October 2012 Issue of Informer

October 2012 Contents
Editorial

For whatever reason, certain figures in crime history attract an inordinate amount of attention from the public. That attention tends to generate legend. And there probably are more underworld legends about Al Capone than any other criminal.

Capone contributed to the growth of these legends through his public appearances and through his travels. While his criminal empire was based in Chicago, he is known to have visited many locations across the Midwestern United States. He also traveled extensively in his native state of New York and in the nearby states of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. He visited the West Coast and vacationed in the South, eventually settling in Florida. All the locations he visited during his lifetime – and perhaps a fair number of places he never even heard of – have become homes to Capone history and Capone legend.

In this issue, true crime author Scott Deitche tracks down some of the lingering Capone legends in St. Petersburg, Florida, a Capone retreat where the gangland boss reportedly owned considerable real estate. (Preview) Deitche uncovers the properties and businesses that really have historic connections to Capone and his underworld associates.

Also in this issue We present Part 4 of the Gunmen of the Castellammarese War series. Lennert van‘t Riet, David Critchley and Steve Turner examine Dominic “The Gap” Petrelli, close friend and Mafia sponsor of Joe Valachi. (Preview)

Bill Feather provides an early Mafia membership chart for Tampa, Florida. (Preview)

Edmond Valin studies FBI documents to determine which members of the San Jose and San Francisco Mafias were providing information to law enforcement. (Preview)

In the Warner Files, Richard Warner gives his  recommendations for books about New York organized crime figures. (Preview)

Fifty-six pages, including advertising and cover.

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Capone in St. Pete

October 2012 Contents
Feature article

Al Capone in St. Petersburg

By Scott Deitche

"In January of 2009, a home in the Shore Acres neighborhood of St. Petersburg, Florida, went on sale for $262,000. From the front, the 2,350-square-foot, ten-room house was guarded by two stone lions. Sold for more than half a million dollars at the height of the regional real estate boom a few years earlier, the house entertained some lookers but no buyers. What made the house unique was the claim that it was built by Al Capone for his mother Teresa."

Seven pages, including four photographs, sidebar and one page of notes.

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Gunmen of the Castellammarese War - Part 4

October 2012 Contents
Feature article

Gunmen of the Castellammarese War, Part Four

Valachi's Mafia Sponsor:

Dominick 'The Gap' Petrelli

By Lennert van‘t Riet, David Critchley and Steve Turner

"Dominick 'The Gap' Petrelli’s life was filled with intrigue and risk. More an underworld 'fixer' than a Mafia killer, Petrelli sought to steer a course that maximized his business opportunities while avoiding potentially fatal side-effects. The only of our five Castellammarese War gunmen subjects born in mainland Italy, Petrelli came into the world as Domenico Antonio Francesco Petrella."

Twenty-four pages, including twelve photographs and five pages of notes.

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Identifying Underworld Informants

October 2012 Contents
Column

Identifying Underworld Informants:

Bay-Area informants proved crucial for FBI

By Edmond Valin

Fear of boss Cerrito (above)
caused at least one San Jose
mobster to become an informant.

"By the early 1960s, the FBI had persuaded at least three members of the San Jose, California, Mafia and one member of the San Francisco Mafia to share confidential information. At a time when the FBI’s knowledge of the Mafia was limited, these sources identified members, revealed organizational history and helped the Bureau build a storehouse of Mafia intelligence."

Eight pages, including one photograph and three pages of notes.

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The Warner Files: NY Mobsters

October 2012 Contents
Column

The Warner Files:

Recommended Books on NY mobsters

By Richard N. Warner

"In the last issue, I gave my recommendations for books covering organized crime in New York City. In this one, I want to follow up with works on organized crime figures who operated in New York City. To have a full understanding of the subject, you must have both types of books. Each will be incomplete without the other."

Three and a half pages.

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Tampa Mafia Chart

October 2012 Contents
Mafia Membership Chart

Tampa Mafia Chart

By Bill Feather

Chart provides data on dozens of documented and suspected Mafiosi from the Tampa, Florida, area in the 1920s through the 1940s.

Five pages.

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