1903 In Organized Crime

EVENTS

New York Secret Service Chief William J. Flynn issues a statement regarding the Black Hand as "the most secret and terrible organization in the world". Quote attributed to William J. Flynn in Herbert Asbury 's book ''The Gangs of New York''.

April 13 - New York police find a body stuffed in a barrel, similar to the New Orleans "barrel murders" of the previous decade, who was later recognized by a US Secret Service agent as an associate of Black Hand leaders Giuseppe Morello , Tomasso Petto , and " Lupo The Wolf " Ignazio Saietta . This would later lead to an investigation by New York police detective Joseph Petrosino .

August - A particularly violent gunbattle between the Eastman Gang and the Five Points Gang , over an attempted raid by the Five Points Gang of a local Rivington Street Stuss game, eventually involves over a hundred gangsters (including the Gophers who fired at both the Eastmans and Five Pointers alike) causing Tammany Hall to force leaders Monk Eastman and Paul Kelly to make peace.

Winter - The truce between Monk Eastman and Paul Kelly ends after a barroom brawl in a Bowery dive bar between gang members Hurst and Ford, of the Eastmans and Five Pointers respectivly, with Hurst seriously injured. Eastman, demanding Ford's life, threatens to invade Kelly's teritory. With Kelly's refusal to turn Ford over to the Eastmans, both side again prepare for war. However a truce is again arranged by Tammany Hall politician Tom Foley , who threatens to withdraw political protection from the gangs if they did not comply. A prize fight is arranged between the two gang leaders which lasts over two hours until both men eventually collapse and the fight is declared a draw. Following the fight, both gang leaders continued to prepare for war.

Giuseppe Masseria emigrates to New York , USA from Sicily to escaped a murder charge. "Giuseppe Masseria (1879 - 1931) 'Joe the Boss'" , ''MurderINC.COM'', 2001.

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