Charles Fischetti
| Charles Fischetti | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 11, 1901 |
| Died | April 11, 1951 |
| Resting place | Holy Cross Cemetery |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Spouse(s) | Ann Fischetti |
| Parent(s) | Mary Fischetti |
| Relatives |
Rocco Fischetti (brother) Al Capone (cousin) |
Charles "Trigger Happy"[1] Fischetti (August 11, 1891 – April 11, 1951) was a Chicago mobster, former Capone bodyguard and Mafia leader.
Early life
Charles Fischetti was born on August 11, 1891. His mother was called Mary.[2] He had a brother, Nicholas, who was a dentist;[2] two other brothers, Rocco and Joseph, were alleged criminals. He was a cousin of Al Capone.[3][4]
Career
Fischetti started his career as his cousin Al Capone's chauffeur in South Brooklyn.[2] In the 1920s, he helped Capone spread his business in Cicero, Illinois.[2] Fischetti attended the 1946 Havana Conference of Cosa Nostra leaders and received the "murder contract" on Bugsy Siegel. Fischetti was also good friends with singers Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, the former as early as the 1940s.[5] Upon Al Capone's death in 1947, Fischetti reportedly inherited his mob investments.[2]
Fischetti was called a notorious Chicago gangster in the FBI files.[5] With his brother Rocco, he surrendered 2 April 1951 to the sergeant-at-arms of the United States Senate having been sought to testify before the Senate Crime Investigating Committee (Kefauver committee). Charles Fischetti died nine days later, before he could testify.[6][7]
Personal life and death
Fischetti had a wife, Ann.[2] They resided in Miami Beach, Florida.[3]
Fischetti died of a heart attack on April 11, 1951 in Miami Beach, Florida.[6][7] US30,000 worth of flowers in seven cars were sent to his funeral, which was held at Our Lady of Peace Roman Catholic Church at 561 Carroll Street in Brooklyn.[2] It was attended by 1,500 relatives, most of them women.[2] The Brooklyn Daily Eagle suggested they may have been the wives of organized crime associates.[2] Meanwhile, there were also 12 policemen in uniform and 20 in plainclothes.[2] Fischetti was buried at the Holy Cross Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York City.[2]
References
- ↑ Chandler, J. D. (2001) "Frank Sinatra and the Mob" Crime Magazine
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "$30,000 Flowers at Fischetti Rites: Seven Auto Loads Accompany Capone Heir To Cemetery--Underworld Pals Absent". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. April 16, 1951. pp. 1; 9. Retrieved October 8, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. (registration required (help)).
- 1 2 "Death Claims Fischetti, Key In Underworld". The Evening Review. East Liverpool, Ohio. April 11, 1951. p. 7. Retrieved October 8, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. (registration required (help)).
- ↑ son of Ralph Capone, Al Capone's brother, Federal Bureau of Investigation "Freedom of Information and Privacy Acts Release of Frank Sinatra File # 174-304", part 2b page 14, accessed 29 October 2009
- 1 2 Federal Bureau of Investigation "Freedom of Information and Privacy Acts Release of Frank Sinatra File # 174-304", part 2b page 14, accessed 29 October 2009
- 1 2 "Underworld Leader Dies At Luxurious Miami Beach Home". Santa Cruz Sentinel. Santa Cruz, California. April 11, 1951. p. 11. Retrieved October 8, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. (registration required (help)).
- 1 2 AP (11 April 1951) "Charles Fischetti, Gangland Overlord, Dies in Florida" Corpus Christi Times page 11, column 1