The New York herald., 1921-08-17
SEVENTEEN KILLED
BY NEW YORK GANG,
SUSPECT CONFESSES
Fontano Says Murders Are
Result of Feuds Over
Cards and Women.
FIVE VICTIMS ON LIST
Life Not Worth Anything.
Since Telling Police,
He Asserts.
KNOWS HE is DOOMED
Fiaschetti Checks Up Story OF
Quarrels Handed From
Father to Son.
KNOWS HE IS DOOMED

chetti of the Italian squad at Police
Headquarters arrested Bartolo Fon-
tano of 36 st. Marks place yesterday
afternoon for the murder of Camille
Caiozzo of 445 East Twelfth street
near Asbury Park on July 30. After
several hours Of questioning he heard
from the lips of F'ontano, he said, the
story Of murder gang which, accord
ing to the accused G1an. within the
last FIVE or six years has committed
seventeen murders-that of Caiozzo at
Asbury Park. nine in Detroit, five in
Manhattan and The Bronx and two in
Brooklyn.
On the lists OF the gang, according
to Fontano, are five men who are to
be murdered as soon as the acts can
be accomplished. at the instigation OF
men said by Fontano to be prominent
Italians OF New York.
Fontauo told Detective Sergeant
Fiaschetti that neither the Camorra
nor the bootlegging gangs had any
ders. They were committed. he said.
as the result of personal feuds and OF
feuds handed down from father to son.
and as the result OF rows over card
games and women. This statement fits
into the theory OF George n. Brothers,
Assistant District Attorney. who said
last night that he does not believe an
organization of the Camorra exists In
this city and that he does not believe
either that bootlegging Is responsible
for the numerous murders committed
within recent months.
Names Bonventrc Gang.
An OF the Ave murders committed In
Manhattan and The Bronx by the gang
said to have been described by Fontano
and said by him to be known as the
Bonventre gang. were committed within
the last i've or six months. and are only
a compare lively small part Of the crimes
that have come to the attention OF the
police withir that time
The names OF the five men killed in
Manhattan and The Bronx were given
by Fontano as Salvatore Mauro OF III
East Houston street, shot in front OF 232
Chrystie street on December %. 1870
Vincenzo Alfano, shot at Delaney and
Chrystie streets during the Schiff Park
way celebration recently: Joe Granitelli
OF 21a Chrystie street, shot in front OF
is9 Chrystie street on February 2S.
1921: John Messina. killed in front OF
II Stanton street on April II. 1920. and
a man named castillo. of whose murder
the police have no information. The
gang also shot Angelo Lagatutta, but
did not kill him, and he Is now living
in New Palz. N. Y.
After Fontano had talked to Detective
Sergeant Fiaschetu for several hours
and his stories concerning the murders
had been checked UP and found to be
correct the police arrested six other
men and locked them up at Headquar-
ters Five of them are charged with
completely in the murder OF Caiozzo at
Asbury Park. They gave their names
Al Stcphano Magaddino, 1o5 Roebling
street. Brooklyn: Vito Bonvcntre. lis
Roebling street; Guiseppi lombard, 217
Elizabeth street; Mariana Galandi, 1913
Orchard street and Francesca Puma,
504 East Twelfth street.
The other. charged only with violation
of the Sullivan law by carrying two re-
volvers is Bartholomew Di Gregoria OF
1T Roebling street Brooklyn Word
was received also at Headquarters last
night that the Asbury Park police had
arrested Salvatore Cigravo. on whose
farm near Asbury Park Caiozzo was
killed. and had charged him with com
plicity in the crime.
Gang Formed 20 Years Age.
Fontano said that the man Bonvcntre.
who is now under arrest, had nothing to
do with the formation OF the murder
gang, although his name Is the same.
The gang was formed by man Of the
same name In Brooklyn almost twenty
a baker, Fontano said. and fifteen years
ago was killed. his body sawed 10 pieces
and placed in a bag and the whole put
In his own oven.
Bonventre's friends at once organized
70 avenge the murder. They are said
TO have killed the murderer. and then
one or more OF the gang was in turn
Killed by friends of the man who had
killed Bonventre. The feud therefore
grew, and TO II were added personal
feuds OF the members OF the gang. so
that IN time the principal business Of
the crowd became murder. Not only
we're they numbering men against whom
they bore personal enmity. but members
Of the gang took murder Jobs entirely
outside the gang activities. and consc-
uuently all OF tho members had lots OF
money at all times and few OF them did