The Origins of the Mafia in New Orleans Date to Before the Civil War. CHARLES L

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The Origins of the Mafia in New Orleans Date to Before the Civil War. CHARLES L

NEW ORLEANS From Bienville to Bourbon Street to bounce. 300 moments that make New Orleans unique. WHAT HAPPENED On March 24, 1718 ~ 2018 1959, Carlos Marcello appeared before a U.S. Senate 300 committee on TRICENTENNIAL organized crime. WIKIPEDIA Charles Matranga Mobster Frank Costello brought his slot machines to and Sylvester Louisiana in the 1930s at the invitation of Sen. Huey Carollo led the Carlos Marcello appeared before the U.S. Senate’s Kefauver Committee on orga- P. Long, who demanded a monthly cut for letting in local mafia before nized crime on Jan. 25, 1951. Marcello pleaded the Fifth Amendment 152 times. the one-armed bandits. Carlos Marcello. The committee called Marcello “one of the worst criminals in the country.” The origins of the Mafia in New Orleans date to before the Civil War. CHARLES L. FRANCK STUDIO COLLECTION THE AT HISTORIC N.O. COLLECTION But it was mainly in the late 19th cen- Matranga. Matranga escaped an attack crime in 1959, in which he repeatedly in- tury that the Mafia exerted influence over and lynching of the defendants and went voked the Fifth Amendment, Marcello the thousands of Italians who came to on to lead the “Black Hand” gang as they let it be known that he had a grievance New Orleans to work on the docks and were known in the city until the 1920s. with President John F. Kennedy and his plantations. Two families, the rival Ma- Mantranga was succeeded by Sam Car- brother Robert Kennedy. His complaints trangas and Provenzanos, controlled the ollo. Carollo worked closely with the led to numerous theories that Marcello fruit unloading operations on New Or- Luciano crime family in New York and had a hand in Kennedy’s assassination. leans’ docks. The gangs began to battle with then-Sen. Huey Long to bring illegal Marcello was convicted on racketeering on the streets, leading to an effort by then slot machines to Louisiana. When Carol- charges in 1981 and served six years be- Police Chief David Hennessey to crack lo was deported in 1947, Carlos Marcello fore the court overturned the decision. down on the families. Hennessey was as- took over the family and grew the illegal The conviction marked a diminished sassinated, but before he died, Hennessey gambling enterprise to new proportions. Mafia presence in the city, though crimi- said he was attacked by “the dagoes.” Po- After being called to testify in front of a nal activity is sometimes still attributed Carlos Marcello for a time owned Southport Hall, which operated as an lice arrested 19 Italians including Charles congressional committee on organized to the mafia. illegal casino..

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