“Meyer Lansky,” The Biography Channel, http://www.biography.com/people/meyer-lansky-9542634 (accessed

March 13, 2013).

Jimmie Harper 8 highly reflective of Rothstein’s style of mobster business tactics. Even Luciano himself spoke of how Lansky was researching business and economics early on in their career together.23 The ability to befriend and manipulate those with influence around him was one of Luciano most unique gifts and a key reason for his rise to power. Traditional Sicilian mob bosses never allowed interaction between any other gangs than themselves. Jewish gangsters were especially look down upon. However, Luciano saw this as an outdated mind set; viewing it as a hindrance to his more modernized racketeering operations. He intended to create an international bootlegging operation unlike any that existed at the time.24 Before his ambition was truly able to be unleashed, he needed to take a number of powerful bosses out of the picture. By 1930, Joe Masseria had declared himself “Capo dei capi,” translated to boss of bosses. He began demanding $10,000 as tribute in recognition of his assumed position as leader of all the Mafiosi in New York, but there was one who refused. Salvatore Maranzano challenge Masseria’s claim to absolute power and thus started what was known as the Castellammarese War.25 The war was long and brutal eighteen months of fighting26, with many high ranking allies of both Masseria and Maranzano being assassinated. Luciano having sided with Masseria was an obvious target. On October 16, 1929, a Staten Island policeman discovered the bloody figure of

23

Gosch, Last Testament, 35.

24

Selwyn Raab, Five Families: The Rise, Decline, and Resurgence of America’s Most Powerful Mafia Empires.

(New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2005) 28. 25

Raab, Five Families, 27.

26

Ibid, 28.

Jimmie Harper 9 Charles Luciano wondering around in the dark. He told police he had been abducted by three men and severely beaten before being left for dead near Huguenot Beach.27 In gripping detail, Luciano divulged the truth, or at least what he claimed was the truth, surrounding the events of that fateful night in 1929 in his interviews with Martin Gosch. He described a meeting, instigated by Maranzano in which Luciano was asked to assassinate Joe “The Boss” Masseria personally. This was something he refused to do, because in the Sicilian Mafia, the man personally responsible for taking the life of a boss cannot himself then claim the seat of power. In Luciano’s eyes, Maranzano was already conspiring against him. After he refused, he reported that he was hung from a wooden beam and tortured. At one point Maranzano approached him and seeing an opportunity, Luciano kicked him between the legs. Maranzano then pulled out a knife and slashed him across the face and chest. This incident gave him a deep scar along his face and caused his right eye to droop, giving him a sinister look.28 Luciano survived the fateful encounter with Maranzano, and thus firmly cemented the nickname “Lucky” to his persona. He had grown tired of the war between the two gangs, was frustrated with Masseria’s prejudice towards his Jewish allies, and was incredibly bitter toward Maranzano. He intended to end it all. The Castellammarese war was bringing far too much attention to their operations in Luciano’s eyes, therefore, despite his hatred of Maranzano he set out to join his ranks and betray Joe “The Boss” Masseria. “Farlo fuori.” Kill him. This was Lansky’s advice after discussing the fate of the current capo dei capi, Joe Masseria. They agreed if it wasn’t one of them that killed him, some else

27

William Donati, Lucky Luciano: The Rise and Fall of a Mob Boss, (London: McFarland & Company, 2010), 6.

28

Gosch, The Last Testament of Lucky Luciano, 117.

Jimmie Harper 10 would. Bugsy Siegel was to lead the gunmen in charge of killing Masseria. In order for Luciano to maintain the respect of the mafia community they made certain the rest of the shooters were Italian Americans.29 On April 15th, 1931 Luciano organized a meeting with Masseria to discuss the elimination of several of Maranzano’s lieutenants. In his Last Testament, Luciano stated Masseria was elated after their little chat, for he believed his rival would be unable to recover from the prospective assassinations. To celebrate, Lucky suggested they head down to Coney Island for lunch. They sat down at the Nuova Villa Tammaro where Luciano claimed Masseria began to stuff himself full of pasta and lobster. He asked Masseria if he wanted to play a quick game of cards. Masseria agreed, but Luciano discreetly excused himself saying he needed to use the restroom. Upon his exit, four gunmen entered the restaurant. Allegedly Vito Genovese, Joe Adonis, Albert Anastasia and Bugsy Siegel burst into the restaurant and shot Joe Masseria dead. There were no witnesses.30 Surprisingly, Luciano did not leave the scene of the crime, but rather waited until law enforcement arrived. When asked if he saw what happened, he told detectives he had no knowledge of the gunmen and hadn’t seen anything. He claimed to have been in the restroom washing his hands when he heard shots being fired.31 One of more curious details is in regards to how much food Masseria actually ate. In the autopsy report, Joe Masseria was listed as having died by gunshot wounds to both the head and chest and when examined was found to have an

29

Messick, Lansky, 53.

30

Gosch, Last Testament, 131.

31

Raab, Five Families, 29.

Jimmie Harper 11 empty stomach.32 While this detail seems trivial, it contradicts Luciano’s account to Martin Gosch. This reveals that either Luciano was either purposefully lying, sensationalizing his story, or he simply forgot what actually happened. His meetings with Gosch took place 30 years after the incident, so this could be a possibility. Most likely his account was sensationalized for the sake of telling a story, but this revealed his tendency to alter the details of specific events in his life. With Masseria dead, Charles Luciano stood ready and willing to take his place as a top boss in New York. He proudly took responsibility for finishing off Masseria, boldly proclaiming in a message to Maranzano, “Tell you compare, Maranzano, we have killed Masseria, not to serve him but for our own personal reasons.” Maranzano ignored the blatant challenge, for he intended to take the place of Joe Masseria as capo dei capi and have Lucky Luciano eliminated.33 Maranzano organized a grand meeting of all his Mafia allies and contacts. He had a grand vision for organized crime in New York and intended to lay it out so everyone knew their role. When the meeting hall was filled, Salvatore Maranzano addressed his audience, declaring himself capo dei tutti capi, the boss of all bosses. He discussed the new structuring of New York’s major Sicilian gangs into five families led by Charlie Luciano, Joseph Bonanno, Joseph Profaci, Tom Gagliano, and Vincent Mangano. Each family had a boss, underbosses, an advisor known as a consigliere, ranked lieutenants, and ordinary gunmen known as soldiers. This framework, devised by Maranzano, was implemented by Luciano when creating the Commission

32

“Autopsy Report,” Giuseppe Masseria, April 16, 1931.

33

Newark, Boardwalk Gangster, 60.

Jimmie Harper 12 of the Five Families. The biggest different between the two organizations being the Commission lacked a capo dei capi and acted as a board of directors with Charles Luciano as its chairman.34 Luciano was not pleased with the news that one boss he hated had been replaced by another he despised. Maranzano, like Masseria, was considered by Luciano to be a “Mustache Pete,” unwilling to compromise honor and tradition for business and profit. Upon discovering his name on a Maranzano hit list, once again Lucky Luciano prepared to assassinate the most powerful man in the criminal underworld.35 Lansky and Luciano met to discuss the impending elimination of the last man standing between them and ultimate power in New York City. Six young Jewish men were enlisted to carry out the assassination of Maranzano. Luciano informed them of an imminent IRS investigation of Maranzano’s office set to take place on September 10th. Calm and confident, the young Jewish hit men approached the bosses office dressed as the IRS agents Maranzano was expecting. Upon entering the building, they drew their pistols and ordered Maranzano’s bodyguards to face the wall. The bodyguard’s responsible for protecting the capo had been told to leave their own firearms at home, because of the investigation.36 When Maranzano was located, the hit men attempted to strangle him quietly, but with a strength brought on by desperation, he fought them off, refusing to go quietly. Drawing their pistols, the Jewish hit squad shot Maranzano multiple times, killing him instantly. This marked the end of totalitarian rule among the Mafia in America. Luciano now openly acknowledged his

34

Newark, Boardwalk Gangster, 60.

35

Messick, Lansky, 55.

36

Ibid, 56.

Jimmie Harper 13 interaction and utilization of the Bugs and Meyer mob as a weapon of his will. On September 11, 1931, following a series of purging operation that involved killing off Maranzano’s last remaining allies, the Mafia was officially Americanized.37 Luciano was now the most powerful man in New York. The young Italian peasant was now king, but rather than claim the title of boss of bosses, Luciano dissolved the position entirely. He took Maranzano’s idea of having five families and officially established what was known as the Commission. It was “the equivalent of a national board of directors that would establish general policies and regulations for all families in the country.” The leaders of the five families all held veto power over decisions made in committee and helped resolve disputes between families diplomatically rather than through violence. Luciano, who served as the chairman of the board, did not intend for another Castellammarese War to erupt under his watch. For while each member maintained their sovereignty, there was little doubt that Lucky Luciano was first among equals.38 He went on to refine his skills in peace making and soon became highly respected and popular among his criminal colleagues because of this. He had experienced enough bloodshed first hand to know the cost of such violence, at least in terms of dollars.39 One instance of Lucky’s peacemaking skills involved Ciro Terranova, an old greedy gangster despised by the

37

Messick, Lansky, 57.

38

Raab, Five Families, 33.

39

Hickman Powell, Lucky Luciano: The Man Who Organized Crime In America. (New York: Barricade Books Inc.,

2000) 80.

Jimmie Harper 14 younger generations, and “Trigger” Mike Copolla, a young up and coming mobster looking to take control of Terranova’s territory.40 Trigger Mike decided to pay a visit to Lucky and get his permission to kill Terranova. Lucky told him he would take care of everything, and he did. He scheduled a meeting with Terranova and let him know that the time had come for him to step down as a leading racketeer. By handling the situation this way, Luciano once again showed his skill of generating allies by creating two in one sitting. He gratified the ambitions of Trigger Mike and saved the life of Ciro Terranova. Through his new connection with Ciro Terranova, Lucky was able to work with Dutch Schultz, the racket overlord of the Bronx and upper Manhattan. He successfully prevented a potentially bloody war and further cemented his position of authority.41 However, he was not above shedding the blood of his own allies when their actions became too publicized. Dutch Schultz was one of the leading gangsters in New York in the early 1930s, but his less than subtle style of criminal profiteering was drawing far too much attention in Luciano’s eyes. On a cold night in October 1935, Dutch Schultz was reclining with three of his henchmen at a Newark saloon reviewing his racketeering accounts when several gun men entered and shot each of them dead.42 Ironically, in an effort silence a man for creating too much of a stir in the press, Lucky produced, to his dismay, one of the most highly publicized murders of the decade. For the first time, the general public was aware of what the police called the Big Six: Lepke, Gurrah, Bugsy,

40

Powell, Lucky Luciano, 81.

41

Ibid, 81.

42

Ibid, 88.

Jimmie Harper 15 Meyer, Zwillman and Charlie Lucky. It was made clear at the time that Luciano was considered the biggest of the six. Lucky was not pleased with his unmasking as a major crime boss in the city. For four years he had managed to remain anonymous, but in an instant, he traded anonymity for publicity, with his name on the front page of the papers.43 As Luciano was rising to power, so was Hickman Powell in popularity. A prominent news reporter for the Herald-Tribune in New York, he was to become one of Thomas E. Dewey’s key correspondents during and after the trial against Luciano. When Dewey was elected Governor of New York State, he appointed Powell to a position on his staff as a consultant and researcher.44 After all the assassinations and schemes that brought Luciano to the top, it was not a fellow gangster that brought him down, but the fiery prosecuting attorney Thomas E. Dewey. In his book Ninety Times Guilty, Powell documented the events that led up to and culminated in the arrest and conviction of, who he viewed as, “the master of the underworld.”45 It is apparent in his book that Powell viewed Luciano as the greatest gangster of the age. This is perhaps due to his personal relationship with Dewey, for the grander Luciano looks in the history books, the more spectacular Dewey’s prosecution seems. One point to consider amidst the complexities of his life is that Luciano was caught. He was tried and convicted while many of his top allies were left to continue their own operations without him. While efforts were made by

43

Powell, Lucky Luciano, 88.

44

Ibid, viii.

45

Ibid, 218.

Jimmie Harper 16 the FBI to investigate Meyer Lansky, they were unsuccessful.46 Luciano had his time under the sun, but was soon forced trade his throne for a prison cot. During the construction of his case against Luciano, Dewey had a young black woman named Eunice Carter assigned the task of helping him investigate the elusive mobster. It was she who caught onto the trail of the prostitution racket run by the mafia. When this information was presented to Dewey he was not pleased. He feared the public would look to and expect him to lead a moral assault on prostitution, a case he publicly refused to take. He was out to get the big bosses, not be an ethical reformer.47 He was however, willing to pursue the issue if it were possible for gangsters to have taken control of prostitution in New York in a macro-level criminal operation.48 It was essential for Dewey to establish a fixed definition of the term “racket,” for it was this word that he used to describe the big bosses control of crime in New York. He defined it as, “the organized extortion of money, often with the apparent willingness of the victims, by the use of threats, force, or violence.” Dewey was pursuing the big-shots. These men were basically immune to the law, because they did not themselves partake openly in illicit acts, but delegated authority and resources to trusted associates who carried out their wishes for them. Dewey believed that bootlegging, dope trafficking and prostitution were not inherently rackets, but

46

FBI, Meyer Lansky, Memorandum (New York, 1952). FBI Vault: Meyer Lansky, accessed April 29, 2013.

47

Powell, Lucky Luciano, 90.

48

Ibid, 91.

Jimmie Harper 17 became rackets when gangsters like Luciano assumed monopolistic control over such institutions.49 For months Dewey’s office worked to gather evidence, police reports and witnesses. In early February, 1936, one hundred and fifty plain clothes police men were ordered out to several different police stations around the city. None were aware why they had been assembled. They were quickly divided into groups and given envelopes containing detailed instructions for a raid of forty prostitute house to be carried out simultaneously. Van loads of madams, hustlers, pimps and prostitutes were soon arriving at Dewey’s office at the Woolworth Building. The mission was a success. The interrogations were soon to begin.50 When the police brought in Dave Miller, a prostitute booker, he told them he had heard mention of Charlie Lucky being the top boss of the prostitution racket, but even after being promised special protection, he refused to testify out of fear. Mildred Harris, one of Dewey’s key witnesses, despised Luciano. She told prosecutors of one occasion in which she witnessed him reclining with an opium pipe, claiming he was going to be bigger than Al Capone. A pimp named “Good-time” Charlie told police of an encounter with Lucky in which he witnessed the reverence he was shown by other mobsters. He said whenever Charlie Lucky entered a room; every Italian stood up and remained standing until he sat down. Dewey’s profile of Luciano was slowly starting to come together.51

49

Powell, Lucky Luciano, 92.

50

Ibid, 100.

51

Ibid, 214.

Jimmie Harper 18 A prostitute named Thelma Jordan told police she had been told that Charlie Lucky was the boss when it concerned prostitution. A booker named Bennie Spiller also mentioned Lucky when discussing the combination, or Commission, meeting of multiple mobsters. Dewey was beginning to see the trail lead to the biggest big-shot of them all.52 Luciano had not been seen in New York since the murder of Dutch Schultz in October 1935. He migrated back and forth between Miami and Hot Springs, Arkansas as he waited for his notoriety to dissipate. When Dewey learned of Luciano’s whereabouts, he phoned into Arkansas authorities informing them that Luciano was “public enemy number 1, the most powerful and dangerous racketeer in the country.” Lucky was immediately brought in by police with bail set to $200,000. Dewey new he had to work quickly to get Luciano extradited to New York.53 Arkansas Attorney General Carl L. Bailey, later elected Governor, began to work on behalf of Dewey and called in twenty state troopers to escort Luciano out of the criminal friendly city of Hot Springs to Little Rock. Bailey was quoted saying, “Arkansas cannot be made an asylum for criminals.”54 The extradition flight had been delayed 10 days before Dewey had Luciano pulled from his cell at midnight and put on a train for New York. Luciano protested, claiming he was being kidnapped and that he was being deprived of his legal rights as he was rushed from the Pulaski County jail.55 The “master of the underworld” was on his way home.56

52

53

Powell, Lucky Luciano, 215. Ibid, 216.

54

Ibid, 216.

55

“Luciano Loses in Extradition Fight,” Troy NY Times Record, 1936.

56

Powell, Lucky Luciano, 218.

Jimmie Harper 19 It was beginning to seem that whatever “luck” Luciano had was running out. Back in New York, his case was brought to trial immediately. Dewey brought his witnesses to the stand one by one, where he meticulously worked to build up his case against Luciano and prove that he was the orchestrator of the prostitution racket in New York City. Among Dewey’s witnesses was Nancy Presser, a prostitute who, in her youth, was a close associate of Luciano’s. She was able to accurately describe the houses of several big shot bosses she encountered such as Joe the Boss and Ciro Terranova.57 She told the court of a night in October of 1934 when Lucky called her up to his room. They spoke, but she claimed they had no sexual relations.58 As the two spent more time together, she stated Luciano began to disclose information regarding his dealings in prostitution, such as the prices of the whore houses he controlled.59 Dewey’s case was strengthened further by the testimonies of multiple witnesses who happened to work at the hotels Luciano lived in. Because these witnesses were not prostitutes, pimps or thieves, their testimonies were considered much more credible. As each hotel employee took the stand, they identified almost all of the prostitution case defendants as people they had seen frequent Luciano’s residences. 60 Luciano denied any and all involvement with prostitution, claiming he had never met any of the defendants save one, a man named Little Davie who Luciano said he gambled with.61 The 57

Powell, Lucky Luciano, 219.

58

Ibid, 223.

59

Ibid, 224.

60

Ibid, 225.

61

Powell, Lucky Luciano, 243.

Jimmie Harper 20 humiliation was almost unbearable. To have risen so high then be forced to sit as two dollar whores and low life pimps claimed to have known him was disgraceful. The most unshakable testimony of the case was delivered by a young bath maid named Molly Brown. She worked at the Waldorf-Astoria where Luciano lived under the alias of Mr. Charles Ross in apartment 39-C. She identified Luciano as the man she saw reside at the hotel as well as several other defendants who frequented there, all of whom Lucky denied he knew. Her testimony was a tremendous victory for the prosecution; however, there remained one major character that was yet to take the stand, Charles “Lucky” Luciano.62 “Then I looked over and watched that little bastard Dewey get out of his chair and walk towards me. At that second I was more scared than I ever had been in my whole life.”63 This was Luciano’s description of his emotions that day in his Last Testament. When the man himself finally took his seat facing the court room, he boldly denied all the charges laid before him. When Dewey approached the bench, it was the first time the two had met face to face. He began by asking Lucky about his past criminal record, citing events such as his arrest when he was eighteen for narcotics possession as well as a conviction for operating a gambling house in Miami. Luciano admitted to these crimes, but Dewey was only getting started. He did not waste time asking about Lucky’s involvement in prostitution. Instead he began to construct, or rather deconstruct the character of Charles Luciano.64

62

Powell, Lucky Luciano,274.

63

Gosch, Last Testament, 215.

64

Powell, Lucky Luciano, 295.

Jimmie Harper 21 Dewey asked him if he had spoken the whole truth regarding his arrest in Miami. Luciano replied, “Yes, sir.” Dewey asked him if he could explain an incident with a gun in Miami, to which Luciano scoffed stating there was no law against possessing a firearm in Florida. By doing this Dewey tricked Luciano into telling the jury that he did in fact carry a pistol. He had successfully begun his attack on Luciano’s character in an effort to show the jury the criminal who sat before them.65 After further questioning, Luciano was unable to recall seemingly important details about his past. He failed to recall a number of properties and “legitimate” businesses he owned as fronts for bootlegging. He was able to recall one restaurant he co-owned, but could not remember the name of his partner. Dewey broke down the information Luciano provided stating, “And right up until the present minute, the only legitimate or pretense of legitimate occupation you have had or made in the last eighteen years it that you had a piece of a restaurant for six months?” “That is right,” responded Lucky. Dewey continued to dazzle the courtroom with his knowledge of Luciano’s past and show off his ability to catch him in lie after lie until it was clear the character of the gangster on the stand was broken. Luciano had walked in calm and confident, but now walked away anxious and uncertain.66 In his final address to the jury, Dewey pointed directly at Luciano and claimed he was not a gambler, not a booker, but the greatest gangster in America. Later in life Luciano expressed his

65

Powell, Lucky Luciano, 298.

66

Ibid, 304.

Jimmie Harper 22 belief that he knew at that moment he was “done for.”67 The time had now come to declare a verdict. After Judge McCook asked the Foreman what the jury’s verdict was, for the next thirty minutes, upon nine defendants, the word guilty was pronounced 549 times.68 Charles Luciano was found guilty on all counts. Lucky had lost.69 He was sentenced to prison for 30 to 50 years, the longest sentencing ever for compulsory prostitution. His prison years were set to begin on June 18, 1936. His story and life of crime were far from over, but his time as New York’s leading mob boss was at an end.70 History has not been as kind to Charles “Lucky” Luciano as he might have wished. However, he most certainly has not been forgotten. Many books, essays, and articles have been written about who he was, how he rose to power, and why he fell. Numerous interpretations across multiple decades have been developed and documented with rigorous amounts of research being done to answer the many questions the world has concerning the remarkable gangster. His significance is undeniable, but his success as a mob boss cannot be credited to him alone. The innovative methods of underworld profiteering formulated in the 1920s and 30s were not the work of one man, but many. He may not have been a genius, but Lucky Luciano will remain a man whose character is examined for generations to come.

67

Gosch, Last Testament, 221.

68

Powell, Lucky Luciano, 310.

69

Gosch, Last Testament, 222.

70

Ibid, 225.

Jimmie Harper 23

Jimmie Harper 24 Works Cited Primary “Autopsy Report,” Giuseppe Masseria, April 16, 1931. “Bucket Inquiry Nears Decision,” New York Sun, October 12, 1923. Department of Commerce and Labor, “List or Manifest of Alien Passengers for the U.S. Immigration Office at Port of Arrival,” Sofia Hohenberg, June 1906. Federal Bureau of Investigation. Meyer Lansky. Memorandum (New York, 1952). FBI Vault: Meyer Lansky, accessed April 29, 2013. Gosch, Martin A. & Hammer, Richard. The Last Testament of Lucky Luciano. Canada: Little, Brown & Company, 1974. “Luciano Loses in Extradition Fight,” Troy NY Times Record, 1936. Secondary Daniel Nathan, “The Big Fix” Legal Affairs www.leagalaffairs.org/issues/March-April2004/review_nathan?marapr04.msp (accessed March 16, 2013). Donati, William. Lucky Luciano: The Rise and Fall of a Mob Boss. London: McFarland & Company, 2010. Messick, Hank. Lansky. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1971. "Meyer Lansky," The Biography Channel website,http://www.biography.com/people/meyerlansky-9542634 (accessed Mar 13, 2013). Newark, Tim. Boardwalk Gangster: The Real Lucky Luciano. New York: St. Martin's Press, 2010

Jimmie Harper 25 Paoli, Letizia. Mafia Brotherhoods. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003. Powell, Hickman. Lucky Luciano: The Man Who Organized Crime In America. New York: Barricade Books Inc., 2000. Raab, Selwyn. Five Families: The Rise, Decline, and Resurgence of America's Most Powerful Mafia Empires. New York: St. Martin's Press, 2005. Ralph Murdy, review of The Last Testament of Lucky Luciano, by Martin Gosch and Richard Hammer, America 132, no. 12:242-243