The New York herald., 1922-01-13
Revival Of Foreign Game of
Chance Recalls Wave of
Death Six Years Ago.
MAY SOLVE NEW CRIMES
Italian Squad Expects to Make
Many More Arrests in Fol-
lowing Trail.

With the arrest yesterday of seven
Italians the police believe they have
broken up policy slip lottery ring
which has been operating for the last
SIX months in many Eastern States
from headquarters in this city. The
roundup was made by Detective Ser
Seant Michael Fiaschetti and other
members of the Italian squad, who
arrested six men in Manhattan and
one in Brooklyn.
The band has been operating in con-
junction with the lotteries authorized
by the Government in several cities
in Italy. The drawings of the lucky
numbers take place. every Friday in
Italy and on the following day the
list has been cabled to this city for
distribution through the headquarters
here to agents in other cities.
The same kind OF ring was broken
thirty-six murders were unearthed In
connection with workings of the same
Italian lotteries in this country. Six
teen men we're convicted for some OF
these crimes. some going to the elec-
trio chair. while others received long
prison sentences.
The most conspicuous OF the MUIR
PRS was the killing of Gasove Carlucci.
Known as the Mayor of Harlen,s Little
Italy, who was at that time the alleged
head of the lottery ring. His son, An
tonic, also was shot to death at the
same time in their saloon In First ave-
tue. Carlucci had become wealthy by
his lottery activities and had aroused
che envy Of many of his fellow ccunti y
S,en.
New RfnEleader Soon Slain.
Soon after the Carlucci murders yigo
bandrea became the head of the ring
in this city. lie lasted three months,
when he was shot to death in a gam
bling house in Brooklyn by one OF the
oandrea in his ambition to become head
Of the lottery ring had shot and killed
the two CarIucci men.
Other murders were committed as the
result OF fake lottery slips being given
TO customers who had played more or
less heavily. The victims. whose num-
bers did not appear on the fake slips
later found they had won prizes as
enumerated on the lucky number slips
sent from Italy. They sought revenge
through the stiletto or revolver route.
and many of the killings were laid to
the Black Hand.
When Sergeant Fiaschetti was in italy
few months ago he obtained informa-
tion giving the first inllling that the
Italian lotteries through agents in Rome
had again established liaison with un-
Identified persons in this city and were
again reaping harvests OF money by the
policy slip lottery scheme. After weeks
or work on the part Of members of the
Italian squad a trail was found, and
Yesterdays arrests followed.
The men arrested are yigo Poveromo.
owner of a saloon at ia First avenue
Giuseppe Spinone. bartender, same al
dress: Pasquale Porrazzo, tailor, 400
East Eleventh street: Joe Sciarrino,
machine operator. 93 First avenue
Carlo Castorc. knife dealer, Isl First
avenue: Francisco Gravina, ice dealer,
:1S East 1I1tb street. and CASTILLO Ca
puto, reddler. 70 Navy street, Brooklyn.
All were held in $1,000 bail each for the
Grand Jury on charges OF violating Sec
ton c74 OF the penal code. which makes
II an offense to operate a lottery OF
possess slips.
With the exception OF Caputo. who
was arrested in Brooklyn. the others
were taken into custody in Poveromo's
saloon by Sergeant Fiaschetti and three
Of his men. As the officers entered the
place lucky number lists of last veei;',
drawirgs in Italy were being passed
between the alleged offenders.
Credited with New Fortunes.
About 5000 OF these slips were found
near the cash register behind Poveromo',
bar. Poveromo and Stirone are re
garded as the ringlcaders. according e
tiaschetti, who says they have mad,
small fortunes during the last few
months
As was the case six years ago. he.
iievc that some OF the recent Italiar
murders eventually will be traced to q
revival OF the lottery trade" said Ser.
gesnt Fiaschetu. when the winning
numbs list is received by cable In thi,
city Is taken TO some printer and
computed. The authorized agent o,
agents with large lists OF customer,
then deliver them personally TO Gus
toners who have played the number,
like the old policy games in thi,
country.
The agents receive a liberal rake
off. but IL would be impossible at thi,
time TO state just how much money
has been collected either In this OF
other cities through the illegal opera.
tions OF this particular ring. From In.
formation In my possession beilev,
that the arrests VIII br, ak the back
bone of this business for time. n,
least. The number OF slips seized In.
dcstcs that large business has beer
carried on from the headquarters ir
Poveromo's saloon. According 10 oul
information, tho other men arrested
with the exception OF the bartender
we're subagents and runners for the
lottery slip game of chance.
The killings six years ago resulted
over disputes as to who should hav,
charge OF the local operations OF th,
lottery known IN Italian as the Estra
zioni passate dele Otto Route. The
drawings are made each week II
s'nplsc. Rome. Florence. Milan. Pa.
ierino. Venice. Bari and Torino. Tn,