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Son of Accursio and Santa Ippolito, an early follower of Anarchism in Europe, his criminal record began with assault in 1884, with later charges of arson, extortion and kidnap. Cascioferro emigrated to America in 1901, to escape police 'special surveillance, he lived with a sister, Francesca, and brother in law, Salvatore Armato in an apartment on 103rd St, before finding his own place in Morgan St. Among his papers was a letter he received a letter shortly after arriving in New york: " New York, 12th September 1901. My very dear Don Vito, I welcome you and allow myself the pleasure and the liberty of inviting you to my home. I have also taken the liberty of inviting friends, Giuseppe Morello, Francesco Megna, Giuseppe Fontana, Carlo Costantino, and Gioacchino di Martino to eat a plate of macaroni together. We thought that next Monday would be good and that the best time might be three o'clock in the afternoon. I hope that you will not fail to come, and, if the day and the time are not convenient for you, let me know by messenger. I kiss your hand. Your Salvatore Brancaccio" On May 21st, 1902, Cascioferro was arrested in connection with a large counterfeiting plant in Hackensack, NJ. He was arrested with Giuseppe Romano at a babershop that had been distributing the money on First Avenue. Cascioferro managed to escape conviction, while the other gang members were tried and sentenced. He was to return to Sicily shortly after Petrosino ordered his arrest for involvement with the 'Barrel Murder' , consequently his application for American citizenship was blocked. Cascioferro is thought to be the killer behind of New York policeman Giuseppe Petrosino on March 12th 1909. Petrosino was in Sicily to gather information from local police files to help deport Italian gangsters from New York, and upset Cascioferros' international relationships. At the age of 47 Cascioferro held power over at least seven major Mafia cosche in and around Palermo, Bisacquino, Campofiorito, Corleone, Contessa Entillina, Chiusa Scalfani, Burgio and Villafranca Sicula. In 1927, Prefect Mori, under orders from Mussolini to destroy the Mafia, arrested Cascioferro in 1928. Tried in court for smuggling he stood and said: 'Gentlemen, as you have been unable to obtain proof of any of the numerous crimes I have committed, you have been reduced to condemning me for the only one I never committed.' Sentenced to life in Ucciardone prison in Palermo, he died there in 1945 due to natural causes. |
