Philip Testa

Philip "Chicken Man" Testa (April 21, 1924 - March 15, 1981) was an American Mafia figure known for his brief leadership of Philadelphia crime family. Testa's nickname came from his involvement in a poultry business.

Mob Leader

Testa was the underboss of the Philadelphia family under long-time leader Angelo Bruno. Called the "Gentle Don", Bruno was known for his good nature and tendency to avoid violence and drug trafficking. Bruno was killed on March 21, 1980 in a conspiracy headed by family consigliere Anthony Caponigro, who himself was shortly thereafter murdered along with his co-conspirators by a Genovese hit squad sent by the New York Commission. Testa succeeded Bruno as don of the family, but not for long. During his short reign, he inducted his son Salvatore Testa, future underboss Phil Leonetti, and the Merlino brothers.

Bombing

On March 15, 1981, Testa returned to his home in South Philadelphia. Soon after he arrived, a nail bomb exploded under his front porch. The house was ravaged and witnesses claimed that pieces of Testa's body were scattered blocks away. The roofing nails in the bomb were to make it appear that it was retaliation by the Irish Mob for the killing of union president John McCullough. However, after taking over as Boss, Nicky Scarfo had the real conspirators, Frank Narducci and Rocco Marinucci, murdered for the unsanctioned hit.

Testa's killing spawned a string of intra-family wars that lasted until 1995. Testa's son, Salvatore Testa, became a rising star in the Philadelphia family. A few months after Testa's death, Scarfo made Salvatore a caporegime. Three years later Salvatore was murdered by close friend Joey Pungitore on orders from Nicky Scarfo. Scarfo, despite being Salvatore's godfather at birth, began to feel threatened by the young capo's popularity in the family and was jealous of an article in the Wall Street Journal that noted Salvatore as a rich, young rising star within the Cosa Nostra underworld.

Famous Song

Testa's violent death inspired musician Bruce Springsteen's hit song, ""Atlantic City"". In 1981, Springsteen read the newspaper headline, "Chicken Man Blown Up In Philly". Sensing an interesting story, he adapted the headline into a new song, "Atlantic City", about the Mafia wars in New Jersey and Philadelphia. The song opens with the following line,

"Well they blew up the chicken man in Philly last night/Now they blew up his house too".

References

Blood and Honor: Inside the Scarfo Mob - The Mafia's Most Violent Family by George Anastasia, 2004, ISBN 0-9410159-86-4

External links

* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Testa&GSfn=Philip+&GSbyrel=in&GSdyrel=in&GSob=n&GRid=18254& Philip "Chickenman" Testa] at Find A Grave