Giuseppe Gagliano (1903 - 1947)

Born 18 Feb 1903 in Manhattan, New York, New York, United States

Ancestors

Died 10 Apr 1947 at age 44 in Bronx, New York, New York, United States

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Biography

Giuseppe Gagliano is born 18 February 1903 in Corleone and baptized two days later. He is the son of Vincenzo Gagliano and Marianna Ortoleva. His godparents are Giuseppe di Nino and Bernarda Pomilla, a married couple.^[1]

On the SS Sicilian Prince sailing from Palermo on 5 December 1905 and arriving in New York City on 21 December:

1. Vincenzo Gagliano, 29 (b. 1876), married laborer, is connected with a bracket to lines 2-7. He paid passage for them all. They are going to New York, joining brother Angelo at 2046 2nd Av. Written above this more legibly is the address 240 E. 107th St. They are all in good health.

2. Marianna Ortoleva, wife, 28 (b. 1877), joining her brother-in-law as above

3. Bernardo Gagliano, 7 (b. 1898)

4. Leoluca Gagliano, 5 (b. 1899)

5. Giuseppe Gagliano, 2 (b. 1903)

6. Carmela Gagliano, eleven months (b. Jan 1905)^[2]

Giuseppe, or Joseph, has a blind spot on one eye, giving him the nickname "Pip the Blind." Bill Feather, citing Critchley, identifies Pip the Blind as Joseph Gagliano, son of Vincenzo. Vincenzo's brother, Angelo, is the employer of Jack Dragna in New York City.^[3]

In the 1910 federal census, Vincent Gagliano (“Lalialia”), 32 (b. 1878), heads a household at 219 E. 107th St., a match for his entry in the NYC directory, with his wife, Marian, 29 (b. 1881), and children Lizzie, 17 (b. 1893), Bennie, 13 (b. 1897), Louis, 10 (b. 1900), Joe, 9 (b. 1901), and Mamie, 2 (b. 1908). They have been married 18 years (since 1892). Marian has had six children, five living (all at home). Except for Mamie, the family were all born in Italy. They immigrated in 1905. Vincent is a plasterer in the building industry. Marian is a willower (a textile worker), working from home.^[4]

In the 1915 New York State census of AD 28, ED 2, taken 1 June, Vincenzo Gagliano heads a household at 222 East 107th St. He is 37 (b. 1878), a plasterer, born in Italy. His wife Marianna is 36 (b. 1879), born in Italy. She and the eldest daughter Nancy, 19 (b. 1896), also born in Italy, both do housework. Also at home are Bino, 18 (b. 1897), a plasterer, Deluca, 15 (b. 1900), in school, Joseph, 13 (b. 1902), ditto, all born in Italy, and the younger children born in the US are Mamie, 7 (b. 1908), and Lizzie, 5 (b. 1910), both in school. The family has been in the US for 10 years (since 1905).^[5]

In the 1920 federal census of Manhattan taken 14 January, Vincent Gagliano, 60 (b. 1860---he is only 45), heads a household at 222 East 107th St. He and his Italian born family members immigrated in 1901, except for Joseph, who came in 1902. Vincent’s wife is Mary, 55 (b. 1865---she is only about 44). The children at home are Benny, 22 (b. 1898), who became naturalized in 1912 along with his father; Lewis, 20 (b. 1900), Joseph, 18 (b. 1902). The New York born children are Lizzie, 11 (b. 1909), Angelo, 5 (b. 1915), Mamie, 2 (b. 1918) (and on the next page) Nancy, 24 (b. 1896), born in Italy and immigrated in 1907, who is married, and two grandchildren: Charles, 3 (b. 1917), and Vincent, three months (b. Oct 1919), both born in NY. Vincent is a building contractor. So is Benny. Lewis and Joseph are plasterers in the building industry.^[6]

In the 1925 New York State census of AD 18 ED 23, taken 1 June, Vincenzo Gagliano, age 47 (b. 1878), born in Italy, heads a household at 222 E. 107th St. He and his family have been in the US for 20 years (since 1905) and became US citizens in May 1919 in Superior Court. Vincenzo is a contractor. His wife, “Marana,” 45 (b. 1880), born in Italy, is a housewife. Children at home are Benny, 26 (b. 1899), a plasterer, born in Italy, Joseph, 23 (b. 1902), born in Italy, a salesman, Angelo, 9 (b. 1916), born in the US, in school, Mamie, 6 (b. 1919), ditto, and Tessie, 5 (b. 1920), ditto.^[7]

In the 1930 federal census of the 18th AD of NYC, taken 7 April, Vincent Gagliano heads a household at 213 East 107th St. He is 52, married at 17 to Mary, who is 50 and married at 15. They and their son Benjamin are all born in Italy and came in 1902. The younger children were born in New York. Benjamin is 32, Joseph, 28, Angelo, 13, Mamie, 11. Vincent is a store grocer working on his own account. He and his family are naturalized citizens. Mary is a grocer in the store as well. Benjamin and Joseph are building plasterers.^[8]

Joseph's father, Vincent, dies on 13 January 1931, at the age of 55. He is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery. His address at the time of his death is listed as 222 East 107th Street in Manhattan.^[9]

Joseph is an associate of future Genovese and Lucchese crime family members, as part of a burglary gang with Joe Valachi.^[3] At his arrest in 1935, he is labeled part of the Old [Dutch] Schultz Gang.^[10]

Joseph leads a "policy racket," or lottery, on Long Island, in Suffolk County, near Lindenhurst, with Bernard Stein, 28 (b. 1907), Alfred Felice, 24 (b. 1911). and Charles Buccheri, 35 (b. 1900). A rival gang tips off police, leading to their arrests in Copiague, New York. Along with the men, Joseph's sisters Mamie, 17 (b. 1918), and Tessie, 15 (b. 1920), and wives of two of the men, Ida Felice, 21 (b. 1914), and Thelma Stein, 27 (b. 1908), are arrested. Gagliano, 32 (b. 1903), of 220 E. 107th St. Manhattan, told police he’d "been arrested for every crime under the sun." At the surprise raid, Gagliano is arrested for second degree assault and a weapons charge.^[10]

In the 1940 federal census of New York, taken 8-9 April, Maria Gagliano heads a household at 222 E. 107th St. She is 62 (b. 1878), a widow, living with her children Benny, 45 (b. 1895), Angelo, 23 (b. 1917), Joseph, 36 (b. 1904), Louis, 39 (b. 1901), Mae, 21 (b. 1919), and Tess, 19 (b. 1921). Maria and Benny were born in Italy and the rest of the children were born in NY, according to this census. Maria is the janitor for an apartment house. Her four sons are all plasterers in building construction. Mae is a bookkeeper in a general store.^[11]

Joseph Gagliano is arrested in East Harlem with five other men in suspicion of international narcotics trafficking. The DA, Frank Hogan, calls Gagliano a ringleader in the operation.^[12]

Also arrested were Hector Robles, 23, Felix Santana, 24, Sonny Griffin, 36.^[13]

Gagliano, due to his wealth, is considered a flight risk. His bail is set at $150,000. Armand Angelo Piragnoli, Nicholas Gnazzo, Angelo Loiacano, and Anthony Lucente are each held on $15,000 bail. Charles Albero, aka “Little Bullets,” is in the hospital with a broken leg.^[12]

Joseph's attorney, Robert Santangelo, claims Gagliano suffers from a mental ailment. Gagliano claims people are poisoning his food in jail. Three psychiatrists unanimously agree he is not psychotic. ^[13]

The men are tried in February and found guilty.^[13]

Joseph Gagliano, age 43, of 222 E. 107th St., Angelo Loiacana, 35 (b. 1912), of 226 E. 107th St., and Anthony Lucente, 31 (b. 1916), of 339 E. 119th St. are found guilty of selling 5 oz of heroin to an informer for $1575. Gagliano is called “the mastermind of one of the biggest opium rings in the country.” by the Assistant DA, Joseph A. Sarafite, who prosecuted the case.^[14]

Death of Joseph

Joseph (Pip the Blind) Gagliano, head of an East Harlem narcotic peddling combine said to be one of the biggest in the East, hangs himself in his jail cell. He faced five to ten years in prison. Gagliano had lived with his wife Grace at 222 East 107th St. He was 43. ^[13]

According to the municipal death record, Joseph dies at the age of 44 in the Bronx on 10 April 1947. His wife's name is listed as "Claire".^[15]

Sources

1. ↑ Baptism of Joseph Gagliano. (1903, February 20). Record no. 80. "Italia, Palermo, Diocesi di Monreale, Registri Parrocchiali, 1531-1998," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6L2S-GGF?cc=2046915&wc=MG34-ZNL%3A351041801%2C351041802%2C351305401 : 20 May 2014), Corleone > San Martino > Battesimi 1899-1905 > image 265 of 457; Archivio di Arcidiocesi di Palermo (Palermo ArchDiocese Archives, Palermo).
2. ↑ Year: 1905; Arrival: New York, New York; Microfilm Serial: T715, 1897-1957; Microfilm Roll: Roll 0651; Line: 1; Page Number: 97 Ship or Roll Number: Roll 0651
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Feather, B. (2016). Bios of early Lucchese members. Retrieved from http://mafiamembershipcharts.blogspot.com/2016/01/bios-of-early-lucchese-members_5.html
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9RVJ-JSX?cc=1727033&wc=QZZW-LBG%3A133641301%2C133751301%2C143128001%2C1589091773 : 24 June 2017), New York > New York > Manhattan Ward 12 > ED 338 > image 31 of 50; citing NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
5. ↑ New York State Archives; Albany, New York; State Population Census Schedules, 1915; Election District: 02; Assembly District: 28; City: New York; County: New York; Page: 60 Ancestry.com. New York, State Census, 1915 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.
6. ↑ Year: 1920; Census Place: Manhattan Assembly District 18, New York, New York; Roll: T625_1219; Page: 15B; Enumeration District: 1263 Enumeration District: 1263; Description: Manhattan borough Assembly District 18, Tract 170 (part) bounded by E 107th, 2nd Ave, E 106th, 3rd Ave
7. ↑ New York State Archives; Albany, New York; State Population Census Schedules, 1925; Election District: 23; Assembly District: 18; City: New York; County: New York; Page: 90
8. ↑ Year: 1930; Census Place: Manhattan, New York, New York; Page: 7B; Enumeration District: 0820; FHL microfilm: 2341306 District: 0820; Description: MANHATTAN BOROUGH, ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 18 (PART), BOUNDED BY (N) E. 108TH; (E) 2D AVE.; (S) E. 107TH; (W) 3D AVE.
9. ↑ "New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2WV5-QN5 : accessed 1 March 2016), Vinenzo Gagliano, 13 Jan 1931; citing Death, Manhattan, New York, New York, United States, New York Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 2,058,014.
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1} Policy Ring Seized In Armed Hide-Out. (1935, July 6). The New York Times. P. 28. Retrieved from https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1935/07/06/95515143.html?pageNumber=28
11. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9MY-1N47?cc=2000219&wc=QZXR-CZ5%3A790105101%2C804828501%2C805223601%2C805234901 : accessed 17 October 2019), New York > New York > New York City, Manhattan, Assembly District 18 > 31-1604B New York City, Manhattan Borough Assembly District 18 (Tract 170 - part) > image 11 of 22; citing Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012.
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1} Berger, M. (1946, December 21). $150,000 Bail Holds Narcotics Suspect. The New York Times. Pp. 1, 20. Retrieved from https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1946/12/21/305216962.html?pageNumber=1
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3} Narcotic Peddler Ends Life In Cell. (1947, April 11). The New York Times. P. 10. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/1947/04/11/archives/narcotic-peddler-ends-life-in-cell-joseph-gagliano-facing-5-to-10.html?searchResultPosition=1
14. ↑ Three Found Guilty of Narcotics Sales. (1947, February 20). The New York Times. P. 7. Retrieved from https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1947/02/20/96692330.html?pageNumber=7
15. ↑ "New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2WLF-SF2 : accessed 16 March 2016), Joseph Gagliano, 10 Apr 1947; citing Death, Bronx, New York, New York, United States, New York Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 2,200,127.