September Mob Calendar of Events
September marks one of the most pivotal moments in American Mafia history — the killing of Salvatore Maranzano on September 10, 1931, which ended the era of the boss of bosses and gave birth to the Commission. It is also the birth month of Albert Anastasia and Whitey Bulger. Click any date below to read the full account.
Key dates this month: September 3 — Whitey Bulger born | September 10 — Salvatore Maranzano killed | September 21 — Hawthorne Inn attack on Capone | September 26 — Albert Anastasia born
September Mob Calendar of Events
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September 10, 1931 is one of the most important dates in American organised crime history. On that day, Salvatore Maranzano — who had declared himself boss of all bosses after winning the Castellammarese War — was shot and stabbed in his Park Avenue office. The killing was organised by Lucky Luciano, who used the occasion to abolish the position of supreme boss entirely and establish the Commission — the ruling body of the American Mafia — in its place. The modern Mafia was born on this day.
September 26, 1902 was the birthday of Albert Anastasia — the Mad Hatter, founder of Murder Incorporated and one of the most feared men in mob history. Born in Calabria and arriving in New York as a teenager, Anastasia would go on to order or commit dozens of murders before being shot dead in his own barber’s chair in 1957.
September 3, 1929 was the birthday of James “Whitey” Bulger — the Boston gangster who ran the Winter Hill Gang while secretly serving as an FBI informant, an arrangement that allowed him to eliminate rivals while staying one step ahead of law enforcement for decades. He was a fugitive for 16 years after his 1994 indictment, finally captured in 2011. He was killed in prison in 2018.
September 21, 1926 saw one of the most audacious attacks in Prohibition-era Chicago. Hymie Weiss led a convoy of cars that fired over 1,000 rounds into Al Capone’s Hawthorne Hotel headquarters in Cicero. Capone survived by throwing himself to the floor. The attack accelerated the gang war that would culminate in the St Valentine’s Day Massacre.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Salvatore Maranzano killed?
Salvatore Maranzano was killed on September 10, 1931, in his Park Avenue office in Manhattan. Lucky Luciano organised his murder and used the occasion to abolish the position of boss of all bosses and establish the Commission — the ruling body of the American Mafia.
When was Albert Anastasia born?
Albert Anastasia was born on September 26, 1902, in Tropea, Calabria, Italy. He became a founder of Murder Incorporated and boss of what became the Gambino family. He was shot dead in a Manhattan barber’s chair on October 25, 1957.
When was Whitey Bulger born?
Whitey Bulger was born on September 3, 1929, in Dorchester, Boston. He ran the Winter Hill Gang while secretly serving as an FBI informant for years. He was a fugitive for 16 years before being captured in 2011. He was killed in prison in 2018.
What happened at the Hawthorne Inn on September 21?
On September 21, 1926, Hymie Weiss led a convoy of cars that fired over 1,000 rounds into Al Capone’s Hawthorne Hotel headquarters in Cicero. Capone survived. The attack was part of the Chicago gang war that ultimately led to the St Valentine’s Day Massacre of 1929.
When was Salvatore Testa killed?
Salvatore Testa was killed on September 14, 1984, aged 28. The son of Philadelphia boss Phil Testa, he was lured to a candy store and shot dead on the orders of Nicodemo Scarfo, who feared his growing power within the family.
Further Reading — Mob History
Want to go deeper into the stories behind these dates? These are the essential books on organised crime history.
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