Albert Anastasia

Albert Anastasia (February 26 1902–October 25, 1957), also known as the "Mad Hatter" and "Lord High Executioner", was a Mafia boss chiefly remembered for running the contract-killing syndicate known as Murder, Inc.

Executing the executioner

Vito Genovese cunningly used Anastasia's brutal behavior against him in an effort to woo Anastasia's supporters away. Secretly over the next few years, Genovese won the cooperation of Anastasia's underboss, Carlo Gambino.

Related Topics:
Vito Genovese - Carlo Gambino

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However, Genovese dared not move against Anastasia and his real target, Costello, because of Meyer Lansky, one of the highest ranking and most powerful members of the National Crime Syndicate. Lansky and Genovese were long-standing enemies, with disputes dating from the 1920s, and Genovese could not make a move for power without Lansky's support.

Related Topics:
Costello - Meyer Lansky - National Crime Syndicate

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During the 1950s, Lansky was extremely successful in controlling casino gambling in Cuba, offering other mafia bosses lesser shares of his profits and interests. When Anastasia forcefully demanded a larger piece of the action, Lansky refused, and he started to establish his own gambling racket in Cuba. Lansky became increasingly angry, and while up until then he preferred watching Anastasia and Genovese battle each other from the sidelines, he now gave active support to Genovese's plan to kill Anastasia.

Related Topics:
Casino gambling - Cuba

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Anastasia's killing was carried out with an efficiency that the former lord high executioner of Murder, Inc. would have approved. On the morning of October 25, 1957, Anastasia entered the barbershop of the Park Sheraton Hotel (now the Park Central Hotel, on 56th Street and 7th Avenue) in New York City. Anastasia's bodyguard parked the car in an underground garage and then, most conveniently, decided to take a little stroll. As he relaxed in the barber chair, two men – scarves covering their faces – rushed in, shoving the attending barber out of the way, and fired their guns at Anastasia. After the first volley of bullets, Anastasia is said to have jumped to his feet and lunged at his killers in a desperate struggle to defend himself. Anastasia actually attacked their reflections in the mirror as they continued to fire, and he finally fell to the floor dead.

Related Topics:
October 25 - 1957 - Park Sheraton Hotel - Park Central Hotel - New York City

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Like virtually all gangland killings, the Anastasia murder remains officially unsolved. It was originally alleged that the contract was given to Joe Profaci, who passed it on to the three Gallo brothers (including Crazy Joe Gallo) from Brooklyn. However, recent evidence has pointed the finger at a three-man hit team selected by Joseph "Joe the Blonde" Biondo, who became Carlo Gambino's underboss after the murder. Biondo is alleged to have selected Stephen Armone, Arnold "Witty" Wittenberg, and Stephen "Stevie Coogin" Grammauta. Grammauta, a convicted drug dealer and heroin smuggler, is currently regarded as a capo (captain) in the Gambino crime family.

Related Topics:
Joe Profaci - Crazy Joe Gallo - Carlo Gambino's - Gambino crime family

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The double-dealing did not cease with Anastasia's death in 1957. Carlo Gambino secretly deserted Vito Genovese, passing along knowledge of Genovese's desires to "rub out" his rivals, Luciano and Costello. Thus, Meyer Lansky, Luciano, Costello and Gambino conspired to entrap Genovese with a narcotics conviction that would result in a sentence of life imprisonment. In that sense Anastasia was avenged, but it was not with the abrupt finality that the brutal executioner would likely have preferred.

Related Topics:
1957 - Carlo Gambino - Vito Genovese - Luciano - Costello - Meyer Lansky - Narcotics

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