- Peter Morello
Infobox Person
name=Pietro Morello
thumb
caption=
birth_date=1870
birth_place=Corleone ,Sicily ,Italy
death_date=death date|1930|8|15|mf=y
death_place=New York , U.S.Peter "The Clutching Hand" Morello (born Pietro Morello;
1870 -August 15 ,1930 ), also known as ""The Old Fox", was the last leader of theMorello crime family and top advisor to Joe "The Boss" Masseria. In Sicily he was known as Piddu Morello and was famous for only having his little finger remaining on his right hand.Born in
Corleone, Sicily around 1870, Morello immigrated to theUnited States with his brothers Nicolo andGiuseppe Morello (although it has been argued Giuseppe and Peter may be the same man) and half-brothers Ciro andVincenzo Terranova , arriving inNew York in the late 1890s. Taking control of the organization after the death of Nicolo Morello in 1916 during theMafia-Camorra War , Morello allied withRocco Valenti against former Morello memberJoe Masseria who now controlled a rival faction of the Morello's. After two failed assassination attempts by Valenti against Masseria a truce was arranged between Morello and Masseria. However when neither showed up Valenti tried to escape and was killed by Masseria gunman Charles Luciano. Morello made peace with Masseria shortly afterwards later allying with Masseria eventually becoming his top advisor. One of the first victims of theCastellammarese War , Morello was killed with collectorGiuseppe Periano on August 15, 1930 while collecting cash receipts in hisEast Harlem office. The assassin is still disputed betweenAlbert Anastasia andFrank Scalice , as told by Charles Luciano, and the assassinBuster from Chicago claimed by government informantJoe Valachi .References
*Sifakis, Carl. The Mafia Encyclopedia: Second Edition, New York, Checkmark Books, 1999
External links
* [http://www.gangrule.com/biography.php?ID=5 Biography of Giuseppe Morello] on GangRule
* [http://www.onewal.com/w-morell.html The American "Mafia" - Who Was Who]
* [http://www.onewal.com/maf-art05.html "Clutch Hand" Confusion] by Thomas Hunt
* [http://www.onewal.com/nwpeterm.gifMorello Newpaper article]
* [http://www.mugshots.com/Gangsters/Giuseppe+Morello.htm Giuseppe Morello] at [http://www.mugshots.com Mugshots.com]
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